43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
Matthew chapter 12, verses 43 thru 45; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Don’t you dare leave the United Methodist Church! You heard me right! Don’t you dare leave the United Methodist Church! Did I just upset some of you? Are you thinking: “This Preacherman has either gone bonkers or he’s been drinking the Kool-Aid of the Bishops!” Neither of these are true. My ESPN just kicked in and at least one of you are thinking: “But Preacherman! Aren’t YOU leaving? Then why tell me not to leave??? I’m confused!” Put your hackles down and hear me out. OK? Thank you!
With the slovenliness that is permeating our leadership, it is easy to want to get the heck out of Dodge. And who can blame us Traditionalist/Orthodox Folks for hurrying to abandon this thing that looks more like the Titanic than John Wesley’s vision for the Body of Christ. But then…there’s this parable of Jesus. It’s about a man who got rid of one demon, cleaned up his house, got it in order–but that’s all he did. That demon knew this, so he went back to check things out. Sure enough! It was all clean and in order–but that’s all. So he goes and gets 7 of his friends (who are also demons; I mean, who would be a friend to a demon but another demon, right?) and moves right back in. And that’s when things got a lot worse for that man. Comprende, my friends?
Sure we could just leave the United Methodist Institution and believe—wrongly believe, I might add—that we are finally free from this detritus and onerous thing. We might think we will be better off. But take into your considerations this thought: Where Will You Go? Oh, one more consideration: What are you going to do once you get there? If your only desire is to get away from the United Methodist Institution, you can achieve that desire. But what’s next? If you just leave without knowing the what’s next you are leaving the door open for even worse of the same-ol’-same-ol’. Remember this guy in Jesus’ story. He got out of one mess only to end up in an even bigger mess.
My fellow Wesleyans, this season of discernment is another one of God’s blessings to us. We have the opportunity to do more than just leave, we are being gifted by God’s Grace to become a part of renewal and revival across our land. To use an old term: Another Great Awakening! Whether you choose to become part of the Free Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, Global Methodist, or become independent–do so with the faith, hope, and conviction that it’s because God’s Kingdom is on the move and YOU get to be a part of this mighty movement! And please understand that it may require you to let go of a lot of ideas, opinions, and other stuff–so that you can step into what God is doing right now.
Friends, not every generation and age has had this rare and beautiful moment of stepping out of the old and into this fresh movement of the Holy Spirit. But we do! Step away from what was–AND step into what God is doing right now! Don’t dream about leaving! Please don’t! Instead, dream about what God is doing and where He is leading us. I am applying to transfer my credentials to the Global Methodist Church–not because I’m sick and tired of the United Methodist Institution; even though I AM sick and tired of it. No, my friends. I stepping into a fresh and new movement of the Holy Spirit! I have been doing more than just discerning about leaving the United Methodist Institution! I’ve been discerning what God is wanting from and for me and where that is going to happen! I’m getting in on the ground level and am excited to be a small part of seeing this movement form and grow! You can just leave, or you can step into another Great Awakening! Your choice!
Kingdom Pastor 
As a Methodist myself in the UMC, and a leader we are called to welcome all no matter what color they are, who they love or if they are disable. We need to love our neighbors as ourselves the way Jesus told us to do.
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Exactly!
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Provocative title and many will dive into the content. There’s a lot of chatter right now about a New Awakening. Is this bold or brash or wishful or insightful, or trusting that “something big is about to happen”?
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I am convinced it’s something big happening now. Some people are like Thomas who say they will believe it when they see it. I see it because I believe it! Strength and wisdom to you in your journey, Gary.
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Thanks for sharing!
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My thoughts exactly. I’m praying for a revival like none we have ever seen before.
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Brother Randy, Amen ! You’re right on target for advising your readership that this moment could very well be God’s way of creating a new wine skin. If the only change a disaffiliated former UMC congregation is willing to make is a changing the sign out front, then why bother. Otherwise what we have here is the UMC 2.0 I believe that now is the time to reevaluate the purpose of the Church in its relationship to the mission of God, and how best to achieve it. Every true believer must discern what their own personal calling is as well. Only then, will “Thy kingdom come, Thy will done, on earth as it is in heaven “.
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Amen, Robert! We have to make a complete break from the old ways and step into the New Wine of the Holy Spirit. He’s offering it to us right now!
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As a former Episcopalian, I can understand your pain. I found Yeshua as an Episcopalian, but they eventually lost Him. I have grown so much closer to Him in our current evangelical fellowship that is a part of the Great Commission Coalition.
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So glad and thankful to hear that!
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