A word you will never hear John Wesley say
November 01, 2021
JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS
DAVE HANSON
John Wesley said, “There is one word you will never hear me say!”
I was stunned when I read that statement in John Wesley’s writings.
I was even more surprised when I discovered the word was “dearest.” He meant that he would never use the word “dearest” in connection with God. He was concerned that many were becoming too familiar when speaking of Almighty God. The word “dearest” was to be used in expressing warm, intimate feelings of affection, especially to a person of the opposite sex. To Wesley, it was inappropriate to use such a term regarding a holy, almighty God.
John Wesley said his brother, Charles, sometimes use the term in his hymns. He said that whenever they sang such a hymn, he would refuse to sing along.
I wonder how he would feel about many of the gospel choruses we sing today.
The Rev. Dave Hanson is a retired pastor and John Wesley scholar.
