Like today. I want to tell you about an early Methodist saint named Sarah Crosby, and the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church has identified this as a picture of her, but it doesn't look much like pictures of some of the other English Methodist women. But I'm no expert, so let's assume it's her.
Sarah Crosby was born in 1729, converted in 1749, quickly became a class leader known for her praying ability, and she was one of the preaching women in a circle of Methodist women closely connected with the ministry of Mary Bosanquet Fletcher.
She heard John Wesley and George Whitefield both preach in 1750, but she wasn't all that taken with Wesley's theology or his preaching at first. Like Whitefield, she was (initially) a Calvinist who believed Christ died only for the elect, while Wesley was an Arminian who believed Christ died for all people.
She read Wesley's sermon on Christian Perfection, however, and she remembered one sentence, one question, from hearing him preach about it, and it literally changed her life. They later became close friends, and she candidly told him that she had thought he preached with no power the first time she heard him but that she couldn't get that question out of her head --
"IF IT BE POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO GIVE US A LITTLE LOVE,
IS IT NOT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO FILL US WITH LOVE?"
As she prayed and reflected on those words, and as she received communion and continued reading scripture and meeting with other Christians, she became convinced that, if that was Christian Perfection, she believed God could and would do just that, even in and for her. She felt a tremendous sense of God's presence, even receiving visions of Christ standing before her, calling her to feed his lambs. This inner witness enabled her to begin speaking publicly to classes of both women and men, and when Wesley cautiously gave his blessing, he could never have dreamed of the vital preaching ministry she would have.
As I write my little book about early Methodist women preachers, I am captivated by that question, too. All ordained United Methodists are asked if they are earnestly seeking and expecting to receive this perfection in their lifetime, and we answer "yes," not because we are so good but because God is so great! And in early Methodism, everyone was expected to be seeking this gift of grace, as well.
In these fractious times within and outside the Church, I have to wonder what difference it would make if every single one of us were to pray earnestly for that gift of perfect love to fill our hearts. What if we were daily reading the Bible, weekly meeting with other Christians, constantly feeding the hungry, regularly receiving holy communion, and expectantly praying for the love that fills one so completely that there is no room for sin?
With election season in full swing and as General Conference looms ever nearer, I can't think of a more important spiritual practice than this, for us to ask the Spirit to be at work in us as the Spirit was at work in Sarah Crosby, making us capable of loving as Christ loves.
What do you think? How will you answer the question?
If it be possible for God to give us a little love, is it not possible for God to fill us with love?
With election season in full swing and as General Conference looms ever nearer, I can't think of a more important spiritual practice than this, for us to ask the Spirit to be at work in us as the Spirit was at work in Sarah Crosby, making us capable of loving as Christ loves.
What do you think? How will you answer the question?
If it be possible for God to give us a little love, is it not possible for God to fill us with love?
I know I could use to be filled with more love and less frustration. Your post ties in with my reading this morning in Osheta Moore’s SHALOM SISTAS about telling a better story. When she is tempted to meet enemies (or those who exceed her current capacity for empathy), she practices telling a story that helps to humanize the person. What might have happened before her encounter that gives a compassionate understanding. It hit me hard this morning.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with Shalom Sistas, but that strategy certainly sounds helpful. What's the other person's story of joys, sorrows, fears, and hopes?
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