In an age of constant consumption, fasting and simplicity sound almost foreign. We are formed by abundance, choice, and speed. Yet early Methodists practiced disciplines that intentionally limited consumption in order to deepen communion with God and strengthen solidarity with the poor.
For John Wesley, fasting and simplicity were not gloomy exercises in deprivation. They were joyful acts of trust. They created space for grace and reordered the heart toward love.
Fasting as a Means of Grace
Wesley expected Methodists to fast regularly, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, unless prevented by illness or demanding labor. He followed the pattern of the early church and believed fasting was firmly grounded in Scripture.
Jesus assumes his followers will fast. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do” (Matthew 6:16, NIV). Notice that Jesus says when, not if.
In his sermon “The Means of Grace,” found in Sermons on Several Occasions, Wesley describes fasting as one of the ordinary channels through which God works in believers. Fasting does not earn grace. It positions us to receive it.
When we fast, we confront our appetites. We discover how easily bodily hunger exposes deeper spiritual hunger. The discipline humbles us, clarifies our desires, and trains us to seek God as our true sustenance.
Simplicity as Holy Freedom
Fasting addresses what we consume. Simplicity addresses how we live.
Wesley preached extensively on the dangers of wealth and accumulation. In his sermon “The Use of Money,” he famously summarized Christian stewardship in three rules: gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can. Yet the saving he commended was not hoarding. It was simplicity of life so that generosity might increase.
Simplicity frees us from bondage to possessions. It loosens the grip of status and comparison. It allows gratitude to flourish.
Paul writes, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8, NIV). Such contentment is not natural in consumer cultures. It must be cultivated through intentional practices.
Solidarity with the Poor
For early Methodists, fasting and simplicity were never private spiritual hobbies. They were inseparable from works of mercy.
Money saved through fasting was often given to those in need. Simplicity of lifestyle created financial and emotional capacity for generosity. Wesley himself gave away the vast majority of his income, choosing to live on a fixed amount while distributing the rest to the poor.
Thomas Oden notes in Classic Christianity that authentic Christian piety has always included concrete care for the vulnerable. Wesley embodied this historic conviction.
Fasting cultivates empathy. When we feel hunger, even briefly, we remember those for whom hunger is not a discipline but a daily reality. Simplicity fosters identification with those who cannot choose excess.
Creating Room for Grace
Both fasting and simplicity create room. They clear space in crowded lives. They quiet the noise of constant consumption and open our hearts to God’s voice.
Kenneth Collins, in The Theology of John Wesley, emphasizes that sanctification involves the reordering of our affections. Fasting and simplicity are tools in that reordering. They teach us that we do not live by bread alone and that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.
Grace fills what we empty in faith.
Practicing These Disciplines Today
Few of us will replicate the exact patterns of eighteenth century Methodists. Yet the spirit of their disciplines remains relevant.
We might begin with a regular fast, perhaps one meal a week, using that time for prayer. We might examine our spending habits and ask how simplicity could increase generosity. We might choose gratitude over accumulation and generosity over luxury.
These practices are not about spiritual heroics. They are about love. Love of God who sustains us. Love of neighbor who needs our solidarity. Love that is freed from the tyranny of appetite.
A Closing Prayer
Generous God,
Teach us to hunger for you above all else.
Free us from restless consumption.
Give us courage to live simply
so that others may simply live.
Form in us a love that trusts your provision
and reflects your mercy to the poor.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
R Y A N S T R A T T O N 