Wesley vs. Wesley

My pastor has an interesting blog post up about the influence of John Wesley’s sermons versus Charles Wesley’s hymns, making the case that Charles’ influence may be more lasting.  Check it out here, along with the comment by the regenerate Mrs. who contends that John’s primary influence was through discipleship rather than through his sermons.  She means no disrespect to artists, of course. 

This also offers me a great excuse to re-post a quote attributed to Damon of Athens, among others:  “Give me the songs of a nation, and it matters not who writes its laws.”  That’s always been an intriguing statement, especially as one who lives and works in the policy realms of Washington, DC, but who has also run across politicos like Bill Wichterman and Mark Rodgers who argue that the culture is upstream from politics (Wichterman has even written an essay to that effect).

Given the fact that this blog is focused on the arts rather than politics, it’s pretty safe to assume I think they’re right.