The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Mission Statement of the United Methodist Church
An article was recently posted by the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) appears to give the image of being some good news in a season when sad news has saturated the United Methodist Church (UMC). So far over 2,000 congregations in the U.S. have disaffiliated (withdrawn) from the UMC. And though the UMNS quickly points out that that’s somewhere around 9% of UMC congregations, for many Annual Conferences it represents 40% or more of their average weekly attendance, as well as 40% or more of the funds for those Annual Conferences. And now it’s being touted as, well, let me put it in the exact words of the UMNS: Growth For Some Churches Staying United Methodist(read the entire article here)
Some growth? As the article stated, that growth happening from people migrating from other churches that had disaffiliated from the UMC. In other words, they grew by sheep swapping!Sheep swapping is when one member from one church joins with another church. Thus they brag they are growing their church. Now, a most serious disclaimer. There are moments and situations when one moves from one church to another for just cause. Perhaps that church has deeply wounded them–and they know that they cannot grow in faith if they stay there. Or those moments when The Spirit transplants them from one congregation to another because of His plans for them and/or their new church.
But simply to move because a local church didn’t meet their needs? That’s not a just cause, in my humble opinion. Now, back to the UMC. Their mission statement is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. But it seems to me, a former tribal member, that the best they can do is to tout they have pulled in folks from other congregations. Nothing about making new disciples and nothing about for the transformation of the world. Isn’t this their stated purpose?
Now, here’s a reality check for my former tribe. Your leadership isn’t following your mission statement. I’m right because of four words: the transformation of the world. The UMC leadership in its theological direction should have this as its true mission statement: The Mission Of The United Methodist Church Is To Compromise With The Values Of The World So That No One Is Offended! A final word to any United Methodist who is still considering staying in the UMC. They tell you they haven’t changed any other part of your beliefs–YET! If they are willing to compromise with the values of the world in one area, then it won’t be long until they will compromise with the world in another area. . . and then another. . . and then another . . .and. . .
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, or he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Matthew chapter 7, verses 24-29; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
I know that the Chinese Spy Balloon, excuse me, “weather balloon”, is old news. But The Spirit prompted me this morning to think about that episode. And what the The Spirit said was provocatively simple. “Ever think about how many people are just like that balloon? Just floating around, without any real foundation for their life?”And do you know what my response was? I was heart-broken! Know why? Because The Father is heart-broken. How do I know this? Well, this parable that Jesus shared about the difference between being anchored to the Truth and just floating around. If you doubt my connection, then here’s another one:
When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew chapter 9, verse 36 (NLT)
We need to have our lives anchored to Truth; not just any truth, but THE TRUTH! And contrary to popular opinion, we humans do not process THE TRUTH. Only God; and He has chosen to reveal THE TRUTH in what we call The Bible. We have to act upon The Word–by doing what The Word tells us to do. That’s the difference in the outcome of these 2 houses built by different builders. One had the foundation and the other didn’t. Now, progressive theology wants us to believe that the only thing that really matters is love. After all, that’s what Jesus did. Forget the rest, just love like Jesus. While this may sound good, it turns us into those weather balloons, just floating around being controlled by whatever the winds decide to do.
In that powerful Sermon On The Mount, Jesus said “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” Friends, we must be anchored to The Word, The Bible because that’s exactly what Jesus wants us to do. It’s The Bible guides us and sets the boundaries for our lives. Without ALL of God’s Word, we build houses that simply will not stand up to life as it really happens.
And for anyone in my former tribe, the United Methodist Church (UMC), who thinks they can #StayUMC and still be faithful to God–remember this parable from Jesus, Himself. The leadership of the UMC is building a house upon the sand. And if you stay inside that house, don’t be surprised when it collapses all around you. Here’s a final question for you to consider: Do you want to build your life around human thinking, thinking that is flawed by sin? Or do you want to build your life upon the Word of the Perfectly Holy God?
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3 thru 5; from the New Living Translation (NLT); emphasis mine
Some may think I am disqualified for saying anything about the United Methodist Church (UMC) because I left. If they want to think that way, feel free to do so. But I spend 66+ years in the Methodist/United Methodist Church. They had abandoned me long before I left them. And I have friends who still think it’s OK to stay in the UMC. Therefore, I am still qualified to speak into the 21st century version of the Titanic. And a recent article only affirmed that I was listening to The Holy Spirit in the choice and decision to leave the UMC.
On 8 February 2023, the United Methodist News Service shared an article by Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards titled Using Our Brains: A Proposal for General Conference. He would have the delegates for the upcoming 2024 General Conference rely on their brains rather than good solid biblical and Holy Spirit inspired theology. Well, here’s some of what Rev. Burton-Edwards wrote:
How can next year’s General Conference make good decisions about the future of The United Methodist Church? I’d like to offer a perspective and several concrete suggestions about how to make sound decisions — and feel good about them — grounded in what neuroscience and neuropsychology have been discovering over the past several decades. There are two pairs of best practices in decision-making one can derive from this literature. One is about reducing: Reduce the number of options and stressors. The other is about building: Build consensus and satisfaction. The first two relate to how our brains are structured to help us make significant decisions about new or complicated situations (neuroscience). The second two relate to internal and external factors that can influence our ability to persevere through a difficult decision process and feel good about it when we’re done (neuropsychology). Attending to these best practices can set up the Charlotte meeting of General Conference in 2024 to deal successfully with perhaps the most momentous decisions it will have made since the Dallas meeting in 1968 that created The United Methodist Church.
Rev Burton-Edwards
Don’t misunderstand me. I want the UMC to be healed and move forward in God’s Kingdom. It would fill me with Great Joy to see a revival break out like it has been happening at Asbury. His answer to the quagmire of the United Methodist Church is neuroscience and neuropsychology. When I read that, my brain went immediately to the Scarecrow from The Wizard Of Oz. If he only had a brain! Now, I’m not against thinking and using our brains. God knows I wish more people would! But to base the future of a church solely on the brain? And then expound that it will solve the spiritual problems and move them forward into a better future? Geez, Louise! It seems to me that brains without The Spirit is what led the UMC to this point in history.
Now, I am like an umpire or referee. I only call it like I see it. And here’s how I call it. Neuroscience and neuropsychology have become the Baal of the modern United Methodist Church. Did I offend someone? Oh, well. The Truth has a tendency to offend at times. This is one such time. To remain a United Methodist is to bow down to Baal–the Lord of neuroscience and neuropsychology, rather than The Lord Of Lords and King Of Kings. It’s replacing Jesus as the Head of the Body of Christ with the head of neuroscience.
Does anyone want to speculate on the final outcome if this madness continues? Without knowing it (but then again, maybe he did) John Wesley made this comment, and I will leave you with it:
I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians chapter 5, verses 17 thru 21; from the New Living Translation (NLT) (emphasis mine)
It’s been over a year and it should be finished by now. In the State of Alabama, it only takes 6 months to probate an estate. But it’s not! And it’s all because this alleged attorney who allegedly specializes in estate law left out some details–important details! I’ve confessed and repented to God, and now I will to you, also. I allowed this alleged attorney to lead me into forgetting the peace of Christ and patience. Please forgive me because I’m the one who is called to live by the standard. But with all my wrong choices yesterday, The Spirit manages to teach me something–something important! IF I am listening. And I was this morning.
Ever heard the expression The Devil Is In The Details? It means the details of a matter create the biggest problems. Am I right? Of course, I am! My former (the United Methodist Church) tribal leaders are, and have been for some time, preaching and teaching that the details, the details of living a Holy Life, are not to be found in The Bible. The only thing that matters is love. And this kind of love can only be expressed in terms of acceptance and approval. And all those details about sin revealed in Scripture and by The Holy Spirit? They simply don’t exist. Thus, sexuality is determined by feelings, which is simply another way of saying sinful nature. Ignoring the details has exploded, making the church impotent, and unleashed gender dysphoria.
Amazing (but not really) how progressive theology overlooks what Paul told this church in Galatia. Read and reflect on the opening line in verse 17: The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. This sinful nature is what is in all of us and controls all of us–that is–until we admit we are a sinner and get sick and tired of being controlled by that sinful nature and ask God to transform us by giving us a New Nature. News Flash: the sinful nature is revealed in the details of sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Disagree with Paul? Disagree with me? Well, guess what??? You’re still wrong! And if you, and my former tribal leaders, persist in this current course of disregarding the details of the sinful nature, then anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Yesterday afternoon, and into the evening, I opened the door to my old sinful nature. And it was ugly; I mean pure ol’ ugly, you-ain’t-got-no-alibi-ugly! And the disgusting irony of it all is that while I was grumbling and complaining about an alleged attorney who forgot the details, I had forgotten the details. Yes, the Devil is in the details. But so is God! In this Sacred and Precious Word we call “The Bible” is every detail we need to recognize and live the Holy Life–which is the ONLY life that God wants from us. I leave you with a challenge from Paul, one he gave to another church–and to all future Followers Of Jesus!
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
31 One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. 32 Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.
Genesis chapter 11, verses 31 and 32; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Today’s musings are some excerpts from this past Sunday’s message and the Spirit told me to share some of it with you today. The Key Theme for this message was all about Faith. The Big Idea I wanted to share was this: The Promise Of God Is Not Found Where We Settle, But Where We Leave Everything Behind And Live By Faith. And though I was focused on Hebrews 11 (and what better book and chapter to talk about faith than Hebrews?) and Abraham–I was drawn back in time to Abraham’s father, Terah.
At the core of our walk with Jesus is Faith. Without Faith, there is no walk. And if we are going to talk about Faith, well, Hebrews 11 is a great place to start—and Abraham is the model we need to understand—and to follow. Let’s focus on this question: What Exactly Is Faith? Dictionary.com defines it this way: “Belief In God Or In The Doctrines Or Teachings Of Religion”.
