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Christianity Today, November, 2007 |

Traveling with Wesley

A recent trip to England brought home rich insights on wealth.

Philip Yancey | posted 11/20/2007 09:00AM

Last year, I did a ten-city tour of Great Britain in connection with a newly published book. For my morning reading, I brought along The Journal of John Wesley, a day-by-day account of the indefatigable ...

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Gary Lovelace

Posted: December 03, 2007 10:13 PM

Almost any christian who has struggled with this question could have written this article, and made no definative conclusion or suggestion. Just the reason we have the attitudes we do. The Bible is quite clear, about the place and priority the world, it pleasues, and priorities should have for us. There is place and time for the enjoyment of these external beauties. However, when they become your pursuit and purpose to the exclusion (or seccondary order) of kingdom pritorities, we have gone wrong. In our western world it will take an intentional turning to, and continueous choosing the love of others to escape the self gratifiying lifestyle which so subdtly ecapsulates and deceives even the most committed. ONLY as we make a committed choice to have the holy spirit give us the will and enegry (Phil. 2:13) for God's pleasure will we have the complete satisfaction and entire enjoyment of all of life on this earth. God has given us all things to enjoy.

Rose	Posted: November 29, 2007 3:45 PM

I do appreciate Yancey's point, but comparing Wesley to an average Christian today is like comparing apples to oranges. Wesley was called by God for a specific purpose; he had an all consuming passion and he walked it out very well. We are not all called to be a Wesley. Conversely, all of Wesley's quotes are very true and we would do well to heed them in our opulant, materialistic society. I found them very refreshing. Perhaps it is not so much a question of balance but of finding God's purpose for our lives and pursuing that purpose passionately as Wesley did.

Gavin

Posted: November 28, 2007 12:38 PM

I too found fascinating the reflection that 'religion' in its best applications may sow the seeds of its own later decline. Of course the OT record could be interpreted to support that concept to a degree ! In any case, I think this may all be part of God's master plan which we cannot see. While fighting the decline of churches (as currently constituted in the West, for instance), we should also be prepared to get on board God's next big thing if and when the nudge comes, using discernment as always, of course. Perhaps Jesus' invitation to "consider the lilies of the field" has more than one side or dimension, as with so many of his teachings. Enjoy and bless God for what is good in the world, and at the same time, consider how it all points to something beyond.

Marie

Posted: November 27, 2007 4:41 AM


I'm happy that God's call to repentance is for all people, in any station of life. Just be sure you use your talents He has given you according to his will. Otherwise, you will lose them and they will be given to someone who is busy using all his talents for God.

Keith McCallum

Posted: November 25, 2007 12:14 AM

Despite Dr. Smith's derogatory words about Wesley, the fact remains that he is one of the most influential voices in biblical Christianity, with spiritual fruit unparalleled by anyone of his era, or since. I find it incredulous anyone could consider themselves a scholar of Wesley and miss the obvious import of his life or disregard the tens of thousands of poor, suffering, orphaned and disenfranchised whose lives were salvaged by Wesley. If Wesley "took away the very characteristics that make God to be God," then it's certainly fair to say God would love to see more such men Smith would label as having "little or no balance." Wesley was one with the "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 (NASB)

Elaine

Posted: November 22, 2007 5:49 PM

An interesting article. I live in an area steeped in Methodist history and it is sad to see so many Chapels not being used any more. Wesley has left us a great legacy, which is not in the buildings but in his Christian testimony and devotion to Christ, we should be inspired by his spirituality. It is hard to balance the riches of this world with finding true riches in Christ and maybe austerity is the only real way to experience consistently that true, pure spirituality. I don't think 'Sinless Perfection' is an achievable state in this life no matter how austere we are but I think austerity is a way to eliminate the distractions that deflect us from that goal.

pete	Posted: November 22, 2007 7:13 AM


Religion and wealth go hand in hand! Nothing new there then. Why is it God Spirit moves most powerfully amongst the poor countries?

Reuben

Posted: November 21, 2007 10:06 AM

Once again Yancey posits great insight into a Christian dilemma with a simplicity and beauty. Wesley's mind was focused on Jesus Christ so thoroughly that all else in this world failed to compare. We could use more of him in this world of ours. However we must remember that some are called to find beauty in the here and now as well. We should not attack a person because they appreciate the beauty that God has given us through nature and art. Nor should we condemn one who shut out all distractions to focus on the work of Christ to save lives.

Kenneth Dachi

Posted: November 21, 2007 9:04 AM


This is an insightful piece. I will cherish Yancey's writing as one of the most penetrating and phenomenal I have had the privilege of being exposed to. God bless you. Kenneth Dachi, Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Michael A. Smith

Posted: November 21, 2007 8:21 AM

As something of a Wesley scholar, I believe that much of what we view as truth about Wesley has come from a revision of history re-written by the Methodist church. I have tried and failed to look at Wesley from the standpoint of his being an Enlightenment thinker. As a contemporary of Newton and others he fought against intellectual freedom and advanced the sola scriptura (the Bible as the only source of truth). While we exhaust the Bible, we must guard ourselves from the tempation of worshipping the Bible as the ultimate truth. In effect, Wesley was an early fundamentalist who denied the doctrines of the Reformation such as election and predestination and purported the heretical teachings of Jacob Arminius. The Council of Dort declared Arminius to be a heretic. His teachings take away the very characteristics that make God to be God. Wesley was a dictatorial leader and very unbending in church discipline. While his life had purpose, he had little or no balance.

