John R. Tyson – författare

This is an anthology of the writings of Charles Wesley. Best known for his hymns, such as `Hark! the Herald Angels Sing', and `Jesus, Lover of My Soul', Charles was the younger brother of John Wesley and the co-founder of Methodism. Despite his importance in the history of Protestantism, there is no collection of his writings in print, and indeed, little work has been done specifically on Charles in the last two generations. Tyson presents a chronologically arranged selection of the journals, sermons, letters, hymns, and poems in such a way as to both outline Wesley's life and illuminate the leading elements of his thought.

Charles Wesley, perhaps best known for his hymns, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" and "Jesus Lover of My Soul," was the younger brother of John Wesley and the co-founder and poet-laureate of Methodism. Although he was an important figure in the history of Protestantism, Wesley''s personal life was shrouded by a cloak of silence and much of his work went unpublished. In this illuminating reader, John Tyson has collected hymns, sermons, letters, and journal material--many rare and hitherto unknown--to chronicle the life and works of Wesley in his own words. Tyson provides an extensive biographical-theological introduction, and supplements Wesley''s collected works with interpretative and introductory notes, creating a definitive account of Wesley''s character and contribution to the Methodist heritage.

The Great Athanasius is an introductory survey of the life and work of the most dynamic pastor-theologian of the fourth century. From his birth and early years in Alexandria to the "Golden Decade," the book charts the life and work of Athanasius through a close study of his main writings and other important works. Central to his story is the "Arian controversy," the Council of Nicea, and the subsequent difficulties that emerged in building a consensus around the "very God, very Man" affirmation of the Nicene Creed. The eventual triumph of the theology of the Nicene Creed was largely due to his tireless efforts, which are carefully chronicled in this work.Though a controversial figure in his own lifetime, through both his theological insight and ecclesiastical leadership, and in his fidelity to his faith convictions, Athanasius proved to be "the great" church father and theologian of his age and one of the seminal Christian thinkers of all time.

This second installment of the Methodist story, Shaped by Controversy, examines eight of the major controversies that epitomize aspects of Methodism''s inter-family dialogue and trauma. These theological, ecclesial, and ethical controversies tried the values, tested the patience, and strained our familial relationships. Ultimately they divided the Methodist movement. Ironically, controversy was often rooted in something that was good and right about the Methodist movement--a commitment to addressing what had somehow gotten out of balance and become destructive. Internal struggles over matters related to class, economic status, gender, and race shook Methodism precisely because the inclusion of all people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life was a foundational aspect of the early Methodism.Contentious controversies have revolved around matters like: 1) the nature of spiritual life, faith, and good works; 2) predestination and the nature Christian assurance of salvation; 3) the difficulties of living out Christian Perfection in a world full of imperfect people; 4) the pain and trauma of ecclesiastical separation; 5) women''s leadership in the church; 6) the debilitating effects of racism and segregation; 7) governance and shared leadership; and 8) the affirmation and full inclusion of LGBTQ people. These controversies within the church family have challenged and pained Methodists deeply. They have also forced Methodists to examine their own priorities and clarify what matters most to them. How the Methodists responded to these controversies, for good or for ill, has shaped the identity of the Methodists as people of faith. Hopefully, both guidance and encouragement can be found in this history because the past is often like a distant mirror that reflects very clearly upon lives lived today.

How have Christians over the centuries demonstrated faith, worked through doubt, acted with courage? How can great people of faith inspire our Christian journey? Can we really be like they were? Dr. Tyson believes we can, and he offers fifteen short biographies of significant Christians from various periods of history to prove it. We see in their lives specific examples of faithful responses to God and how their examples of faith can be put into practice in concrete, real-life situations. Dr. Tyson looks at the faith of the following great people of Christian faith: Vibia Perpetua (ca. 181-203), Athanasius of Alexandria (ca. 296-373), Augustine of Hippo (ca. 354-430), Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), Francis (ca. 1181-1226) and Clare (ca. 1193-1254) of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), Julian of Norwich (ca. 1342-1423), Martin Luther (1483-1546), John Calvin (1509-1564), John (1703-1791) and Charles (1707-1788) Wesley, Karl Barth (1886-1968), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), and Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997).

Methodism was Born in Crisis. It was a religious response to political polarization, ecclesiastical lethargy, classism and privilege, wage slavery and economic disparity, as well as to prejudice, inequality, and exclusion based on gender and race. Among the crises that convulsed Georgian England were: 1) the debilitating effects of the political use of religious authority; 2) the challenges of keeping faith in an age of science and reason; 3) the decline of "main line" religion; 4) the painful and oppressive impact of class privilege; 5) the inequities caused by dramatic economic disparity; 6) the hopelessness of wage slavery; 7) the devaluing and structural exclusion of women; 8) racial prejudice, and the systematic oppression non-white people; 9) the social crisis caused by religious prejudice; and 10) the debilitating effects of popular culture and its pastimes. The current volume traces how each of these historic crises drew from the early Methodists theological, spiritual, moral, and organizational impulses that became part of their spiritual DNA and left them with family traits that have come down to us in this very day. In a subsequent volume, Shaped by Controversy, eight of the main internal struggles that caused familial strife within the Methodist tradition will be examined and assessed. Taken together, these volumes are like a "distant mirror" with which Methodists and other modern Christians might take a good look at themselves. As such this is an invitation to hope anew and for Methodists as well as Christians of all backgrounds to consider who they are and what they intend be for Jesus Christ in the world.