That’s the way a lot of people see faith—that we believe God exists, that Jesus is God’s Son and Savior of the world, and what we believe about the doctrines of the church. If this is the case, then Satan has Faith. But when the writers of the Bible talk about faith, it’s not in the beliefs about God or Jesus or doctrines. It’s much more. For the writers of the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, the word they used for Faith was “Pistis” and it means: “Conviction Of The Truth”. It’s not “doctrine”, not the “what we believe”—it’s all about conviction of The Truth.
Think of the difference between faith as the things we believe versus faith as conviction of the truth in this way: It’s Opinion Versus The Certainty Of The Truth. Opinions are what we hold—all of us have opinions. Convictions are what grab us and hold us tightly, regardless of what happens around us—and it’s rooted in the Truth. Now more about Terah. It was just a few years ago that I discovered this part of the Covenant Story. For years I hadn’t seen this part. And it was an eye opener for me.
Now get this: God Gave The Vision To Terah And Terah Set Out Following That Vision. There’s a tragedy in the life of Terah that’s so very clear when our eyes, mind and heart are open to it. “He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.” Terah was heading into God’s future, to The Promised Land but Terah stopped at Haran and settled there. What Have You Settled For Instead Of God’s Promise? As tragic as it was for Terah to settle for Haran instead of The Promise, the worst tragedy for Terah is Verse 32: “Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.” If Terah had died while headed towards The Promise, there would be no tragedy.
The tragedy was: He Died While Still In Haran, The Place He Substituted For The Promise. The Bible tells us that Terah lived for 205 years—more than enough time to settle in The Promised Land. If Terah had not settled for Haran, then we would have read this morning about the Faith of Terah instead of the Faith of Abraham. Terah settled in Haran and died there instead of moving into God’s Promised Land. Let this thought sink in: He Died Where He Settled.
When Terah settled on Haran, God chose another for the Promise—Abraham. The Vision was now given to someone else. And I believe God still works this way. The lesson Terah teaches us is this: Don’t settle for Haran when The Promise is in front of us. I would love to give credit where credit is due, but I cannot recall where I saw this: When We Stop Trusting, We Start Rusting. Faith is expressed through our trust and in our obedience.
And my greatest concern for others, is that they have Settled for their own Haran rather than moving towards and into God’s Promise. Especially my former Tribal Members of the United Methodist Church. Some just want to settle outside the United Methodist Institution. But God has more than just disaffiliation for you. And if you have settled on some other Haran (like fear, addiction, complacency, or any of a million and one other “Haran’s), my word to you is this: Don’t Settle! God has more for you. Do you realize that if Terah hadn’t settled, we would be reading about the faith of Terah, rather than the faith of Abraham? Think about it!
You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
Matthew chapter 5, verses 36 and 37; from The Message (Msg)
Seriously! What happened to Integrity? Along with many other virtues, Integrity has been given the boot in our culture; and yes, even in some churches. The United Methodist being the epitome of giving Integrity the boot. If I ever doubt my decision to leave that Tribe, then it seems that Tribe does something to remind me, “Hey! You made the right decision!”
Case in point: the recent action by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the North Georgia Annual Conference. Where Arkansas only denied 3 congregations the right to disaffiliate, she and her minions have denied EVERY church in their Conference the opportunity to discern where God is leading them. If you doubt the word of this former tribal member, then I direct your attention to what the leadership of the North Georgia Annual Conference sent to their congregations. You can read her letter here!
In their Annual Conference Session in 2021, and affirmed in 2022, a process for discernment and disaffiliation was clearly laid out. And according to these minions of the North Georgia Annual, there has been too much misinformation being presented to churches in order for them to make the right decision. However, their letter doesn’t give any specific misinformation that is being spread among the churches. Just that it’s misinformation! And their conclusion?
After lengthy periods of discussion and consultation involving the cabinet, the board of trustees, and appropriate conference leadership, we have agreed that our Annual Conference cannot rely upon such votes for purposes of negotiating a gracious exit.
So, what she’s saying is that congregations within the bounds of the North Georgia Annual Conference are incapable of discerning whether they should stay UMC or not. But get this: They Are Capable Of Making Decisions For Them! Is this not the embodiment of arrogance? I double-dog-dare you to find any better (perhaps the word should be worst) example of arrogance than this! She reminded them that in 2024, the General Conference will meet, and perhaps things will get better. Never mind that Paragraph 2553 will cease to be in existence at that time.
Then she has the audacity to say, and I quote: “We stand beside you knowing that pause and uncertainty are hard. We pray for you and your ministry daily as together we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” She and her minions are NOT standing beside those congregations. They are towering over them waving a club over their heads. I doubt that Eugene Peterson and his group of translators foresaw this mess. But their rendition of today’s passage certain fits the description of the spiritual conditions in North Georgia: “You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.“
The Minions of North Georgia have indeed embellished their words with religious lace. And their words are less and less true. Lord, have mercy on their souls and may their eyes be opened to The Truth.Before it is too late for their souls!
(This piece is entirely satirical with a dose of sarcasm. This is written expressly for Traditional Orthodox United Methodists who have not yet disaffiliated and/or believe there will be room for them in the Post-Separation United Methodist Church. Any resemblance to the underlying truth is strictly intentional.)
(From the WHY News Network) On November 19, 2022 a hostage situation happened as the afore unknown terrorist group calling themselves The Arkansas Annual Conference took and held hostage 3 congregations in Arkansas. These churches, Jonesboro First, Searcy First, and Cabot United Methodist Churches, are now known as The Arkansas Three. After meeting all of the requirements to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, they were denied the right to exit. Not much as been heard since then. (You can read our previous news article here)
Yesterday, December 16, a dramatic and forceful turn of events occurred that leaves this reporter wondering if The Arkansas Three will ever know freedom again. Ayatollah Gary Mueller, head of the terrorist group, released a Weapon of Mass Destruction on Jonesboro First called Paragraph 2549.3. Ayatollah Mueller declared “exigent circumstances” and seized all property and assets of Jonesboro First; effectively taking control away from the congregation and its leadership.
In an attempt to maintain control, Ayatollah Mueller also released another Weapon of Mass Destruction known as Paragraph 362.1d against their pastor, Rev. John Miles. This weapon not only removes him as pastor of Jonesboro First, but denies him the right to function as a United Methodist pastor. This weapon was unleashed against Rev. Miles by 5 of Ayatollah Mueller’s clerics known in the terrorist organization as District Superintendents. There will be an impending trial against Rev. Miles.
This reporter has learned of the events that have led up to the escalation of this crisis situation. Leaders from within the congregation approached Rev. Miles with a request to hold a public meeting concerning this hostage situation. Apparently, upon learning of this meeting, Ayatollah Mueller informed Rev. Miles that no such meeting should occur and ordered him to announce the cancellation of the meeting. Rev. Miles allowed the meeting to occur. During this meeting, the congregation selected an ad hoc committee to represent all of the church to negotiate a resolution to this hostage situation and allow Jonesboro First to be set free. Instead of dialogue, Ayatollah Mueller unleashed those weapons of Mass Destruct the day after the Forbidden Meeting. Questions from this reporter have gone unanswered. However, Ayatollah Mueller did send out this press release.
While seeking the rationale for this decision, someone close to the headquarters of the Arkansas Annual Conference, and to Ayatollah Mueller, was willing to talk freely about the unleashing of these Weapons of Mass Destruction on the condition of anonymity. This anonymous source said: “It is the belief and conviction of the Ayatollah that we just can’t allow congregations to think for themselves. It’s crucial to “The Cause” to maintain complete and absolute control over both the situation and the narrative. WE know what God wants. Jonesboro First is just a bunch of ignorant and uninformed group of trouble makers. WE had spoken a resounding NO to their disaffiliation and they just needed to get in line. And because they were unwilling, it became necessary to use these Weapons of Mass Destruction. We are hopeful now, that any other congregation, including the other 2 of what you call The Arkansas Three, considering disaffiliation will shut down the process immediately. These exigent circumstance were necessary since the provisions of Paragraph 2553 cease to exist after December 31, 2023. After then, we will have absolute control.”
When asked why the Ayatollah had not sought that other groups within the United Methodist Church abide by and enforce the Book Of Discipline, the anonymous spokesperson replied, “Those paragraphs are old and obsolete. They needed to have been removed a long time ago. Ayatollah Mueller and other Ayatollahs have determined they need to be removed. So, there is no need to enforce those rules. Those rules hurt other people’s feelings. And we just can’t allow that.”
The irony of Ayatollah Mueller’s press release is that he stated: “I want to ask you to pray that hearts of peace will prevail and a positive way forward will be found.” Apparently the only positive way forward for Jonesboro First, and other like-minded congregations, is to bow in submission to his agenda. He opted to release upon Jonesboro First Paragraphs 2549.3 and 362.1d rather than find a positive way forward. Then Ayatollah Mueller signed his declaration with the words peace and grace. It is rather obvious to this reporter that his actions, and those of his Always Agreeing With Him council offered neither–to Jonesboro First nor any other congregation under their control. It is indeed a sad day when dialog is denied. What happens next? Personally, I shudder at the thought. I will be watching this hostage situation closely and will inform you of any changes. This is Randy Burbank, reporting for WHY News Network.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians chapter 4, verses 31 & 32; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Saturday was–well–a day of mixed emotions as I attended my last session of the North Alabama Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. At the end of the session, I surrendered my credentials as a United Methodist Pastor. Over the past decades, I have had friends and colleagues who left with great joy. Not me. Even though my decision has been saturated with prayer and God has very clearly led me to that point, still there is heartbreak. The Tribe that I have lived in for over 66 years has made it clear that there is no room for someone like me. And I admit that I was concerned with how The Conference would handle the disaffiliation of 198 congregations, and what looked like even more pastors.
