Justin Bradbury | Kingswood University (original) (raw)
Papers by Justin Bradbury
Religious studies review, Mar 1, 2024
Drafts by Justin Bradbury
Jaffray/Ang Missiological Conference, 2021
Daniel Treier asserts that theology involves “communicative praxis,” or, the way in which Christi... more Daniel Treier asserts that theology involves “communicative praxis,” or, the way in which Christian practices, directly and indirectly, constitute a drama – the drama of God’s redemptive work in salvation. According to Stuart Murray and James Krabill, the church enacts this drama through a range of Christian habits that illustrate God’s eschatological design. This paper seeks to offer a missiological perspective on those habits, called the “means of grace,” by John Wesley, and how these universal Christian practices contribute to our vision for intentionally intercultural churches in Canada’s globalizing and hybridizing context. Wesley asserted that the world had yet to see “a Christian country upon earth,” but that such would be filled with those whose lives displayed genuine scriptural Christianity enacted by universal love of God and neighbour. Wesley viewed the means of grace, and the holy dispositions required to exercise them, as the “inter-connected system of Christianity” that equips Christians to practice mission communally. This is germane to missional ecclesiology as Christians rehearse together the drama of the new creation in these Canadian “suburbs of heaven.”
My Master of Theological Studies dissertation explores the shape of William and Catherine Booth's... more My Master of Theological Studies dissertation explores the shape of William and Catherine Booth's Christology; the theological influences of the nineteenth century Holiness Movement on their theology; and the discontinuous relationship of the Booth's sacramental theology with their theological progenitor, John Wesley. The thesis argues that The Salvation Army's self-identified shift from 'movement' to 'church' would benefit from an ecclesiological development that embraces a Wesleyan theological view of the sacraments.
Nothing Stands Alone: The Means of Grace and Mission in John Wesley's Theology, 2019
My research seeks to demonstrate how an understanding of the means of grace in Wesleyan theology ... more My research seeks to demonstrate how an understanding of the means of grace in Wesleyan theology serves as a theological methodology to engage in mission with diaspora Christians. Whereas ideological and policy changes enacted by the Government of Canada since 1971 indirectly created the opportunity for a new era of diaspora mission, 1 established churches have not deeply embraced the potential for partnership with the growing Christian diaspora populations migrating here. 2 Howard Snyder characterised Wesley's theology as a theology of mission. 3 My research focused on Wesley's methodology to nurture mission. 4 Wesley believed the practice of the means of grace, as works of piety and works of mercy, formed Methodists to fulfil their mission to reform the nation, especially the Church, and to spread scriptural holiness across the land, 5 for these comprised "the entire, connected system of Christianity." 6 This paper is based upon chapter four of my thesis, which is a critique of the interpretations of Wesley's theology and usage of the means of grace. 7 The substantive interpretations situate the means of grace within Wesley's soteriology. 8 This claim is not refuted. However, I consider how Wesley's conception of the means of grace equipped Methodists for their mission. Wesley's theology of the means of grace extends beyond their locus within the ordo salutis, to Wesley's expansive missiological aim, and therefore informs ecclesiology. Nothing stands alone in the role that the means of grace played in Wesley's theology of mission.
Jaffray/Ang Missiological Conference, 2021
Daniel Treier asserts that theology involves “communicative praxis,” or, the way in which Christi... more Daniel Treier asserts that theology involves “communicative praxis,” or, the way in which Christian practices, directly and indirectly, constitute a drama – the drama of God’s redemptive work in salvation. According to Stuart Murray and James Krabill, the church enacts this drama through a range of Christian habits that illustrate God’s eschatological design. This paper seeks to offer a missiological perspective on those habits, called the “means of grace,” by John Wesley, and how these universal Christian practices contribute to our vision for intentionally intercultural churches in Canada’s globalizing and hybridizing context. Wesley asserted that the world had yet to see “a Christian country upon earth,” but that such would be filled with those whose lives displayed genuine scriptural Christianity enacted by universal love of God and neighbour. Wesley viewed the means of grace, and the holy dispositions required to exercise them, as the “inter-connected system of Christianity” that equips Christians to practice mission communally. This is germane to missional ecclesiology as Christians rehearse together the drama of the new creation in these Canadian “suburbs of heaven.”
My Master of Theological Studies dissertation explores the shape of William and Catherine Booth's... more My Master of Theological Studies dissertation explores the shape of William and Catherine Booth's Christology; the theological influences of the nineteenth century Holiness Movement on their theology; and the discontinuous relationship of the Booth's sacramental theology with their theological progenitor, John Wesley. The thesis argues that The Salvation Army's self-identified shift from 'movement' to 'church' would benefit from an ecclesiological development that embraces a Wesleyan theological view of the sacraments.
Nothing Stands Alone: The Means of Grace and Mission in John Wesley's Theology, 2019
My research seeks to demonstrate how an understanding of the means of grace in Wesleyan theology ... more My research seeks to demonstrate how an understanding of the means of grace in Wesleyan theology serves as a theological methodology to engage in mission with diaspora Christians. Whereas ideological and policy changes enacted by the Government of Canada since 1971 indirectly created the opportunity for a new era of diaspora mission, 1 established churches have not deeply embraced the potential for partnership with the growing Christian diaspora populations migrating here. 2 Howard Snyder characterised Wesley's theology as a theology of mission. 3 My research focused on Wesley's methodology to nurture mission. 4 Wesley believed the practice of the means of grace, as works of piety and works of mercy, formed Methodists to fulfil their mission to reform the nation, especially the Church, and to spread scriptural holiness across the land, 5 for these comprised "the entire, connected system of Christianity." 6 This paper is based upon chapter four of my thesis, which is a critique of the interpretations of Wesley's theology and usage of the means of grace. 7 The substantive interpretations situate the means of grace within Wesley's soteriology. 8 This claim is not refuted. However, I consider how Wesley's conception of the means of grace equipped Methodists for their mission. Wesley's theology of the means of grace extends beyond their locus within the ordo salutis, to Wesley's expansive missiological aim, and therefore informs ecclesiology. Nothing stands alone in the role that the means of grace played in Wesley's theology of mission.