Thoughts on the Concerns of 19th Century Methodists

I have, for some time, been working my way through Leslie Ray Marston’s From Age to Age: A Living Witness – Free Methodism’s First Century. I had previously read the book for a class but wanted to return to the historical foundations of Methodism. (I’m a sucker for understanding history).

In reading about the rise and decline of American Methodism in the 19^th century, I ran across several comments from contemporary preachers and bishops expressing concern over the slide away from the pursuit of sanctification that had characterized first the Wesley’s and later the leaders of the transplanted Holiness movement in the United States. Many of this era lamented the slackening of Methodism’s advance and attributed it to a decline in a pursuit of purity and an increase in moral laxity.

I will attempt to provide a few examples.

On the decline in simplicity of worship:

“There was no standing among the members in time of prayer, especially the abominable practice of sitting down during that exercise was unknown among early Methodists.

Lord save the Church from desiring to have pews, choirs, organs, or instrumental music, and a congregational ministry like other heathen Churches around them.” – Peter Cartwright

On the decline in plainness of dress:

From the 1856 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church:

Quest: Should we insist on the rules concerning dress?

Ans: By all means. This is no time to encourage superfluity in dress. Therefore receive none into the church till they have left off superfluous ornaments. … Allow no exempt case. Better one suffer than many … Give no tickets to any that wear high heads, enormous bonnets, ruffles or rings.

On amusements:

“In his editorship of the Western Christian Advocate during the quadrennium before he was elected bishop in 1852, Matthew Simpson vigorously editorialized against the theater, state licensing of liquor, Sabbath desecration, and licentiousness which he claimed was stimulated by the exhibition of Hiram Powers’ sculptured nude, “The Greek Slave.”” – L.R. Marston

To 21^st century Christians, these concerns of 19^th century Methodist leaders seem legalistic and we are certainly tempted to dismiss them as relics of a less enlightened age. [it seems a general rule in history that we assume that our current generation is the most enlightened and judge vigorously the attitudes of the past. This, however, is a discussion for a different article.] We look at the charges of these early Methodists as acetic or extremist but too easily discount the spirit that birthed them: a passion for purity, devotion, and a ward against apathetic Christianity. For instance, rules over instrumental music and sitting in church were in place to discourage passivity in worship; to keep worship services from becoming spectator sports. Concerns over dress were aimed at guarding against pride and against encouraging economic disparity among believers.

We live in a particular age of American Christianity where our visible lives differ very little from our non-believing neighbors. From our dress to our Netflix habits our lives are virtually indistinguishable from those who don’t claim to follow Christ; except of course for one hour on Sunday morning. While the particular concerns of those early preachers may not apply to our context today, the Spirit surely does. Could it be that in our rejection of passionless legalism we have mishandled our liberty in such a way as to give us license to not only self-centered indulgence but outright sin? As I write I feel the tug of conviction on my own heart. Can we not all admit that we have allowed our leniency to corrupt the purity afforded us through Christ’s merciful atoning death and resurrection? Perhaps we are in need today of a similar fire; a realization and rejection of what is not beneficial for our sanctification. The call to discernment guards us against both the dangers of empty ritualistic observances and freewheeling moral compromise. Given by the Spirit, discernment empowers us with the liberty, responsibility, and freedom to willingly choose to obey our Savior.