I must say that I was impressed with the way our Bishop, Debra Wallace-Padgett designed and led the Conference in this unfortunate moment in time. Bishop Debbie has been a shining example of how to lead and respond in times like these. We opened with Holy Communion–that Great Reminder of our utter dependence on God’s Grace. As we entered we were given a lava rock, a sign of the abrasiveness that has been happening. When we came forward to receive those sacred signs, we were asked to drop that abrasive stone in a basket as a sign we were letting go of our painful emotions and harmful words. Then the vote took place, with only about 4 or 5 voting to not allow this to happen. And as we exited, we were given a smooth stone to remind us of God’s healing power that overcomes our differences. (You can see that entire session here)
But it seems to me that some of those who took that smooth stone as the reminder of God’s Healing Grace–well they just didn’t get it. By this I mean they got the smooth stone but not the message. At 1:19 p.m., barely 2 hours after those 198 congregations left the North Alabama Annual Conference, a group calling themselves StayUMC that has been encouraging and promoting folks and churches to stay United Methodist, put up a post in response to this event on their Facebook Page. I invite you to see their entire post HERE. I do have a good friend who is active in this group. And this prepared response has some troubling points that I need to speak into. These will be the bulleted statements:
We sincerely want the best for those who wish to leave the UMC. In order for all of us to find healing, however, it is important to be honest, speaking the truth in love.
So, StayUMC, you want the best for those who leave, then you put in that however. Now, since you are speaking to those who want to stay UMC, your statement “In order for all of us to find healing” means your only concern is those who want to stay UMC. OK, you can’t experience healing until you have that however. Really? And then you dare say you want to be honest and speak the truth in love. Well, when us Traditionalists spoke the truth with love you accused us of being misogynists, homophobic, angry, and mean spirited. You want your views listened to and respected. But you are unwilling to listen to and respect views that are different from yours. If you are hurt, it’s not the fault of those who are leaving. STAYUMC, if it makes you feel better about yourselves to blame us for what is happening, then blame us. Yet, there isn’t much love nor truth in your words.
We rise to speak frankly about this schism and the costs exacted upon us all.
As aforementioned, your phrase “costs exacted upon us all” refers only to those who stay UMC. And what did it cost you for people to follow their hearts and convictions? No, really, what did it cost you? Not a cent. The financial costs of disaffiliation has been borne solely by congregations who left. Why does StayUMC think that it cost them anything for congregations to follow a path different than yours? Well, I’m waiting: Tell me, how much did it cost you? And what if they had stayed instead of leaving? What about the cost to them of abandoning their spiritual discernment and compromising their convictions?
We lament some local churches were made the site of bitter fights rather than being shepherded through conversations that deepen understanding. We lament that at times, instead of relying on common values to do the work of discernment, cues were taken from a polarized society, and outrage was stoked to pave the way for disaffiliation.
Evidence, please. I keep hearing those on the StayUMC caucus saying this over and over. I admit I haven’t talked to every congregation. But, I have heard from several congregations. The scene you described has never been described to me by those I know. Besides, didn’t you hear Bishop Debbie say that the time for healing has come? It sounds like you don’t want healing. You appear to be bitter, and are happy to be bitter.
We lament that the UMC was maligned by some as being unorthodox and accommodating to culture, and misinformation was spread freely about the future of the United Methodist Church’s essential doctrines.
You keep saying nothing else is going to change. Did you forget that the Council of Bishops promised that the 2019 Called General Conference Special Session would be the United Methodist view and stance from that moment forward. They did not keep their word then. So why should be believe them now? You want us to trust the leadership of the UMC, a leadership that does not keep their word. Just because you say essential doctrines won’t change doesn’t mean they won’t change. That’s a proven fact in the UMC.
We lament the reports of some of our laity who experienced bullying, fear-mongering, and half-truths that lead congregation members astray.
Again, cite your sources and present the evidence of alleged bullying. Now, if you want to talk about fear-mongering, bullying, and half-truths, here are some comments from your page:
Who knew we had so many closet Baptists among us!
Don’t let the door hit your derriere on the way out, bigots.
Very charitably put. I find it exceedingly hard to be so charitable.
198 new avowed “Traditional Incompatibalist” congregations in our midst…
I still can’t believe these folks have left our beloved UMC! The church we transferred our membership to after moving to be close to son and family (8 years there)voted to leave! My family could not leave that place fast enough! With help from former Pastors of ANNISTON FUMC where we were members for over 45 years before moving to the Huntsville area guided us to where we needed to be and PTL we are at our new UMC home!
These are not new words directed at us Traditionalists. We have been hearing them for a long time. And since 2019, the frequency of these bullying remarks have only increased. So, who’s the bully here?
We lament because we are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God.
OK, you’re not ashamed of the gospel. Neither are we Traditionalists. What’s you point? Is there a point? If you are making a point, it would seem you are saying that Traditionalists are ashamed of the Gospel.
We do not believe that those who are leaving the denomination are in a season of standing and contending for the historic faith that has been professed for 2,000 years, as they claim.
Excuse me. How do you know that we are not standing and contending for the historic faith that has been professed for 2,000 years? Do you know what’s in my heart? Have you been listening to my conversations with The Spirit? Who are you to tell me that I haven’t listened to God? If you think I haven’t listened to God, I’ll tell you what you are. You are the new sanctimonious Pharisees of the Twenty-First Century! YOU telling me I haven’t been discerning and listening is the epitome of spiritual arrogance. And last but not least
Nevertheless, we yearn for those seceding from the United Methodist Church to return one day and live into this vision with the main body of the church. In the meantime, we send you with love and hope for the very best for you.
Really? You want us back? I’m sure you do, if we will compromise our faith and values and kiss your ring. You hope the best for us? Based on the comments on your “prepared statement”, the best would be for us to just die and go away. You’re still holding onto those coarse stones when you should have followed the example of your Bishop. You are still being abrasive. Did you not take that smooth stone as a sign of God’s healing? After Holy Communion, THE Sign of Grace, this is your response???????
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
Galatians chapter 1, verse 8; from the New Living Translation
Does it matter what one teaches? You bet your Sweet Bippy it does! Look at what’s happening to kids in public schools! Look at the outcomes of that teaching and you know, whether you admit it or not, false teaching produces heinous outcomes. And when pastors and seminary professors get it wrong–the outcomes are even more nefarious. Case in point–the progressives in the United Methodist Institution. The person in the pew counts on the person in the pulpit to get it right–as well they should. And when that person in the pulpit get’s it wrong? Dear, Lord!!!
Case in point. The United Methodist Institution has an arm that is supposed to feed people spiritually on a daily basis. It’s called The Upper Room. It’s been published for over 88 years. For the December 7, 2022 reading, I found this:
I direct your attention to the second paragraph. She relates the passage to what the person in the pulpit taught. That person said: “What if this wasn’t just a divine miracle but also a human one?” What the what??? “Just a divine miracle”? Really? Jesus needed a human miracle in order to accomplish just a Divine Miracle? I’m not shaming the writer–she is only applying what she heard from the person in the pulpit. But I am shaming the person in the pulpit who fed her that idea. And where did that pulpit person get that idea from? It must have been from some person that taught them.
Progressives in the UMC (and other Tribes) insist they are not going to change the orthodox bedrock beliefs of the church. But what is so very obvious is that they intend to whittle away at that foundation until their beliefs are fully embraced by everyone in their Tribe. Progressives have been whittling away at the Biblical Sexual Ethic, and have caused numerous folks to think that the Bible, and God, approves of this Social Sexual Ethic. Gay, bi, binary–the terms do not matter. What matters is that God’s Design has been circumvented for a more convenient view.
For decades, the morons in their hollow Ivory Towers of education have debated the Virgin Birth–as if it did not, could not happen. In their finite swill called education they have challenged the validity of the Old Testament prophets. Whittle here, whittle there. Now these Empty Skulls are saying that the Biblical View of Sexual Ethics is wrong. And add to all this and so much more, that the miracle of Jesus feeding over 5,000 folks was more of a human miracle, than just a divine miracle. Now, if you are one of those who believe that traditional orthodox folks WILL have a place in the New United Methodist Institution–it’s time to re-evaluate your position. It matters what one teaches. It matters for your heart and soul. It matters for all those who also inhabit this third rock from the sun. Just a divine miracle? A human miracle? This just confirms my commitment to Jesus is right as I disaffiliate from the UMC. And after Saturday morning, December 10, 2022 I will no longer be a United Methodist. And I’m good with that–and at peace with where The Spirit is leading me.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?
Romans chapter 8, verses 31 and 32; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
IF! Some say that this is the biggest little word in all of vocabulary. IF has the potential to change situations, circumstances, and perspective. One thing must be replaced by another. When that happens it could be a game changer. IF this is true, and I happen to believe it can be, then tell me: What Is Your IF?IF you don’t want to tell me your IF, then tell yourself and be honest about it. But for IF to be that positive game changer, then we need to put some time into identifying our IF. I mean a lot of time.
Here are some examples I’ve heard and heard recently. “IF my spouse could just understand me.” “IF my children would just listen and do what I tell them.” “IF I could just get that promotion.” “IF I could just get rid of this sinus mess.” “IF the Republicans could get back in the White House.” “IF my spouse would just leave.” “IF my spouse would come back.” “IF the Democrats can maintain control.” “IF people would just show up on time to work.” “IF they would just work!” “IF everyone would just drive electric vehicles.” “IF people would accept that global warming is real.” IF! IF! IF! Oh, one more just for my Wesleyan sisters and brothers, “IF I could just get out of the UMC!”
