John Wesley on Social Holiness

It was John Wesley’s great virtue that he believe spiritual and social holiness belonged together. Indeed he emphasised that there can be no spiritual holiness without social holiness, by which he meant, caring for the least, the last and the lost, the orphan, the widow, visiting those in prison, providing food and shelter to the homeless and hungry and establishing institutions in the U.K. to meet these needs. Furthermore, he was a committed and passionate opponent of slavery. This is why there is a display on slavery in England and the U.S. in the 18th century. It is not an accident that Methodism not only spawned the Salvation Army, but in America also the Goodwill Industry, and Hull House as well as various orphanages. Here are some of the Bristol exhibits…. Notice please at the top of the first slide a drawing of a slave ship bound for the New World, packed to the limit with human beings from Africa. The story of John Newton, once a slave ship captain but converted to Christ, who repented and wrote the great hymn. Amazing Grace, as a testimony about his life. By all means see the movie ‘Amazing Grace’ about the life of John Newton and just as importantly William Wilberforce.