WESLEY’S MANIFESTO PART 1: REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

My husband and I joined an EO tour, led by Bishop Mark Webb and Jodi Webb, together with several other members of the Upper New York Conference on a trip to England. Can it be, it was just in February? Not that long ago, generally, but when I think of what has happened since, it seems a lot longer.

We visited many wonderful places, historical and religious. However, much of our trip was focused on the Wesleys: John, Charles, Suzanna and Samuel. We visited Epworth and Oxford and London and Bristol.

I Bristol was a museum with an entire room that I called the “Wesley Stewardship Room” (well, in my own mind). While I certainly enjoyed the rest of the museum and all that it had to offer, I didn’t take more than a couple of pictures until I got to that room. My husband probably wondered what I was doing, spinning around and clicking away with my phone.

One of the pictures from that room was a display labeled “John Wesley’s Principles in the 18^th Century---A Political Manifesto for Today.” Notice the label contained “today” and “18^th century”. Certainly different times, but how different?

Let’s starting looking at that manifesto and how it relates to stewardship. A manifesto is defined as a “public declaration of policy and aims”, and this manifesto includes what was important to John Wesley and during his time, a good policy, but I think it also includes what must remain important to us in our time.

Mathew 25:29: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance”.

The first item is to “reduce the gap between rich and poor.” What does that mean? I have heard the argument that it sounds like socialism or communism. I don’t think it does.

Let me ask (and give my own answer) on a couple of questions:

1.    Why do we give? – I give because I believe God has called me (and others) to share what we have received with others.

2.    Why should I give away what I have worked hard for? – I may have worked hard (after all, it was ingrained in me by my parents as I grew up), but I believe that everything that I have is a result of God. Genesis 1:1 says “God created”. If God created, and Scripture goes on to say that it was a void and God created everything, then nothing I have is really because of me, myself and I.

3.    Why do I give to the church? – I give to the church, not to keep the lights on or the heat on (although I love churches and I do have to say sitting in a warm church in the winter or a cooler church in the summer, and having enough light to read by is pretty important). I give to the church because the church has the ability, and the responsibility, to use those funds to do the ministry and accomplish the mission that it is called to do. In the United Methodist Church, we have a mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Great words, but surprise, surprise, it is the real world and a lot of that mission and ministry takes money to accomplish.

If the church is fulfilling its ministry, then I believe that God is calling me to the church.

I give because I can and I am called to do that. If I have more than I need, why should I keep it? Giving away just some of what God has entrusted to me is one of the ways I am able to make sure that my neighbor can eat, and live, and be clothed, and be healthy. I don’t think that’s asking too much. Do you?