Wesley and Kelly Johnson's Fear of Beggars

I sent this email to Dr. Hall after reading Wesley's Sermon On Visiting the Sick.  After I sent it I thought I'd post it here for those who have read Johnson's Fear of Beggars or who want to discuss Wesley and his view of stewardship in relation to actually having friendship with the poor.  So here it is:

Dear Dr. Hall,
I hope all is well with you in this new school year.  

I continue to ponder Kelly Johnson’s Fear of Beggars. Particularly, her critique of Wesley and Wesley’s view of stewardship.  While I loved the book and it continues to shape the way I live, I was never very comfortable with her critique of Wesley because I felt it took Wesley’s ideas out of the context of the rest of his life.   

I have recently been reading through Wesley’s sermons that I have not read before.  I just read his sermon #98 On Visiting the Sick (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/98/).  It actually might also be titled On Visiting the Sick and the Poor.  While not everything in this sermon is agreeable, here he makes some of the strongest statements I have ever read on the topic of relationships with the poor and even what the poor can give to others.  Here are some quotes:

“One great reason why the rich in general have so little sympathy for the poor is because they seldom visit them” (I.3).

Speaking about whether you can send help via proxy Wesley says, “You could not gain that increase in lowliness, in patience, in tenderness of spirit, in sympathy with the afflicted, which you might have gained if you had assisted them in person” (I.5).

“You might properly say in your own case, “To beg I am ashamed;” but never be ashamed to bed for the poor; yeah, in this case, be an importunate beggar—do not easily take a denial.  Use all the address, all the understanding, all the influence you have; at the same time trusting in him that has the hearts of all men in his hands” (II.2).

Speaking about whether the poor ought to visit the sick Wesley says, “If they have no money to give, may they not give what is of more value?  Yea, of more value than thousands of gold and sliver?...Can you give them nothing?  Nay, in administering to them the grace of God you give them more than all this world is worth!  Go on!  Go on!  Thou poor disciple of a poor Master!” (III.4).

Wesley has a beautiful defense of women’s involvement in visiting the poor and sick.  He defends women as being equal with men in every way including being “rational creatures” and not “playthings” and calls on them to throw off any “bondage” that would keep them from ministering in such a way.  It is in III.7.

There are other difficult points like his defense of “cleanliness and industry,” but these are relatively few and short.  This sermon is possibly one of the best I have read of his.  I’d highly recommend it be read in dialogue with Johnson’s Fear of Beggars.  Johnson would have found much to rejoice about in Wesley’s sermon.

Peace,
Tom Arthur