THE EXPLANATION BY JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY, REGARDING THE CATECHUMEN:
- The first regulation for the assistance of the Catechumen is to donate one seniti each week and, when the Tickets are distributed, to offer twelve seniti, amounting to twenty-four seniti each quarter. That is the regulation, for anyone who is poor, should not abide by this regulation. Also, well-to-do and wealthy people should not be confined; they should feel free to contribute from fifty seniti and above. In Tonga, our contributions are made each quarter, amounting to twenty-four seniti. That is the regulation, but that does not stop contributions of ten or five seniti from the poor, and anyone making a larger contribution should be accepted with gratitude.
- Everyone is free to become a Catechumen if they so wish to escape the wrath of God and wish to be saved from their sins.
- Another attribute is to TURN AWAY FROM INIQUITIES. Here are also other iniquities that we should attempt to avoid:
- Taking the name of the Lord in vain. Breaking the laws of the Sabbath by doing tasks that you should do on other days. Drinking alcohol to excess, and the sale of alcohol, except for medicinal purposes.
- Fighting and quarrelling. The Legal adjudications between family and family, the paying of one wrongdoing with another, and retaliating with bad language, and excessive self-praise of one’s own possessions.
- Here are some more iniquities to avoid. The buying of goods that are not allowed. Imposing excessive interest on goods. Useless gossip and abuse of those in authority.
- Do not do to others what we would not have them do to us.
- Do not do anything that would defame God, like the following: the wearing of expensive clothes and playing games that do not manifest the good name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The singing of unsavoury songs and reading unsuitable books that do not help us enhance our knowledge of God. Those are the words of Mr Wesley, but for us in Tonga, it means the singing of songs and reading of books that would undermine our religion.
- Do not be lazy; do not become useless.
- Do not accumulate worldly possessions.
- Do not go into debt if there is no visible means of repayment.
- Another character befitting of a Catechumen is Doing Good. There are many aspects of Doing Good. One is being diligent in charity work and being useful to other people.
To be useful physically, we can offer food or clothes, or visit people who are sick or someone in prison and offer help. We should also try to be helpful by offering spiritual assistance, and admonish those that are straying, and it is a “Teaching of the devil, that you should not offer spiritual help, unless you feel warmth in your heart to do so”. Most especially, that we should offer assistance to our fellow members and, if we are in a position to do so, pray for them.
It is the duty of the Catechumen to carry out his material obligations and to practice restraint for the sake of our religion.
- The Catechumen should always remember that the life of the Christian is not an easy one. They have a race to run, a cross to bear, and a lot to persevere in. Others will mock them because of Christ, and will be called the trash of this world, and they should not be surprised at the hatred of the world towards them, as they also express hatred towards our Lord.
- Another character expected of the Catechumen is adherence to the religious regulations. Here are some of them:
- Attending fellowships, reading the Scriptures and striving to understand the word of God. Uphold the two Sacraments, taking our children to be baptised and partaking of the Sacrament of the Last Supper. Holding family worship and private meditation, fasting, and not eating to excess.
- These are the last words of the Wesleys in their letter: “These are major instructions to our people, but they are the teachings of our Lord in His Word for us to follow. That means that the Holy Bible is the Book of Life and the Law of Religion. And we know that the Spirit etches these words in the minds of the people who are truly saved. Anyone who neglects these words, or who fails to carry out these obligations, we will admonish. If they do not repent, that person does not have any relationship to us; our hearts are clear.”
Mr. John Wesley
Mr Charles Wesley