Sophie

 First Wednesday of Easter

Lectionary Texts:

Acts 4:36-5:11

John 20:24-31

Thanks to Frances for her disagreement. I am open to bring persuaded the other way.

While it is often said that God in the OT is harsh and judgmental in contrast to God in the NT who is gracious and loving, the story from Acts in our lectionary text today belies that notion, as do much of the books of 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.  God's harsh judgment on Ananias and Sapphira seems out of character with the God we see in the rest of Acts. 

Today we return to our study of Wesley and early Methodism. In Savannah, Wesley was introduced to Sophia Hopkey, age 17. He was 33. He was employed to be her tutor in French and Practical Divinity. A romance developed, much to the confusion of Mr. Wesley. Sophie's age was not problem for him; the whole idea of his getting married was. As I read various books on Protestantism, I find there is in many denominations, especially in the 16th-18th centuries, a residual preference for clerical celibacy. All Protestants disavowed it, but many still practiced it. Such was the case with John Wesley. The story of his relationship with Sophie Hopkey is variously told, but we can gather this much. The couple were in love. Wesley admits of having kissed her one or two times. Sophie wanted to get married. Wesley was very unsure. He was thinking of being a lifelong missionary on the American frontier, working especially with Indians. He foresaw a rough life with frequent moving. He thought that the hardships of his work would preclude marriage. Nonetheless, love beckoned. Unable to make up his mind, Wesley delayed and delayed. Eventually Sophie gave him an ultimatum. 

 

Although there are various stories of what happened next, it appears that the emotion wracked Wesley resorted to Bibliomancy. That is, turning to a page of the Bible at random. If he came to a negative word--no, not, never, etc. before coming to a positive word, he would not marry her. If he came to a positive word first, he would. The negative appeared first. John told Sophie that it was God's will for him not to marry her. 

 

Sophie went off to South Carolina. She returned in a couple of months, married a man name Mr. Williamson. Wesley was exceedingly distraught. When she and her new husband appeared for a Sunday service at Wesley's church, her denied them communion, saying that their marriage was so quickly consummated as to be impure. This was a total embarrassment to both Mr. Williamson and Sophie. Wesley's subsequent further defamation of the couple led Mr. Williamson to take out a law suit for libel against Wesley.

 

When it became apparent Wesley would lose the lawsuit and had no money to pay the damaged parties, John Oglethorpe, the governor of Georgia counseled Wesley to return to England, which he did. 

 

Most Wesley scholars think he made a huge mistake in not marrying Sophie. Wesley did eventually marry, at age 48. The marriage was disastrous. The couple lived together for less than a year. They never divorced but lived together for only four months. 

 

Wesley's multiple failures in Georgia sent him back to England a broken man. 

 

O Lord, our God.

We give you thanks that you lead us, even through our worst mistakes. Lead us now. Amren

 

Faithfully,

Chrristian