Political Paradox: Wesley and Spurgeon

on August 14, 2013

In a recent blog post, Jonathan Merritt delves into the political views of C.H. Spurgeon, and points out that while the famed Prince of Preachers has become a paragon among religious conservatives, he held some political views that, for a Victorian Englishman, can only be described as liberal. The article points out that he favored abolishing the aristocratic House of Lords, advocated government action to address poverty, disestablishment of the Church, and perhaps most surprising, was anti-war to the point of regarding “all battles as but murder on a large scale.”

Merritt closes his post by thoughtfully calling readers to view Spurgeon as a reminder “that the relationship between theology and politics is more complex than we often assume.” Indeed, the relationship is a complex one, and not to add complexity to paradox, but one can’t help but be reminded of the nearly opposite example of John Wesley.

Wesley was of course, no theological liberal. Spurgeon himself said, “If there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitfield and John Wesley.” However, it cannot be doubted that Wesley’s style was marked by the passion of a revolutionary. He is remembered for his partnership with William Wilberforce in ending the slave trade, for being a strong advocate of prison and poverty reform, and debatably set a precedent for ordaining women priests. In light of all this, one would expect Wesley to be a sort of bleeding-heart liberal, and that his politics would match his style. Yet Wesley remained, quite adamantly, a life long Tory.

In the United States, Toryism is often narrowly associated with those Colonists during the American Revolution who remained loyal to the British Crown. In England however, the term is synonymous with Conservatism, and is usually marked by being a High-Church Anglican, a supporter of the Royal Family, the Aristocracy, and all the accompanying institutions and traditions. Applying this description to John Wesley is more than adequate, as even he himself described a Tory as “One who believes God, not the people, to be the origin of power.”

It is necessary to place the terms “conservative” and “liberal” in their appropriate historical context, as no doubt both men would cringe at what each of those labels has become. In Wesley’s time, the Tory’s rival Party were the Whigs, who in the next century were replaced by the Liberal party, of which Spurgeon was a life long member. The most famous Whig, Edmund Burke, greatly influenced modern Conservatism, especially in America, but when the Whig Party fractured the English Tories absorbed many of his views that the Liberal Party rejected. To understand the full historical weight of the situation, it is important to realize that politically, John Wesley placed himself to the right of Edmund Burke.

A critic of those who believed that Liberty was the highest political good and end to itself, Wesley, with astonishing foresight, once asked them that if after they abolished the monopolies they so hated, if in the name of liberty they would then move on to abolishing the monopolies that spouses have over each other in marriage. Furthermore, Wesley was no democrat. Responding to the idea that every common Englishman could be involved in Politics and contribute to public discourse, he ridiculed the idea by saying “While they are sure of everything, I am sure of nothing.”

Perhaps most shocking to our modern American democratic sensibilities, Wesley actively opposed the American Revolution, and wrote several tracts against the stance of the Americans. For this, he acknowledges that he was influenced by Arch-Tory Samuel Johnson’s pamphlet “Taxation no Tyranny.”

Wesley’s politics seem to be at odds with his preaching, which often speaks in terms of equality. Of the changes that result from Christian culture, Wesley praised that “the men of reputation were offended, because as the gospel spread, they declined in the eyes of the people.” To the modern mind, it’s hard to imagine the author of such a statement being a devout supporter of aristocracy. Yet that is exactly the paradox Wesley presents us, and it is partly answered by placing the view of Aristocracy in context. To the Tory, the Monarchy and Aristocracy were not about wealth and power. In fact, the Tories were the first opponents of Capitalism because of its emphasis on wealth and power. To the Tories, aristocracy was about cultivating the best leaders whose sole mission in life would be to care for their citizens.

In the main aspects that Spurgeon may be considered liberal, Wesley equally may be considered conservative. Spurgeon favored abolishing the House of Lords; Wesley criticized Edmund Burke himself for not being devoted enough to the King. Spurgeon favored disestablishment of the Church of England; Wesley remained a devout supporter of the Anglican Church, although neither of these views is outside the mainstream of their respective Baptist and Anglican traditions. Spurgeon was apparently a democrat, who based his opposition to the aristocracy on the belief that it disenfranchised the common man; Wesley, who advocated so many reforms for the working class, believed Politics was best left to the nobles, and that the ordinary citizen need not make a fool of himself.

It’s really quite an astonishing topic to ponder. John Wesley remembered for his revolutionary zeal and passion, was a devout supporter of monarchy, and like a good Englishman, wrote a pamphlet on the primacy of manners. Spurgeon on the other hand, who as Merritt aptly points out is widely revered among American religious conservatives, held views that many of his admirers would adamantly oppose.

Comparing the two examples only serves to further Merritt’s point that the relationship between theology and politics is complex. As Chesterton was fond of saying, paradox is bursting with truth. There is something about the eclectic manifestations of a Christian’s politics that make it seem more real and sincere. I imagine both Wesley and Spurgeon are amused at this discussion and our perplexity about their beliefs, and if they could speak to us, I’m sure they would remind us that the true Christian should not easily fit into man-made political boxes.

  1. Comment by Michael Snow on August 14, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    We also remember that they both opposed slavery.
    The ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ labels, that change chairs with time, should not obscure the fact that the bedrock behind their views was Scripture and their journey of faithfulness.
    Thus, Surgeon’s ‘liberal’ view on opposing war was centered on Christ’s teaching. More from him on that: http://spurgeonwarquotes.wordpress.com/

The work of IRD is made possible by your generous contributions.

Receive expert analysis in your inbox.