초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This paper starts from the recognition that so many people are committing suicide everyday. In order to have answers and suggestions for this issue, this article explores John Wesley's understanding of a human being. Wesley tried to show that a human being was created in the image of God, which consists of natural, political, and moral images. Wesley developed his idea of the image of God throughout his lifetime and set the goal for a human being to not just be recovered from the fall, but to be recreated in favor of God. By Christ's redemptive work, a human being can be changed to love God and neighbors, argued Wesley; that, in fact, he/she can get the real happiness lost at the time of the fall. Wesley's understanding of a human being moving toward happiness made him denounce those trying to commit suicide officially, and even in severe and uncharitable language. Reading his works, however, shows that he did realize the desperate need and despair of his people in detail, and that he tried to encourage and persuade them to survive in any circumstances with the expectation of their final happiness. From Wesley’s response and sentiment, Christians may consider their response to suicide not just with condemnation from their view of doctrine, but with persuasive words for survival from the bottom of a warm heart. A human being should and can be happy here on earth while trying to follow Christ.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
John Wesley, human being, image of God, suicide, will to survive
