Wesley vs. Contemporary Wesleyans

[David van Beveren]

Keith Drury conclude in his article "John Wesley, the Calvinist" with the following
while Wesley agrees with Luther and Calvin and contemporary Wesleyans on many matters, he differs on some from both: Wesley’s position is:
Because of the extent of original sin, human beings are completely dependent upon God for the work of salvation – in conviction, repentance, and faith.
A person can not be saved at any moment the person chooses, but only in those moments in which grace is being offered capable of creating saving faith.
The only part a person plays in the work of salvation is to place themselves in the means of grace and then when that grace that can create saving faith comes choose to cooperate with it.
However, even this work of human cooperation is in itself a gift of prevenient grace.(for the whole article click here (http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/wesley.the.calvinist.htm))
Only to clarify:
I am very contemporary, i.e. I live now...
I am Wesleyan, at least I think I am... :)
Some questions:Is this only a lot of words to say the the receiving of saving faith is from another kind of grace than prevenient grace?
Although I acknowledge that faith is a gift of God, there was a moment that I started to believe. Was that not my choise?

What is the difference between responding to saving grace, and starting to believe?

Or, what is the difference between receiving saving faith, and starting to believe?
For all clarity I believe that it is only because of grace that I can respond.
But it seems I cannot get hold of the key notion that makes the difference. I cannot even state my questions clearly. :(
So I hope some of you will be so kind to help me to clarify this...

[Hans Deventer]

I think the whole issue is that for Wesley, faith was also a gift of grace, while nowadays, people tend to think that prevenient grace will allow you to turn to faith anytime you please. In that sense, we have diverted from Wesley.

It is not an easy issue though. You always keep wondering why, if people have enough grace, they won't believe! Seeing faith as a gift will solve that problem. However, it brings you right back to the question why God would not grant faith to all then. Hardly an easier question.

I agree with our Manual statement, where it says that "the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all people, enabling all who will turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus for pardon and cleansing of sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight".

But either way, the questions will remain.

[Bruce Carriker]

I don't really think that most churches that claim to be Wesleyan want to do any kind of serious self-examination in the light of Wesley's writings.