Many people know about John Wesley. John was the founder of the Methodist movement. He freely used his gifts to help start one of the great awakenings in the life of the church. There is another Wesley that played a significant part in the start of the Methodist movement. Charles Wesley is the younger brother of John. John provided the leadership while Charles provided the poetry, lyrics, and hymns that brought passionate music to the life of the church.
Charles Wesley had many gifts, including preaching, teaching, and scholarship. However, it was his ability to poetically write words that so wonderfully share the story of faith. In his lifetime, Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns and poems, many of which are still used in worship today. He wrote powerful songs like, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and “Hark, the Harold Angels Sing.” These songs have helped the faithful worship for almost 300 years. The meaningful lyrics help us to put words to our experience of God. These songs help us lift our prayers of gratitude, praise, and hope before our God. In many ways, Charles was even more of an influence on the church than John. After all, we tend to easily remember songs and lyrics.
One my favorite hymns, written by Charles Wesley, is “And Can It Be.” This hymn of praise and gratitude was written shortly after Wesley experienced a significant encounter with God where he came to know the love and grace of God for himself. Charles realized that God was for him, and that God loved him, not because of what he had done, but because he was a child of the Most High. Moved by God’s grace in Jesus, Charles wrote these beautiful words:
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
(And Can It Be, Charles Wesley, 1738)
Drawing from the book of Hebrews, chapter 13, Charles Wesley writes a hymn giving thanks for the love of God and how God has opened all of heaven to us. These words have helped me praise God and give thanks for the grace I have experienced. I hope today, as you read the words of Charles Wesley, you will take time to give thanks to God for the love, mercy, and grace he has for you. We are “alive in Him,” because of His great love for us.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