But my most favorite IF is this: IF a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his butt every time he hopped! Two things about IF. First, they rarely happen. Second, when they do happen, they rarely, IF ever, produce that desired outcome. In short, IF isn’t the solution. Well. . .unless that IF is tethered to the right thing; rather, Person. Look again at this morning’s opening passage and you see that word IF. To be that game changer we need in our lives, then God must be for us. So, how can we know that God is for us?
Well, Einstein, read the next sentence: Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? So just quit looking for all those other IFS because they have NEVER proven themselves to be true over and over again. But God? Well, you try to figure that out for yourselves. And while you’re figuring it out, just think about the Cross. Then know that whatever you are facing, HE if with you and working on you, in you, and for you. And He won’t ever give up on you. Now that’s an IF you can take to the bank!
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Matthew chapter 8, verses 23 thru 25; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
My Monday Morning Question is a good one, and a valid one; considering the times we are living in. And it’s not just in the United Methodist Institution, storms have permeated into the fabric of just about every area of life on this third rock from the sun. Storms are everywhere–not the meteorological kind. And these storms are an EF 5 tornado, Cat 5 hurricane, biblical proportion flood, a 50 foot tsunami, and a 7.5 magnitude earthquake all rolled into one! And that’s putting in mildly.
If you’ve lost your job, a child, a spouse, or inflation has you trying to decide do you buy your medicines or do you eat–these storms can and often are overwhelming to say the least. You feel like you are one of those disciples in that boat. The waves are rough and the wind ever rougher. You know that panic is about to invade your life–if it hasn’t already invaded your space. The fear of drowning hunts you down like a Kodiak bear.
And to my fellow United Methodists, I don’t have to tell you that we are in a storm. And the storm just seems to grow in intensity. For example, recently I’ve learned that Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the North Georgia Conference Appointive Cabinet removed another conservative pastor from a growing church and demoted him–all without consultation of the pastor Dave Hinson nor the congregation known as Winder First UMC. And hearing these horror stories that even Stephen King couldn’t imagine, it only intensifies our emotions.
With all this in mind, let’s look at the opening Passage. Jesus had another busy day of teaching, healing, and contending with pretenders who said they wanted to follow Him. So, He gets into a boat with the disciples and tells them to go to the other side. So these disciples set sail. And what does Jesus do? He lays down and takes a nap. See! Taking naps are Biblical! But then that storm comes up! The disciples are fighting desperately to keep their boat afloat! And they have entered Panic Mode! And what is Jesus doing? He’s still asleep! Now, picture this: All of them are in a storm–and the storm is in all of them–except Jesus. He’s in the same storm they are in–and they, the disciples, have allowed that storm to be IN them. But that doesn’t mean that the storm HAD to be in them. It’s just that they allowed the storm to be in them.
Now, which would you rather be like? The disciples who allowed the storm to be in them? Or Jesus, who was in the same storm, but did not allow the storm in Him? Storms cannot be avoided. But you still have the choice to allow the storms to come inside you–or not! I leave you with this song I Will Fear No More. And listen carefully to this line: Even thought I am in the storm, the storm is not in me! So don’t give in or give up. Jesus stayed calm in the storm because the storm wasn’t in Him. And He will help you keep the storm from coming in to you!
1For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 5 A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verses 1, 5, and 11; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Can you recognize the seasons? Here in Alabama, the “Seasons” are just words printed on calendars, especially this time of year. In fact, our state motto is “If you don’t like the weather when you get here, stay around. It’s bound to change soon!” It’s really hard to know how to dress sometimes. We either dress in layers or keep a couple of changes of clothes in our cars. Winter for the morning. Fall for midday. Summer in the afternoon. And Spring in the evening. If you doubt me, then obviously you’ve never been in our wonderful state.
But this morning I’m not talking about “Seasons” on the calendar. I’m talking about the Seasons In Life. I absolutely love the Book of Ecclesiastes. I love it for it’s rawness; the blunt ways that Solomon describes that season in his life where he was living under the sun, or another way of saying it, under heaven. He’s been living without God at the helm of his heart, mind, and life. This man known for his wisdom, left wisdom at home and pursued a life that left him drained and empty. He called it chasing after the wind.
And it is part of his painful journey that spoke to me this morning, and I pray it speaks to you. Chapter 3 speaks about all the events that happen in life; and that’s a lot of different events–opposites, if you would. And this morning I was reflecting and meditating on the end of Verse 5: “A time to embrace and a time to turn away.“ Discerning when it’s time to embrace and when it’s time to turn away isn’t always easy, and sometimes even more difficult to know that it’s time to turn away.
Such is the saga happening right now in many lives. Do you try to stay and make your marriage what God designed it to be, or walk away? Do you change careers or stick with the one you have? Do you keep bailing out that prodigal child or let them face the consequences of their choices and actions? And if you are a United Methodist, do you hope that things will change. . .and soon? Or do you turn away? And how do we know the WHEN to turn away?
I truly wish I could give you a simple formula that works in every situation. But I can’t. It’s always a matter of personal choice. But to make the wise decision (unlike Solomon) we need counsel; more than good counsel, we need great counsel. And that comes only by looking about the sun, and to The Son. And I can tell you this–that when the pain creates more and more problems, then that is a sign something needs to change. And here in the United Methodist Institution, it’s the season to decide which side you are on. Remember Joshua’s challenge to the Hebrews? I fully recognize as a soon not-to-be United Methodist pastor, this is the season for me to turn away. It’s been a painful choice–but it’s also been the right choice for me. And I am now embracing Verse 11–“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.” I am entering a beautiful time; albeit a little bit, call it unnerving. But I know this is the Right Season for this move.
And as far as the United Methodist Institution goes, you can choose to live with leadership that is living under the sun. Or you can choose to live above the sun. The Season Of Separation or the Season To Stay is upon us. Our choices are very clear: to live under the sun (meaning with human understanding but without God’s Truth) or to live above the sun (meaning a life of faithfulness and holiness as revealed in the Holy Writ). That decision to refrain from that embrace and to turn away can, and often is painful. But it is the right choice. Using a Biblical Image, the handwriting is on the wall. For 48 years I’ve watched an organization trying to live under the sun. And it’s just not working. Can you recognize which season you are living in? Under the sun? Or Under The Son?
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Galatians chapter 6, verses 9 and 10; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
How well do you handle “waiting”? Waiting is just another part of living on this third rock from the sun. It happens every day. We find ourselves waiting for someone or something. Me??? Well, it just depends on my mood at the time. That ought to tell us something about our feelings! Traffic lights, doctor’s offices, at the drive-thru lane, while seated at a restaurant, the cable repair technician–and the worst of all–waiting for the next available customer service representative. But that’s just trivial stuff–though it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
No, I speaking about the current quandary in the United Methodist Institution and that Paragraph 2553. For those not in our Tribe, it defines how to disaffiliate from what has become nefarious. Annual Conferences have defined a process in order to be set free from what can only be described by me as the twenty first century Titanic. Many of my Wesleyan-hearted sisters and brothers have finished the process and have been granted freedom. Well, except those 3 in the Arkansas Annual Conference. (Read my satirical take on that situation here) And there are still many others, like myself, waiting for the moment we can leave Egypt.
So, what do we do when we are waiting in this season of disaffiliation? Well, we can do what we do when waiting at a traffic light. We can fret and stew. Then stew and fret; as if that will make the light change quicker. Lord knows I’ve done a lot of that–not just at traffic lights but while I’m sitting in this quagmire. But I’ve noticed I’m not the only one fretting and stewing. Now, my fellow Wesleyan Hearted friends who are fretting and stewing, don’t be offended at what I am about to write. I’m directing it at me as much as I am you. What good has been accomplished by all our fretting and stewing–anger and frustrations?
It has achieved as much as fretting and stewing changes a traffic light, or for the nurse to call us back to the examining room. Absolutely nothing positive–but it has done a lot of harm to us and the people around us! But The Spirit has given me something else to do until December 10 when hopefully I will be set free. It happened Saturday morning as I was sitting on my front porch doing my usual morning worship time. I have my favorite playlists, but Saturday morning–for some reason unknown to me but known to The Holy Spirit–I allowed my app to select some music.
It sounded unfamiliar at the time to me–but it also sounded familiar at the time. Crazy, huh? Oh, you want to know the name of the song. It was While I’m Waiting written and sung by John Waller. I looked it up, and found out why it sounded familiar. It was in the soundtrack of the movie Fireproof. It was the chorus of this powerful song that reminded me that God wanted me to do something in the waiting other than fretting and stewing. And it’s what we all need to do. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:
While I’m waiting I will serve You While I’m waiting I will worship While I’m waiting I will not faint I’ll be running the race even while I wait
Wesleyan Hearted friends. These are the 4 things God wants of us in this season of waiting–and in EVERY season of life. Serve Him. Worship Him. Don’t faint! And keep on running the race, even while we wait. It will do a lot more for us than fretting and stewing. It has definitely helped my perspective. And who knows–maybe it will do something for another person who is waiting. And here’s the song:
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Matthew chapter 5, verse 37; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
(This article is satire. If you are easily offended, you should not read this. This is intended for spiritually mature readers only. Reader discretion is advised!)
(From the WHY News Network) Today is Day 5 of what can only be described as The Arkansas Hostage Situation. The Hostage Situation began this past Saturday, November 19 in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was designed to be a final check to be certain that all congregations seeking disaffiliation had properly followed the disaffiliation process. A group who self-identifies as The Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church took 3 congregations hostage. They released 32 other congregations but refused to release First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, Searcy First United Methodist Church and Cabot United Methodist Church. And, for now at least, these 3 congregations are being held as Hostages by the Arkansas Annual Conference.
