“As our American brethren…are now at full liberty, simply to follow the scriptures and the primitive church…we judge it best that they should stand fast in that liberty, wherewith God has so strangely made them free.” -John Wesley
A very happy Independence Day from the John Wesley Institute!
I’m aware that we have an international reach, but we are based in Washington, DC and marking the 250th anniversary of American independence is a milestone that can’t be overlooked.
And while Wesley wasn’t a fan of the American Revolution, he remained focused on spreading scriptural holiness in its aftermath as American Methodist leaders such as Francis Asbury, Joseph Pilmore, Thomas Coke and so many others continued to work for revival in the new nation. In fact, the fifty years after American independence saw the greatest growth the Wesleyan movement has ever seen to date. Had this rate of growth continued up to 1900, there would have been more Methodists in America than people!
In the aftermath of the revolution, Wesley sent his Sunday Service to the new American Methodist church. And he adapted the Prayer Book to include prayers, with its prayers for the monarch, for American rulers in the new country. It’s a prayer that we can still pray today:
O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee, with thy favour to behold the Supreme Rulers of these United States; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may incline to thy will, and walk in thy way; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray for our leaders, for this nation, and the spread of scriptural holiness in this land and across the globe!
Ryan N. Danker is director of the John Wesley Institute, Washington, DC. This is adapted from a weekly JWI newsletter that can be subscribed to here
P.S.I’m excited to tell you that the Sermons for America book is going to press! This new JWI rean public engagement. Written by some of the greatest leaders of the Wesleyan movement, this book will be a wonderful reage or contact me directly if you would like to help us produce more re
America • Director of the John Wesley Institute • Dr. Ryan Danker • Independence Day • Institute on Religion & Democracy • Institute on Religion and Democracy • IRD Blog • John Wesley • John Wesley Institute • Methodist • Methodists • newsletter • prayer book • Ryan Danker • United States • Wesley • Wesleyan
