Customer Reviews

A Real Christian: The Life of John Wesley

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Ken Collins has written a biography of Wesley which may well become a standard text for College level courses on the founder of Methodism (which is the use to which I have put it.) Collins was my church history prof at seminary. He has written several books on Wesley, and is one of the "new lights" in Wesley studies. The book avoids making a stained glass saint out of its subject while at the same time demonstrating a genuine respect and reverence for this great Christian leader. All of the major events of significance are covered but with a readability that is backed up by scholarly research. It is sometimes hard to find a book on a major figure in church history which doesn't give in to the temptation to gloss over the "real" person. Collins has written a book which shows that this "real Christian" was also a "real person." Highly recommended.

This is a beautifully written biography of John Wesley. This text presents an accurate history of Methodism's founder, with an emphasis on his life-long striving to be and remain what Wesley himself describes as a "real Christian," as opposed to an "almost" or "nominal" one. It is quite clear Collins brings a passion for Wesley himself and for his theology. His use of language is remarkable. The style and presentation he offers in this biography are both rhetorically satisfying and aesthetically pleasing. Do not be fooled by the size of this well-crafted work - it is only 160 pages - for it contains all the significant people, places and movements of Wesley's life, and is composed and presented in a fashion which is sure to attract a wide reading.

I read with great interest this biography, hoping to get an overview of a famous man I knew little about. Kenneth Collins has worked hard to present not just the man with all his flaws and brilliance, but also his thinking and the impact it had on our world. In addition to triumphantly succeeding in these goals, Mr. Collins is an excellent writer and keeps the reader's interest. Days later I am still thinking over some of the points he made and evaluating my own life in light of John Wesley's. I highly recommend this book.

Collins provides the reader with a wonderfully concise and through biography of John Wesley. Though Collins places significantly less attention on some of the prominent emphases of Wesley's theology, mainly the perfecting of holiness in the believer, and choosing instead to shift attention to Wesley's lesser (and more ambiguous) emphasis on being a "real Christian" in substitute, the author still maintains a historically intact overview of Wesley's theological journey. The reader should certainly approach this book as a biography as opposed to an exaustive treatment of Wesleyan theology. A rewarding read, I found Collins' style both engaging and informative.

This was a wonderful, brief overview of the life of Wesley. Mr. Collins has provided a rich narrative that details the character strengths and the flaws of this Great Man of Faith.

I am grateful for the text and learned much from it that has impacted me personally.

Trully a great book about an amazing man of God!

"A Real Christian: The Life of John Wesley" presents an accurate introductory portrait of the life, ministry, and theology of John Wesley. From reading this well-written and easily accessible book, it can be seen rather clearly that Wesley's idea of holy love for God and neighbor is at the core of who Wesley was. This holy love of God worked throughout Wesley's life as he was continually transformed and empowered within his social context. Collins rightly portrays this time and time again as he highlights Wesley's concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of the marginalized in society. All in all, Collins does an extraordinary job at showing how Wesley was not only a great theologian, but was a "real Christian" who experienced the love and grace of God that breaks the chains of sin, and transforms the hearts of humanity for service. I would personally recommend this text to anyone who wants to begin a journey into the life of John Wesley and the Wesleyan theology. This book is very valuable to any student, pastor, or anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of how God continually works in our lives through enabling grace. Definitely worth the read!

"A Real Christian" is an outstanding look at the life of John Wesley. Collins is concsise in his writing, while never becoming "dry" as is so often the case with books of this nature. Collins presents a very even handed, fair look at John Wesley that proves to be a compelling, informative read. This book is a wonderful entry point for those wanting to get a solid, well informed grasp on the man Wesley, as well as his motivations, struggles, and beliefs.

Having studied Wesley, as well as having read both Outler and Maddox, for my money, Collins and his writings are second to none.

This book is a great introduction for anyone who wants a quick overview of the life and theology of John Wesley. What I like best about this book is that the author not only presents Wesley's biographical and spiritual history, his journey into the love of God and neighbor, but he also highlights his ministry - such as Wesley's work among the poor (free medical dispensary etc.), his preaching to those outside the church and his stance against slavery, especially in terms of Wesley's letter to Wilberforce. Most importantly, the author weaves the development of Wesley's theology throughout the entire biography so that the reader comes away with a solid sense of the theological beliefs that inspired Wesley's ministry. I've recommended this book to several people because it is a quick read that is clearly written and loaded with information.

'A Real Christian' was very insightful, and balanced. If you want to understand how Wesley developed his theology, or how he matured and developed spiritually, then this is an excellent book.

This book was my introduction to the life of Wesley, but the book may be more suited for people who already have some exposure to this important person.

The author's goal is to go beyond telling Wesley's life story to focusing on his theology.

The back cover description:
"[the book] fills a void in available books in Wesleyan-Methodist studies by providing a brief, solid biography that focuses on Wesley himself. At the same time as exploring Wesley's ancestry, birth, death, and every major biographical and theological even between, the theme of the book explorers John Wesley's spiritual growth and maturation."

In other words, the book primarily deals with Wesley's ancestry, birth, death and a few of the major events in his life, but mostly deals with a development of his theology, though the book talks mainly about the subject of Christian perfection, rather than holiness.

The author's writing style can be slow at times, with some run-away sentences. Sentences can average 5-6 lines each. If you're new to John Wesley like I was, then you may want to start with another introduction.

If you're looking for a book that details the development of Wesley's theology on Christian perfection as well as faith and assurance of salvation, then this is the book for you. This book is a good theological history.

I was excited to assign this book to my Church Book Club, but it turned out to be a grave disappointment. Collins uses the paradigmatic tool of focusing on Wesley's disputes with his brother, Whitefield, etc. to explain Wesley's theology and Wesley's interpersonal issues with women and friends to define his character (i/e using conflict to distinguish his theology and character). Therefore, a man who helped open the Body of Christ to the poor and forgotten in a new way in Europe by extending the church to the coalfields and the tenement houses, who provided the theological foundation for the end of the horror of the African Slave Trade in the British Empire, a man who provided a way to affirm both the Protestant view of salvation by faith alone and the need to live out the commands of Christ, a man who is the Father of the modern day Evangelical movement and has tens of millions of spiritual heirs -- is reduced to a fussbudget that seemed to engage is disputations with everyone he met. The twenty members of my Book Club were not impressed - one man exclaiming that if he had read this book earlier he doubts he would have become a Methodist and a woman wondering why anyone would think Wesley to be a man of God. While I was not desiring a hagiography, I would think that any biography of Wesley needs to examine his impact on the culture of England and Europe, his impact on the lower classes and the transformed lives of those that became a part of the Methodist movement, his focus on love as the primary way of knowing God in Christ, etc. Reading this book was analogous to reading a biography of Thomas Jefferson that only focussed on his disputes with John Adams, the newspapers and his affairs with Sally Hemmings without any in-depth look at his impact on American politics, history or ideas. Pastors beware.