Little was known about this radical group before Saturday. An FBI agent who asked to remain anonymous stated: “We were unaware of this Radical Group, and quite frankly, we don’t know what to do.” Though unknown and unnoticed by many, there are those who were aware of this potential abuse happening. To this reporter it appears that their warnings went unheard. And now I am sure that First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, Searcy First United Methodist Church and Cabot United Methodist Church wished those warnings had been heeded.
Those familiar with the situation said it all started in 2019. The United Methodist Church was embroiled over the issue of human sexuality. The 2019 General Conference was to be the one that was to give a final and definitive statement and position on human sexuality. Many plans had been proposed but the 2 front runners were a more liberal view and a more traditional view. After fractious debates the Traditional Plan passed. And though it was promised by the heads of the United Methodist Church, known as the Council of Bishops, that whichever plan passed would be the final word, that Conference failed to live up to the promise. Those who supported the Traditional Plan have called that Conference The Great Deception.
However, those who were against the approved plan were recalcitrant and intransigent with the outcome. With only limited time remaining for this Session, Rev. Beth Ann Cook proposed a new paragraph to the church’s Book of Discipline known as Paragraph 2553. This would allow congregations who disagreed with the decision a means to graciously exit the United Methodist Church. The caveat was that this provision would expire on 31 December 2023. However, the Rebellion by many leaders within the realm of the Council of Bishops carried out extreme acts in direct violation of what should have been the final word.
So, Paragraph 2553, that was designed and intended to help the more liberalized churches to leave with grace, has become the tool used by Traditional churches to hopefully have a gracious exit from the United Methodist Church. And it appeared that it would work. That is, until The Arkansas Annual Conference chose to hold these 3 congregations hostage. The reverberations of this act of terror has sent shockwaves across other Annual Conferences which will soon hold similar Special Sessions to deal with those churches seeking to disaffiliate. Many are wondering if their Annual Conference will make them hostages as well.
The 3 Hostage Churches had met all of the requirements of Paragraph 2553. Yet, in spite of this, they were taken and are being held as Hostages. The Rev. Beth Ann Cook, author and presenter of Paragraph 2553 recently posted her response to the Arkansas Hostage Situation. The Rev. Cook said this, and I quote: “I’m writing this mostly to process what I’m feeling: grief, disappointment, and frustration.” You can read her entire heart-felt response here.
Jorge Lockward and Beth Ann Cook who were on opposite sides share a holy embrace at the passing of 2553
Surprisingly, the hostages have made brief statements. There words were very carefully chosen as an apparent attempt not to exacerbate the current Hostage Situation. The Rev. John Miles of the Jonesboro First hostages told them: “That’s very discouraging, but y’all it’s not the end of the line,” he said. “There’s much more we can do. And we’ll regroup and we’ll think about it. … When we get back from Thanksgiving, we’ll get together with our administrative board, we’ll get your input and we’ll begin to look at our options for what’s next.”
When asked about the Hostage Situation, Bishop Gary Mueller, head of the Hostage Takers responded that he had complete confidence in the district superintendents and trustees as they worked with churches moving toward disaffiliation. But he also did not second guess the conference members’ decision not to approve the First Jonesboro, Searcy First and Cabot churches’ disaffiliations. Terrorist Leader Bishop Mueller also had this to say, and I quote: “This was United Methodists getting together for conferencing, and they made the decisions they wanted to make.” Searcy First United Methodist’s pastor, the Rev. Jeff Jackson, declined to comment on the special session decision, saying his church is focused on prayer and healing. Leaders of the Cabot United Methodist Church did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Unfortunately, what they wanted has resulted in The Arkansas Hostage Situation. And with no official word about releasing these 3 congregations, one is left to ponder how long this Hostage Situation will last. But for now, this is Day 5 of The Arkansas Hostage Situation and there are no indications how long this will last. All one can do is hope and pray that this horror will end soon and without more casualties and hostages elsewhere. Time will tell. With the deadline of December 31, 2023 looming closer, this reporter wonders how many more Hostages will be taken by the Rogue Organization. But for now, all we can do is wait and see how all this unfolds. This is Randy Burbank, reporting for the WHY Network News. Follow us for more breaking news and updates.
“You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”
Matthew chapter 12, verses 34 thru 37; from The Message (Msg)
Cupcakes! We are living in a world of cupcakes! No, not the kind one sees at parties! It’s people I’m talking about. When I was young, I often wondered why “old people” were always so. . .so blunt. They didn’t mince or sugar-coat their words. And now that I’m old, I understand. As I get older I know that my time here is getting shorter and shorter. Thus, my opportunities to speak the truth are becoming fewer and fewer. I realize that I just don’t have the time to draw pictures to explain the things that are really important. It seems my ability and talent to be snarky has come into full bloom. I define snarky as a mixture of satire with a heavy dose of sarcasm. But here’s the thing–I don’t use it very often. Some may say otherwise, but they’re wrong. I refrain from using my snarky more times than Carter has little pills. (You have to be from the south to know what that phrase means!)
My previous post brought out my snarkiness. And as snarky tends to do, I offended at least one person. (click here to see the post) Someone thought my insights worthy of passing along to several people via email. And I am humbled they thought so. Apparently one of the recipients did not like my blunt honesty. And had this to say about my post: “It’s insulting and immature to speak to grown people who can think and decide for them self. To point I think it’s low class to say suck it up buttercup.”
Allow me the kindness to pull out one part of that comment for further reflection: “It’s insulting and immature to speak to grown people who can think and decide for them self.” Yes, people can think and decide for themselves. Got no problem with that premise. Our problem as a church, culture, and society is HOW people think. I.E.–people are all to quick and easy to be offended–especially with The Truth. It goes beyond the insane concept of political correctness. It’s rooted in how people respond. And the United Methodist Institution is an excellent case study.
People are so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that it has become more important to be nice than it is to be truthful. Somehow it has become mean and ugly and hateful to be truthful; that somehow if we disagree with someone that we can’t and don’t love them. Where did this idea come from? I KNOW! I KNOW! From the heart and mind of Satan! Yes, Virginia, there is a Satan even if you think there isn’t. Nowadays the only way you can love someone is to approve, bless, and sanctify how they think. And if you can’t–well you are just plain ol’ mean and insulting.
I sigh a deep sigh when I think that it’s more important to make people feel good than it is to be truthful. Did you notice how Jesus responded in the passage I opened with this morning? You have minds like a snake pit! Did I miss something here? If Jesus said that today, people would demand an apology from Jesus! And IF Jesus was present like He was then, then by their views, Jesus should have said afterwards: “Oh, I’m so very sorry I offended you. And so that you can feel better about yourself, I renounce those words and I agree with you. Feel better now? Good! Here’s you a cupcake.
“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
Matthew chapter 15, verses 16 thru 20; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Do you still believe that the United Methodist Church is a “Big Tent” where various beliefs can can coexist together in harmony and in one place? If this cycle of improvisational Jurisdictional Conferences has proven anything, then here is the bottom line: THE TENT FOR EVERYONE IS GONE! And count on the Western Jurisdiction to drive the nail home. Any traditionalist Wesleyan-Hearted follower of Jesus who thinks they can remain within the UMC and still be true to Jesus, you really need to think again. Stop burying your head in the sand–even Ostriches don’t do that. It’s a myth. And here’s the story that verifies that The Tent has left the building: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/western-elects-cedrick-bridgeforth-as-bishop
This isn’t the first time for the Western Jurisdiction to elect an openly gay person as Bishop. If this was the first time, then one might could say, “Oh, this was just a hiccup, a bump in the road.” But it’s not the first time. They did it back in 2016 with the election of Karen Oliveto. To do something wrong one time might be (I said might be) an anomaly. But twice? This is what psychiatrists and prosecuting attorneys call a pattern of behavior! And I will be fair; it’s not just in the Western Jurisdiction. It’s happening in more and more places.
And this asininity of the antipodal idea that antithetical beliefs can coexist together is as harebrained as thinking that mixing poison with drinking water is safe and will not hurt you. Our current botheration is NOT a recent development. It’s been astir for decades. Granted, it’s erupted into a devastating lava flow since the Great Deception of 2019, but this has been going on for so long that the cataclysmic consequences has made the UMC irreparable, unless there is a true repentance of heart and surrender of will. To remain in the UMC is Accept The Great Deception That You Know More Than God. Offended by my statement? Here’s all I’ve got to say: The truth will stand even when the world’s on fire! Well, if you are offended, I have one more thing to say: Suck it up, buttercup!
I haven’t written anything lately. Even though the Church Conferences for the congregations I serve is coming up November 20, Debbie and I needed a respite from all that’s happening. But this morning, I find myself prompted to write. Sometimes I just wish The Spirit wasn’t so pushy on me. Nonetheless, here I write. The recent Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, I should say “the results of that meeting”, reveals that there really is no room in the UMC for us traditionalists. My first “review” of this sad event can be found here.
At that event, 3 out of 3 newly elected Bishops are in favor of changing our Book of Discipline to redefine what is considered Christian Marriage. If that wasn’t enough proof for anyone that this alleged “big tent”, if it ever really existed, is getting smaller and smaller for Traditionalists, then you need to look at the 3 Resolutions that were passed. (Here’s an article about them) One was called “Leading With Integrity”. It calls for all persons who intend to leave the UMC to immediately remove themselves from any positions they hold within the UMC and refrain from any participation in our processes. I was taught, and always believed, that you are what you are until you ain’t! Centrists and Progressives want Traditionalists out even while they are still in in the UMC. And if these Centrists and Progressives want to talk about integrity, then why don’t they call out those who have no integrity–those who are in open violation of our Book of Discipline. AND The Bible! Seems they believe that my “sin” is not as bad as “your” sin. Thank you Ronnie Wicks for giving me this phrase! And the tent got smaller.
