Priorities
I do not know if I have ever met another human with whom I agree on every single topic, from the mundane and inconsequential to the vital and gravest of circumstances. With about eight billion people on the planet, I do think such a person might exist, but people have different priorities, thoughts, ideas, opinions, and theological viewpoints. None of this is a surprise to people who have interacted with another human being, ever, but when a post started making the rounds a few years ago that John Wesley had written a political manifesto, I found myself curious. Would I agree with the founder of the denomination in which I choose to serve? Would the issues that Wesley wrote about beyond theology still be important to us today?
Some truth to begin, Wesley did not dabble in politics per se. This was not actually a manifesto. A museum in Britain had a sign in an exhibit that listed some of “John Wesley’s principles in the 18th century” with a subheading indicating that it could serve as such. The viewpoints and standings on social issues can easily be interpreted as such for anyone, but for a man as venerated as John Wesley, people do tend to pay attention to their opinions.
Without further ado, the list:
Reduce the gap between rich and poor
Seek to ensure full employment
Introduce measures to help the poorest, including a living wage
Offer the best possible education
Empower individuals to feel they can make a difference
Promote tolerance
Promote equal treatment for women
Create a society based on values and not on profits and consumerism
End all forms of enslavement
Avoiding engaging in wars
Avoid narrow self-interest and promote a world view
Care for the animals with whom we share our planet.
Posted in my office is also a list of the issues that today’s United Women in Faith listed as part of what they consider important issues in the world: homelessness, hunger, poverty, racism, illiteracy, economic justice, war and peace, health care for children, and international conflicts. For both lists I find that these are issues that I care about. That many of them are not solved and in the two plus centuries since Wesley lived, we have not made a great deal of progress on some of these issues. There is also an unfortunate reality that many of these issues are not solvable with a single, scalable solution, may require large, systemic changes, and all may feel like a crisis but it would be next to impossible to solve them all in one go. Working towards the free, just, loving world God imagines for all people is no simple task.
Good news! All of these have scriptures to go along with them. These ideas were not generated out of thin air and lean heavily on Scripture as a source for why these things matter. And no, this is not just based on Matthew 25 when the sheep and the goats get sorted based on the least of these- though that Scripture is definitely foundational and important when we consider how often United Methodists get involved in social and justice and social justice issues. These pull from other parts of Scripture including one of my favorites:
There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
(Galatians 3:28 NRSVUE)
Some of you have heard the tale of how in my first few weeks here in Valley View, a stranger said to me “but women can’t be pastors” when I introduced myself as the new minister at the UMC. Clearly, we have a ways to go on equality for women and perhaps gender equality in general is one that I find a priority because I know how important it is for young women and girls to see women in positions of leadership. The science backs it up. Gender equality does also mean that when the issues run the other way, when it is young men or boys who are being discriminated against, it is just as harmful. You’ll also find I’m no less opinionated or passionate about many of the other items on Wesley’s list. Perhaps no words ring truer here than Christ’s own:
For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.
(Mark 14:7 NRSVUE)
We, as a whole society, have a ways to go yet before we reach global perfection. And as individuals we definitely have a ways to go. Thankfully the Holy Spirit has abundant grace and mercy for all of us along the way and together we may yet see the day. Until then, we cannot ignore the issues of those who surround us. Ergo, we have, collectively, United Methodist Social Principles. The Social Principles, which are sometimes printed as a separate pamphlet, are a part of the Book of Discipline and serve as a guide for United Methodists everywhere on various social issues. In 2024, these received an update at General Conference. Frankly, they are now much easier to read and understand.
Some notes, much like the list generated by Wesley’s writings, The Social Principles are more aspirational than instructional. This is the general opinion of UMC people, but unlike church law, these are not binding. These are intended to guide while also recognizing that nuance and circumstance can require tossing these out in favor of righteousness, love of neighbor, or justice. In general, though, The Social Principles will already align with those values of Jesus which include compassion, grace, mercy, and kindness. And in a few centuries when future scholars study these, they may shake their heads and ask “how could they not know better?” much like we do with our own predecessors. The hope is that The Social Principles will help people recognize their own failings as believers, provide opportunities to grow in their faith, and to expand God’s Kingdom (that free, just, loving world that God imagines for all people).
Scripture becomes thoughts, thoughts become action. If you find yourself wondering about any of these, there are additional resources available for any issue or statement included in The Social Principles.
