Can An Extraterrestrial Be A Christian?

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Accepted answer

What would Wesley do?

Methodism developed from some very practical considerations: Why were so many "Christians" living unholy lives? What is the best way to encourage church life that is more consistent with the New Testament example? etc.

Given Wesley's expansive views on evangelism:

I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. –Journal, June 11, 1739.

and that two legs of his eponymous quadrilateral (reason and Christian experience) would support him in it (while the other two - scripture and tradition - are largely*, if not entirely, silent on the matter); I propose that Wesley would have:

  • Preached the gospel to any alien he encountered
  • Observed the response: did any repent and believe? Do they continue to walk in holiness?

Before making a determined judgment.

In the event of a positive outcome, I have no doubt that Wesley would have welcomed them as fellow believers, most likely quoting Romans 11 re new branches being grafted in, or even boldly declaring "this too is a son of Abraham" (cf Luke 19:9). No doubt he would have baptised them, received them to the Lord's table and been declared a heretic (by an assortment of non-Methodists and perhaps even some from within his own tribe) for doing so.

*The only example that I can think of as being relevant is that of St. Francis preaching to the animals, and any conclusions drawn from such a tenuous basis would be highly speculative.

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