Then there’s that resolution by the “Queer Delegates” (don’t shame me–that’s how they identify themselves) called “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC”. Amended from it’s original presentation, it calls for the UMC to remove the Biblical standard from our Discipline. In other words, they wanted the UMC to declare that homosexuality is no longer a sin, if it ever was a sin. Remember, it passed. And the tent keeps getting smaller.
And then the third resolution: “Resolution in Support of a U.S. Regional Conference”. This resolution wants to form a way for the U.S. to believe one thing, while the rest of the world is free to believe something different. It passed! Now tell me: How can one part of a church believe one thing and another part of the church believe the exact opposite be a “United” church? I think this alleged tent has collapsed!
I want to leave you with one other thought. According to Paragraph 2553, 33.1% of a local congregation can hold the 66.9% of the congregation captive to the UMC. Centrists and Progressives want us to remain UMC, by the illusion of The Big Tent. Come 2024, that Tent will vanish, like David Copperfield’s elephant. Think about that if you still believe there’s room for Traditionalists in the UMC. Did you hear that? My heart breaking for the church I’ve been in for 66 years.
(Writers editorial comment: I messed up my math. I was using Auburn math instead of Alabama math!)
Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?
James chapter 3, verse 11; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Isn’t it ironic that in this season of discernment, that our Jurisdictional Conferences have been busy electing new Bishops? Or is it just me? This function is akin to selecting a new Captain as the Titanic begins to slip into the ocean. Now, be it known unto all that I never give up hope until there isn’t a snowball’s chance in you know where. Though I am making my move, I am reserving the final decision until there is no hope for the United Methodist Church. I am holding on to my credentials at least until 31 December 2022, just in case. And though the event I am about to address is just one event–it points to the greater problem within the United Methodist Institution.
It is beyond me how some people think. Or what they use for thinking! Case in point: Hypocrisy To A New Level. In the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC, Rev. Stan Copeland accused 3 Bishops of causing harm to the UMC because they were not making it difficult to impossible for churches in their Conferences to disaffiliate. Well, read it here: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/three-bishops-accused-of-aiding-disaffiliation
And I want to ask Bro. Stan: Why invoke our Discipline now? Bro. Stan, haven’t you been paying attention to the actions and words of other Bishops? You want to declare (not accuse) that 3 Bishops are harming the United Methodist Church by not publicly denouncing the Global Methodist Church. According to the United Methodist News Service you. . .well allow me to quote what was written: “Copeland said they have harmed The United Methodist Church by acting in support of churches disaffiliating and need to be held accountable.” Held accountable?
Bro. Stan, if you had called for Bishops to be held accountable 20 years ago–held accountable to our Book of Discipline, their ordination vows, and to the Bible, none of us would be here watching that snowball in you know where melting into oblivion. My Brother, remember those words of James. It would do you well if you followed that counsel. I haven’t given up all hope–but it’s melting away very fast.
When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
Mark chapter 12, verses 22 thru 25; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Yesterday I wrote about the need to be unloosed from our grave-clothes. And this morning, my good buddy The Spirit, had me thinking about that. Then He asked me a question that caught me off-guard. He asked, “What do you see now?” And in typical fashion I replied, “Huh???” I just love the patience of The Father! And The Spirit said, “You know. . .there was that facecloth on Lazarus!” Then the lightbulb turned on! We can’t see if that facecloth is still there! And immediately I remember today’s passage.
People were wanting to see Jesus do another miracle. Now mind you, they were not really interested in becoming a follower of Jesus. They just wanted to “see” another miracle. Rather than try to satisfy “their need”, Jesus took this man outside of the town, spit on his eyes and asked, “Can you see anything now?” He could, but not very clearly. He described people like they were “walking trees”. He had vision, but what this man needed was CLARITY! And boy, oh boy, does our culture need clarity!
But this morning I want to speak into my fellow Wesleyan-hearted sisters and brothers who are in the process of discernment or have finished it and are now ready to leave the United Methodist Church. And if you aren’t one of us, there’s a lesson here for you, too. In the last few years, decades of the recalcitrance of our leaders and teachers in many seminaries is now a boiling cauldron of sedition and anger. And like Elisha, we have reached that point of either being faithful to God or to just go back to plowing with that team of oxen. And if, like Elisha, you have decided to be faithful to God, then we need to have a change in focus.
We can continue to complain. But tell me truthfully, What does all this complaining accomplish? I mean, other than keeping us angry or filled with angst, what does this complaining really do to advance the Kingdom Of God? Complaining is just like what that blind man first saw, seeing trees walking around. I want to encourage and challenge my fellow Wesleyan-hearted sisters and brothers to stop complaining and to seek clarity. Clarity reveals that God is on the move redeeming and restoring broken folks!
We are serving the God who makes everything new! We can either talk about The Mess, or we can talk about The Message! Once you can see clearly where God is leading, then we don’t have to or need to talk about “walking trees”! Our Message is profoundly and powerfully simple:
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 19 and 20; from the NLT
So, just what do you see now? The Mess or The Message? Let’s keep all our talk about The Message! And oh, what a Message we have!!!
Well, here I am again, thinking about Lazarus–again. Yesterday I was thinking about him; and today–well here I am again. But The Spirit has me thinking about something different this morning. It’s about how Lazarus looked AFTER Jesus called him out from the grave. I know, today when people are buried their loved ones want either their favorite clothes or something brand new. But that’s not the way they did it back then. It seems the Hebrews brought with them more than Egyptian gold. They brought back some of the Egyptian burial practices–you know–the one of wrapping the body.
I still remember watching as a child “The Mummy” staring Boris Karloff–not the pitiful and pathetic remakes of modern cinema. If it came on today, I might just watch it again. That was quite the scene when The Mummy came back to life. Even in black and white, it was something to see. And this is what got me to thinking–about our culture and the church today. Just as there are brain-dead Zombies walking among us–they are a lot of Mummies walking around in grave clothes, too.
In politics, the Democrats are all wrapped up with Trump. The Republicans are all wrapped up with Biden, Harris, and Pelosi. Some are all wrapped with with the past. And others are all wrapped up with entitlement. And the church? Well, I can only speak for the United Methodist Institution (UMI). The Progressives are all wrapped up with disdain for conservatives. And the Conservatives are all wrapped up with disdain and disgust for Progressives and disobedient Bishops. Wrapped up in how much some Conferences are demanding to release the property.
And the more we rant and rail against another–the more tightly those grave clothes become. And without even realizing it, we become “The Mummy”! All of this vociferation only adds more and more wraps of cloth around us–and it keeps us from being the person Jesus died on the cross for to make possible. Though I wish the Progressives of the UMI would listen to me and stop blaming us for the problems–I doubt they will. So, let me speak to my fellow Conservatives.
Please, please, pretty please! Stop ranting about those disobedient Bishops and Conferences! You’re only beating a dead horse and not accomplishing anything. I challenge you to remember that Jesus is calling us out of the grave. But Jesus doesn’t want us wearing those grave clothes. We need to be unwrapped so that we can be turned loose as followers and servants of Jesus. Remember, not only did Jesus call Lazarus FROM the grave. He also commanded the Lazarus be unwrapped and set loose! Unwrap yourself from all this mishmash and step into this Next Great Awakening! Besides, you just don’t look right wrapped tight as a mummy!
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas…
Acts chapter 15, verses 36 thru 40; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
As you’ve noticed, I haven’t been writing lately. It’s not for lack of material–but I’ve had what we call here “the crud”. Tests revealed I did NOT have Flu A, Flu B, Covid, Sinus Infection, nor Pneumonia. So it must be “The Crud”! All I’ve been able to do lately is preach and teach and a few other things. But writing wasn’t one of those “other” things. Well, after much prayer and medicine, this morning I am feeling a lot better. The Crud is losing, and I am gaining. And so I am back doing one of the things I love and enjoy doing: Writing! And for those who watched Tuesday night’s Facebook Live Bible Study, you’ve heard most of what I am writing about today.
Today’s passage is what has been come to be known as a Paul and Barnabas Moment. Paul wants to revisit all the churches they planted to see how they were doing—AND to make sure that what happened in Antioch wasn’t happening there. Paul wants to make sure that the Message of Grace hasn’t been polluted by adding things to Grace. Barnabas agreed AND he wants to bring John Mark with them. But Paul insists that he isn’t allowed to come—and thus the disagreement. Paul is stubborn on this issue. But so is Barnabas.
There comes a moment—a decision has to be made. The decision made was different than the first decision. The first decision was about taking or leaving John Mark. Since that decision doesn’t seem to be an option—another decision has to be made: What Now? Both men seem to be immovable on their positions. So the Holy Spirit moves with another option. They Part Ways. Barnabas goes in one direction with John Mark. Paul goes in another direction with Silas. And what about the United Methodist Church?
This moment in the early Koinonia should have been put into play at least 22 years ago—maybe longer. Sadly it wasn’t. While both, I said BOTH sides continue their rhetoric and reasons why we should stay together or why we should part ways, we have been missing our purpose and our mission. Here are the obvious reasons why it’s time to end our debating and move on, in separate directions.
REASON 1
We are in a Paul And Barnabas moment. In fact, we’ve been here for a long time and no one wanted to talk about the elephant in the room. The Paul and Barnabas Moment continues to be present, and it will never go away; until we reach the only conclusion that will work and resolve this crisis.
REASON 2
Not talking about this elephant in the room in the past didn’t make the elephant disappear. Ignoring anything rarely, if ever, makes it go away. And ignoring it, or choosing not to know anything about it, has made the problem worse, a lot worse.
