The Flawed Ones

John Wesley, the father of Methodism, was born when the 18th century was beginning (1703) and died as it was coming to an end (1791) .   He was one of those men who could be characterized as a spiritual giant and a shaper of history.  The fact that he is still remembered by people who call themselves Methodists speaks to the lasting impact this man has had upon the life of the church and human history.  He was one of a kind.  The story he started writing in 18th century England has not yet been completely told.   

Even though his life bears the marks of greatness, it was also flawed.  His missionary work to the very young colony of Georgia can only be spoken of as a failure.  A woman named Sophy Hopkey was his downfall and he fled the colony with legal proceedings against him hanging in the air.  Much later at age 48 he married a widow, Mary Vazeille, who left him after seven years.  She later returned and left again and did the same several times before their final separation.  When they finally parted company, Wesley wrote in his journal, "I did not forsake her, I did not dismiss her, I will not recall her."  In addition there were times when he had a strained relationship with his brother, Charles.   

The life of John Wesley reminds us of the way God's use of a person can lift him or her onto a stage of spiritual influence that is staggering to consider, but it also reminds us that God uses ordinary flawed folks to accomplish the work of His Kingdom.  We see this story played out again and again in the pages of the Scripture as we read the stories of people like Moses and Simon Peter.  We also see it played out when we look in the mirror.  What often seems most improbable and most amazing is that God has found a use in the work of the Kingdom for the flawed person who looks back at us in the mirror each day.