The Theology of Love

This is a modern-day classic in Wesleyanism and love theology. The author offers this theological exposition as a defense of her thesis that John Wesley's theology provides the most adequate footing for a theology of love. "It is this author's considered opinion," contends Wynkoop, "that John Wesley has contributed a sound and useable approach to theology which is worthy of consideration in the solutions of the problems related to the theology-life syndrome. His `hermeneutic' was `love to God and man.' This theme runs throughout his works. At least when each doctrine of the Christian faith is identified and defined by him, the basic meaning invariably comes out `love.' Wesley's thought is like a great rotunda with archway entrances all around it. No matter which one is entered it always leads to the central Hall of Love, where, looking upward toward the dome, one gazes into the endless, inviting sky. There is no ceiling to love" (16). Although the vast majority of the book is given over to John Wesley's theology, Wynkoop acknowledges her indebtedness to the process theology of Daniel Day Williams. The thesis of the book is that the dynamic of Wesleyanism is love. Rather than representing Wesley's theology as a theology of holiness, the author believes that it is more faithful to call Wesley's thought a theology of love. Wesleyan theology has its roots in the major themes of the Bible, including the fact that God loves the world, Christ loved the church, Jesus demands total love to God and neighbor, the ethics of Christian life is summed up in love, and a right relationship with God is one based upon love. The bulk of the work consists of the author's identification of love as the core to central theological doctrines. Topics addressed include the divine-human interaction, grace, faith, purity and a clean heart, Christian perfection, sanctification. This statement stands as a summation of Wynkoop's argument: "The summarizing word - Wesley's ultimate hermeneutic -- is love. Every strand of his thought, the warm heart of every doctrine, the passion of every sermon, the test of every claim to Christian grace, was love. So central is love that to be "Wesleyan" is to be committed to a theology of love" (101). I highly recommend this book! Thomas Jay Oord

Mildred Bangs Wynkoop advances the thesis that one hermenutical principal must characterize Wesleyan thought: Love. Wynkoop is very specific about what she means when she refers to this hermeneutic of love. For Wynkoop, the type of love she is referring to is agape. She explains Wesley by saying, "Every strand of his though, the warm heart of every doctrine, the passion of every sermon, the test of every claim to Christian grace, was love. So central is love that to be `Wesleyan' is to be committed to a theology of love." (p. 101)Wynkoop concludes her discussion with a deeply personal testimony to the way that God has changed her life. Here one sees the thoughts that are implicit and in some places explicit spelled out in the clearest terms possible. Perhaps it is fitting that in a discussion of the circumstance of sanctification, Wynkoop concludes with what this has meant for her. The words there are beautiful and poetic and any attempt to summarize them would be taking a sledgehammer to a beautiful stained glass window. At the conclusion of the work, one must see that the life in Christ is to be a life governed by love. This love binds together all parts of the Christian work and it is fitting that Wynkoop should title her work A Theology of Love.I recommend this book. I also recommend skimming. Skimming should allow the reader to catch the message without wading through all of Wynkoop's language.