REASON 3
Sometimes there are principles and truths that demand that Paul And Barnabas Moment. Some ideas, or call them beliefs, cannot co-exist together. The idea being pushed by some bishops and others that the United Methodist Church can be a “Big Tent” where there is room for our different views is flawed. The issues we are facing are so opposite that they cannot co-exist together. We need to learn the lesson from electricity. You have a positive current and a negative current. And those currents cannot exist together. See what happens when you take a live electric line with 2 wires and touch them together. Unlike magnets, theological opposites do not attract and stay together. They repel one another. That just the way it is. It’s time to admit it. And it’s time to stop blaming one side or the other.
REASON 4
The failure to recognize, accept, and move forward in this Paul And Barnabas moment the way they did—is doing nothing but creating tension and even more division—and it resolves nothing. Folks, the Big Tent, if it even existed, has collapsed a long time ago. UNITED METHODISTS ON BOTH SIDE, WE’RE DOING NOTHING BUT SPINNING IN THE MUD; AND IT’S ONLY DRAGGING US DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO A HOLE! And we are hurting the Witness of The Koinonia by trying to co-exist.
REASON 5
Everyone is making a decision on which side they are standing with. Even churches who don’t want to make a decision, have chosen which side they are standing on. Remember the lesson about positive and negative electrical wires. And while that electrical wire has a neutral wire, there is no neutral position to take here in the United Methodist. Why? It’s the nature of The Kingdom of God; and it’s the nature of our relationship with God. We are either in or out. No middle ground has ever existed when it comes to walking with Jesus!
REASON 6
We have reached critical mass in reality, not theory. In the realm of nuclear bombs, critical mass is a chain-reaction that results in more neutrons being generated by fissions per second within that mass than escape per second to the outside world. In other words, a deadly explosion is about to happen. And the explosion about to happen within the United Methodist Church—if it remains under that non-existent Big Tent—will leave about as many survivors as the detonation of a nuclear bomb. United Methodists, I ask each of you: Are you really willing to push that button and destroy the Wesleyan Movement? I hope not. I pray not! Say it isn’t so!!!
REASON 7
It is better to have that Gamaliel Solution rather than to self-destruct. Remember early in the formation of the Koinonia when all of the disciples had been brought up on charges before the Sanhedrin? They were trying to figure out the best way to deal with them. Some wanted to kill them. But Gamaliel had a different idea. We read in Acts chapter 8, verses 38 and 39: “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God! I make this plea to our Bishops to implement the Gamaliel Solution, sooner than later. By doing this we can stop pointing fingers and laying blame at each other’s feet. Tell the Judicial Council to go to Antarctica, and let us depart in peace. Then we can go to either Cyprus or to Syria and Cilicia.
This is where we are, folks. It is what it is and all this caterwauling isn’t solving or resolving anything. Failure to part ways is hurtful. Please Bishops, Please! The Gamaliel Solution sounded good back then. And it sounds even better today. Let’s leave the results to God on who’s right and who’s wrong! Failure to do so is just wrong. . .just plain wrong!
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn’t mind. He had what he’d come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be. Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.
Acts chapter 8, verses 39 and 40; from The Message (MSG)
So, has the Spirit ever grabbed a hold of you and taken you somewhere else? Maybe you remember this story. It’s known as the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Imagine, if you will–that you are that Eunuch. You’ve just been baptized and you’re so excited. Imagine, it just so happened that you met Philip who just so happened to understand what he had been reading. You’re so thankful for that “accidental” meeting with Philip. And just when you’re about to ask Philip some more questions–POOF! He’s gone! But that didn’t dampen the Ethiopian’s joy!
And to think, all this happened because of a single event. Jump back to verse 26: Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” You wouldn’t have found that road in any travel guide of the time. Well, after all–it’s desolate! Yet, it’s to that exact place that God sent Philip. What Philip did not see, nor could he see, was what God alone could see. Someone needed The Good News. And Philip agrees even though he doesn’t have a single clue why. Remember, God didn’t tell him WHY he needed to go there. Just that he needed to BE there.
This is one way that The Spirit grabs hold of us. To simply and gently point us in another direction. It may not have been the direction of your choice. And it may not be where you think you should be. Nonetheless, Philip knew he had been grabbed by The Spirit. So off he goes along that desolate road. And when Philip discovers WHY he’s there–and does what The Spirit tells him to do–then The Spirit grabs hold of him again–and he literally is taken from one place to another in an instant! You know, like from the Starship Enterprise’s Transporter Room. That’s another way The Spirit grabs hold of us.
Whether He needs you simply to walk along a desolate road until you “accidentally” find another person–or if He needs you to uproot from where you are to where He wants you to be–He has a purpose. It’s up to you and I whether we accept that assignment, or not. When we are grabbed by The Spirit, it’s not the time to analyze–rather it’s the time to allow Him to take you to where He wants you. It seems to me that a lot of folks want do to the grabbing–holding on to what they want. But that never works. Why did The Spirit grab hold of Philip? Simple! He knew Philip was willing. Are you willing?
2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
Matthew chapter 11, verses 2 thru 6; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
What Are You Doing? That’s the question a mom asks her child as she’s reaching for the cooking jar, or as her son has permanent markers about to become the next great artist on the wall of the hall. Or it’s the question a wife asks her husband when she catches him looking on Facebook Marketplace at motorcycles. It’s a question about desire and intent. And it’s a question that all of us really need to spend a long and deep time thinking about: Desire and Intent.
If you overlooked today’s passage, please go back and read it; if you did read it, read it again! John the Baptist, who was in prison. . . John is in a dark place–literally and it seems also spiritually. Two of his disciples visit him and he sends them on a mission: Go find my cousin Jesus and ask Him: Are you really the Messiah or should we go looking for someone else? I find this story to be another one of those I classify as This Gives Me Some Hope story! I mean, if the man Jesus called the greatest one who ever lived struggled with doubts, then there has to be hope for me, too.
So off they go on their Mission. They find Jesus and present Him with John’s question: “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Now, I would call this a Yes Or No question. Many times when I ask a Yes Or No question I get a “War And Peace” answer. Look, just answer my question Yes or No; that’s all I need from you. I don’t need to hear a Macbeth soliloquy, thank you very much. Jesus could have answered their question with a simple Yes. But He didn’t.
Instead, Jesus says much more; and it’s a great thing that He did: “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” See and hear the power in Jesus’ answer. It’s not a Yes Or No. It’s all about what He is doing! He knew Cousin John needed more than a simple Yes Or No! He needed assurance that would build up his confidence.
The Question about Messiah is more than a one word answer. It’s about what The Messiah is doing. And it’s also a question about us and directed toward us. The question Jesus is asking us isn’t: “Are you a Christian?” The question that He is asking, and by the way, so is the world, is “What are you doing?” Are you mad at what is happening in the world? Are you mad at what is happening in the United Methodist Institution? Disappointed? Fearful? Worried about the real estate of your church? If so, then it’s time to do what the GPS does when we miss a turn: It’s time to recalculate!
What are you doing? If you are serious about being a disciple and follower of Jesus, (notice I didn’t say if you are a Christian) then you and I should be doing the very same things that Jesus was doing when John the Baptist sent his question to Jesus. “the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” We need to focus on where people are hurting, where people are broken, and the places that desperately need The Good News.
So, What Are You Doing, Right Now? Make sure it’s what Jesus is doing Right Now! Oh, one more thing for my fellow Wesleyan Tribe. Don’t overlook Verse 6: And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” Don’t worry about things like money and buildings. Just remember what Jesus added to His answer to Cousin John: “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
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’snextyou 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!
You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction.
Proverbs chapter 14, verse 12; from The Passion Translation
Yep! I just said it! And I don’t take it back. If it’s offensive to you, then toughen up, buttercup! There are those who are demonizing the Holy Writ! I know, I know! That’s strong words; but sometimes strong words are needed. And this is such a time! It’s not a new thing that’s just happened. It’s been around for thousands of years. Heck, even the Master of the Demons tried this trick with Jesus. But it didn’t work on Jesus. And it doesn’t need to work on us, either!
For those keeping up with the soap opera known as The Schism Of The United Methodist Institution, it’s being played out in front of our eyes. Maybe I should define the contextualization (we hear this a lot) of my affirmation that Holy Scriptures are being demonized! Straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, demonization means: “to portray (someone or something) as evil or as worthy of contempt or blame; to vilify“! Remember, this isn’t a new phenomena to the Twenty-First Century. Now, what I call demonization, others say, “Well, that’s my interpretation.” Or, “That’s just your interpretation.”
As part of our process for discernment and disaffiliation from the United Methodist Institution, we are required to listen to both sides of this issue. 8 days ago we heard about why the time is right and ripe to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Institution (UMI) and affiliate with the Global Methodist Church. This past Sunday we heard why we should remain in the United Methodist Institution (UMI). And their presentation was that there are just differing interpretations of Scripture–but the UMI is a Big Tent where we can all live together with those differing interpretations of Scripture. Sounds good right? But then there’s that pesky Solomon and his Book Of Proverbs. The New King James Version renders it like this: “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
I realize and accept that right now we are living in a world of grays. And that for many of us The Bible is Black and White; right and wrong; holy and unholy; blessed by God and not blessed by God. Granted, it seems like there are ways to understand the same passage in different ways. For example, 1 Corinthians chapter 14, verse 34:
Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Some say this is black and white. NO Women Preachers Allowed! Now, I can see how some interpret this to mean no women preachers. But “The Law” that Paul was referencing was Roman Law! Women were not allowed to interrupt speakers in public forums. Truth Time! They could not accuse their husbands of adultery. THEY could be accused, but they couldn’t accuse. And the whole of chapter 14 is about all the chaos that was happening when the Corinthians were, as we would say, “In Church”! And those who demand that there can be no women preachers demonize the prophet Joel, and the apostle Peter:
Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
Joel chapter 2, verse 28; from the NLT
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
And today, because of “their” interpretations some want to change the Biblical Sexual Ethic by insisting that it’s OK to be LBGTQI and that they are just living out how God created them. For them, it’s all about love and grace. And that we can’t love them unless we also agree that God created them this way. Gray, Gray, and even more Gray. While I could excuse those who insist on no women preachers as being ignorant of Roman Law (and ignorant of the rest of the Bible), there is no gray in the Bible when it comes to sexuality and the sexual ethic:
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’
Matthew chapter 19, verses 4 and 5
Now, if Jesus correctly understood that Genesis chapter 2 is God’s design and plan, then there is no gray area left. Someone might say that Jesus was answering a Pharisee’s question about divorce. And He was; divorce was never God’s design and plan. And just like every other sin (except the Unpardonable one), it can be forgiven and the individuals get a fresh start. But to call the Biblical Sexual Ethic a gray area? And then justify that view by throwing in some other scriptures (out of their contextualization)? Well, one is demonizing the Holy Writ. And that’s just wrong. So very wrong!