Dana	Posted: November 21, 2007 6:54 AM

from the bias of a professional artist, - that is, a lover and student of culture and the earth around me - i am wary of wesley's rather apparent disdain for what yancey called "the common graces of beauty and culture". we all know that the earth is here for us to enjoy, and that there are indeed many beauties on it, and that one can enjoy and give thanks (i would dare say, easily) without idolizing the object of our thanks. my opinion is that the problem starts when we stop giving thanks. i know that my work in the studio suffers when i become transfixed with making great work as opposed to being transfixed with making great work with the help of, and to the glory of, the Lord. when i allow Jesus to look over my shoulder in the shop, then do i - and my work - flourish. yes, yes, the Lord is better than culture and flowers, and there will be better in heaven, but i wonder if wesley too easily disdained what the Lord has made.

Jeff Pelletier

Posted: November 20, 2007 3:30 PM

An excellent piece on the already-but-not-yet Kingdom of God. The Weslyan problem: "For religion must necessarily produce both industry and frugality, and these cannot but produce riches." Christianity's "work principles" naturally yield a harvest. The problem is as Wesley goes on to say: "But as riches increase, so will pride, anger, and love of the world in all its branches." His response was to ignore the one to avoid the other as many have. If we also apply that we are to be "prosperous in all ways, so we can be generous on all occasions" a great deal of Kingdom work will be done. Money, position, exist for Kingdom purposes, this side of heaven. Money etc, are power, and the purpose of power is empowerment.

Brent and Cindy Vermillion

Posted: November 20, 2007 2:49 PM

Mr Wesley was absolutely correct in counting this present and fallen world's greatest treasures and most beautiful marbles as nothing compared to having Christ and eternity. All we see will be burned and there will be a new heaven and a new earth according to Christ. I do, however believe in prosperity, but prosperity for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission. While John Wesley had some extreme views regarding dress and other similar things, his commitment and belief are an example for all christians today to get on with the Great Commission.

fleur

Posted: November 20, 2007 2:02 PM


Has Yancey written a new book? What is his latest work? Does anyone know if he is refering to his own book in the first sentence of htis article?

George Loper

Posted: November 20, 2007 1:47 PM

I believe that John Wesley looked at things through the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ and saw not only the bankruptcy of a soul without Him but the cataclysmic horror of a soul in the fires of hell for all eternity. If only the church would wake up to that reality and recognize their responsibility as Mr. Wesley to deny themselves the pleasures of this life and begin to wage war with the devil for their rescue.

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: November 20, 2007 1:23 PM

Joseph Smith, in a letter to a Chicago newspaper explaining Mormon beliefs, concluded by paraphrasing Phillipians: "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The early Mormons were people who had been raised by strict Methodist parents to think listening to a violin was evil, but who learned to enjoy dancing and theater and band music. One of the first structures erected in Salt Lake City was a theater, with a chandelier made by Brigham Young, glazier. The Mormon Tabernacle was built around its magnificent pipe organ, and its Choir has the longest running program on TV and radio in the US. Among its repertoire are the hymns composed by the Wesleys. Most of the early Mormons came from the United Kingdom, giving Utah in the 2000 Census the highest concentration of English descendants in the US. Some 200,000 Mormons in Britain will keep singing Wesley's hymns even if there are no Methodists in 30 years.

Kim	Posted: November 20, 2007 12:08 PM

I could read Mr. Yancey's thoughtful commentary hourly and not tire of his way of putting things. Casting Growns put it another way..."It's a slow fade, when we give ourselves away, when black and white turn to grey." (I paraphrased and mean no disrespect to the group or their lyrics!) It's a constant challenge to maintain balance, but if we're to err, I prefer to err on the side of Jesus Christ and disregard the things admirable/beautiful. Jesus Christ is eternal, those others are not. So, we admire in proportion to it's longevity perhaps.

Greg Chase

Posted: November 20, 2007 12:04 PM

While I do believe in balance as a Christian, I believe that God makes some intruments with only one purpose. Such was John Wesley. England of his period was a dark, shameful, evil place of which Dickens so clearly described. Perhaps he saw the utter "hell" the general population had fallen into and could only see their need for a Savior. Some years ago I read a book that is out of print now. It is called, "England Before and After the Wesleys." It was John and Charles Wesley who brought England back from the brink of total disintegration and destruction. Sometimes the purpose driven of the Lord are the only intruments He can use and He wields them well. Oh, to be one of those firebrands!

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