"Without zeal it is impossible either to make any considerable progress in religion ourselves, or to do any considerable service to our neighbor, whether in temporal or spiritual things. And yet nothing has done more disservice to religion, or more mischief to mankind, than a sort of zeal which has for several ages prevailed, both in pagan, Mahometan, and Christian nations. Insomuch that it may truly be said: pride, covetousness, ambition, revenge, have in all parts of the world slain their thousands, but zeal its ten thousands.” This is how John Wesley began his sermon, ‘On Zeal.’ Now ponder along which lines you associate zeal? Is it about the former (progress and service to our neighbors) or the latter (stamping out anything and anyone unlike me/us)?
Undoubtedly, the latter description is what creeps into the minds of most people upon hearing about “zeal” or any of its cognates. How lamentable! Wesley contends that this is not true zeal, but is fueled by something other than true religion. Even so, it is possible to distinguish right zeal from wrong, “but it is difficult…so skilfully do the passions justify themselves.” The standard against which to measure actions and attitudes that can be described as “zealous” and whether or not they are right or wrong is to determine the aim and what rules the zeal. Wesley notes that he had come across the notion that something could only be properly called religious or Christian zeal “if it is joined with charity.” Then he notes that another author takes it a step further and says that love (or charity) must be the “chief ingredient” of zeal if it is to be considered Christian. Wesley takes it to the ultimate: “May we not say that true zeal is not mostly charitable, but wholly so? That is, if we take charity in St. Paul’s sense, for love – the love of God and our neighbor…True Christian zeal is no other than the flame of love.”
The chief properties of this love are humility, meekness and patience. How many of your actions and attitudes that you would consider to be “zealous” would fall in line with these properties? “Love” can easily be twisted if we don’t talk about what qualifies “love” as righteous or holy. That’s why bringing up humility, meekness, and patience is significant.
Upon establishing these qualities, Wesley establishes a hierarchy, of sorts, to help guide the Christian into rightly placing zeal. The metaphor perhaps most appropriate is a target, with the thing closest to the center being the most important. Beginning on the outermost circle, then, he indicates that we should have zeal for the Church, in particular that branch (or denomination, including our local congregation) of which we are a part. Then a little more important than this are “works of piety,” which include the commonly referred to “means of grace” (hearing, reading, and meditating on the Scriptures; public and private prayer; the Lord’s Supper; fasting). Closer still to the center are “works of mercy” – relieving the “distress of our neighbour, whether in body or soul.” Even more important than this is being zealous for “holy tempers,” which are the motives behind all works of mercy and piety. But above all it is love that “sits upon the throne...and reigns without a rival.”
This was the type of zeal to which Wesley was calling the early Methodists…and the zeal that we would do well to pursue. Imagine if our zeal was guided according to that “target.” The world may have different things to say about “zealotry” than what we currently hear. Having the “flame of love” means we are humble, not proud. That is true zeal. Having the “flame of love” means we are meek, not easily angered nor driven by anger. That is true zeal. Having the “flame of love” means we are patient, not quick to act rashly. That is true zeal. Having the “flame of love” in our hearts means that we are not filled with hatred, bitterness, prejudice, jealousy, and a whole host of other “evil tempers.” “It is utter folly and impertinence for any to talk of zeal for God while he is doing the works of the devil.”
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