11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
Judges chapter 12, verses 11 and 12; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Sometimes, I said “sometimes”, I really don’t like some of the ways the Holy Spirit speaks to me. Sometimes it’s when He says, “You shouldn’t have done that!” More often it’s when He says, “You know, you really should have done that!” Well, yesterday afternoon was one of those times He spoke to me in a most unusual way. It was through one of those Hallmark movies. My wife and her sister keep their TV on one of those blessed Hallmark channels 24/7. I mean, surely there are other ways He could inspire and teach me “other than” a Hallmark movie. Am I right? Well, He did just that and it was in a line spoken by one of those characters in the movie: “Be a warrior, not a worrier!” And before I could catch myself I said out loud in front of them and the Lord: “That will preach!”
And this morning I couldn’t get that line out of my head. And immediately I thought about today’s passage and this worrier, Gideon. Don’t you think Gideon was worried? Why else would he have been threshing wheat in a winepress? He was hiding from the Midianites. He was worried that they might see him and steal his grain. When out of nowhere, there was an angel sent from God with the most unusual greeting from God: “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Remember, context is everything. God spoke those words to a man who was worried! He called this Worrying Gideon a Mighty Hero! Ain’t that a hoot? I mean, how can you call someone in hiding because of his worries a Mighty Hero?
Who does that? God! That’s who!!! And guess what! He is still doing this even today! And tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. . . Now, let me speak to you. What are you worried about? If you’re a worrier, then it won’t take a lot of time. When we worry we are declaring that the source of that worry is bigger, more important, and more powerful than God! What I am about to say is to my fellow United Methodist tribal sisters and brothers–but it applies to any and every cause of worry.
There are things that come along that are indeed a cause for, call it concern (which is a coward’s way of not saying worry). Waiting on the doctor’s test results. More bills than money. Job interview. First date. The looming project deadline. And this is for my Tribal members: What’s going to happen to our property if we disafilliate? Now, we cannot stop things that happen to which our initial reaction is to worry. I’m talking about what we do with that worry! You can be a worrier or you can be what God calls Gideon: A Warrior! And to my fellow Tribal members, fight! Not for the Church Property! Fight for the Kingdom of God! That’s a fight that’s worth fighting!
Put your confidence in God, not the worry.Worry is like a vicious and hungry dog gnawing on a bone. It will grind you up. So, whatever it is you are worried about, stop looking at it and for heaven’s sake stop thinking about it. Instead of looking and thinking–I would suggest you listen! Listen to what God is saying. Even if you are a worrier like Gideon, He still calls those who will listen and trust in Him–a Mighty Warrior. You can worry. But what does that accomplish?
6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.
Romans chapter 8, verses 6-7; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Recently I had a conversation with a fellow United Methodist clergy on Facebook. It was focused on a post this individual had made. It was surprisingly civil (up to this point)–still, I couldn’t help but think: What are they teaching now in United Methodist Seminaries? Here’s the screenshot of that comment:
This person compared understanding Scriptures to a 3-legged stool. The top is the Scriptures and the 3 legs are tradition, reason, and experience. Thus, without tradition, or reason, or experience, one cannot adequately understand Scripture. The primary (and often times “sole determining factor”) way to understand Scripture is through tradition, reason, and experience. Now, before you call me that dreaded “fundamentalist”, hear me out. We do not study the Scriptures in a vacuum. There are traditions. We all have experiences. And God created us to be able to reason, or think if you prefer.
But it seems that many of our clergy are using reason as the final determining factor. In other words, if it doesn’t make sense to us, or if the culture tells us something contrary, then we are free to change or ignore what the Bible clearly teaches. This is what many seminaries are teaching. Not all of them, mind you; but enough of them are and the result has been the dilution and devolution of the power of Scripture to guide us and form in us the life of Holiness demanded by God for His Image Bearers. Go back to the writer’s analogy of that three-legged stool.
The writer is correct in stating that for a three-legged stool to be secure enough to sit on, it needs all three legs. And, by implication, those 3 legs need to be the same length. Otherwise it is unstable. But do not overlook the other implication–that Scripture (the seat of that three-legged stool) cannot safely support us until all three of those legs are the same length. In other words, Scripture is to be formed by OUR traditions, experiences, and reasoning.
Can I be frank with you? I know, my name is Randy. But I need to be FRANK with you this morning. Using the writer’s analogy of that three-legged stool, when those who are supposed to be our Spiritual Leaders are taught that human reasoning overrides the Scriptures and that we need to change our beliefs about anything in the Bible, then the result is the chaos and soon to follow destruction of the United Methodist, and any other church that follows the same primrose path. And to my fundamentalist friends, if you allow your traditions to determine your beliefs about the Bible, then your three-legged stool is just as unsteady.
Hear me out! Yes, reason, tradition, and experience are helpful tools when it comes to understanding Scripture! But they do not determine what is THE TRUTH! The Truth is set by the Bible for all matters of faith, life, and conduct. But none of them gives us the permission to change The Standard clearly set in The Bible! From my perspective, many seminary professors took a bite of that apple Satan offered Eve and Adam, and unlike Eve and Adam who recognized the shame and mistake, they “reason” that the apple is good, and that Satan was right. Is there any doubts now as to why the United Methodist Tribe is imploding? It looks like that three-legged stool analogy doesn’t work after all.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 18; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
Well, I didn’t muse and write yesterday because we were packing up and cleaning up from our recent spiritual retreat on the beach at Pensacola. Then the drive home. A few stops for food, gas, and shopping–then unpacking when we arrived home. And though I usually take Saturday as a Sabbath from writing, this morning is different. As the Spirit and I were talking (for the uninformed it’s also known as prayer) He gave me this thought: Are You Thankful For The Struggles?
So many are in some type of struggle–myself included. Shocker Alert: We all have struggles! For some of you, I didn’t have to say that. Maybe you are struggling with some type of addiction (and surely you know there are more types of addictions than chemical addictions, don’t you?) Maybe it’s a rebellious child at home. Perhaps it’s you are living out the story of The Prodigal Son. Maybe it’s your marriage. A friendship. Your health. The health of a loved one. Perhaps even finding a new job or career. As Forrest Gump said in the movie: “It happens.” Or maybe your struggle is in and with the United Methodist (Alleged) Church.
The struggle, whatever it may be, is literally eating you alive. You’ve tried a gazillion things to end the struggle. Perhaps you’ve resigned to burying you hand in the sand, hoping it will go away–but even Ostriches know that doesn’t work. So, what now? Maybe now is the time to follow Paul’s advice to the church at Thessalonica–Be Thankful! Did you or someone else just think: “What tha’………….?” Yes, I said Be Thankful for our struggles! And I just heard a reader say out loud, “You’re crazy Preacherman! There’s nothing to help me by being thankful! I’m not reading any more of your insane gibberish!”
Hold on, pardner! Try to stay in the saddle just a couple of more minutes. Struggles are ripe moments to grow in both grace and wisdom. Lord knows we need a lot more wisdom in these days. We can be thankful for our struggles when we do 3 simple, yet deeply profound things–and here they are:
Lean Into The Spirit!
Choose in this moment of struggle to get closer to The Holy Spirit. Struggles are loud–VERY loud. And without leaning into The Spirit we will not be able to hear Him.
Lean on the spirit!
Let’s get real! In every struggle we are leaning on something! No exceptions! Either ourselves, another person, our chemical of choice–remember, no exceptions. Instead, lean ON The Spirit. Rely on The Holy Spirit to help you and even carry you when you are totally overwhelmed.
count on the spirit
When struggles seem impossible to overcome, it’s because we have empowered the struggle to be more powerful than anything else.Put your confidence in the work, power, and purposes of The Holy Spirit! ALL of your confidence. It may well be that His Plan isn’t in alignment with YOUR plan. Still, Count On The Holy Spirit to bring Victory over our struggles. The Spirit will never abandon you! So, count on The Spirit in the struggles.
As we do these 3 simple yet profound things, something amazing, maybe even unexpected by us, happens. We become thankful–thankful that God’s plans are so much better, so much more powerful than anything we can ever imagine. For then we live fully confident in God. And when we are living fully confident that God has us AND our struggles, those struggles lose its power over us and we become Victors! Even in this season of pondering disaffiliation!
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Luke chapter 9, verse 62; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
As you may have surmised from this week’s posts, I had planned to re-post some of my previous musings so that I would have more time to enjoy this brief vacation. When I announced (to myself) this would be my plan, The Father looked at the Son, then The Spirit–and all three of them laughed and laughed and laughed! When will I ever learn? So, what has changed? Glad you asked!
At least in my locale, I’m hearing sad stories about some folks who are beginning to waffle on disaffiliation as the time grows close to make the “official” decision. And I do not know their reason(s) for waffling. I am willing to allow that the Holy Spirit has told them to change their minds. After all, I wasn’t privy to their original nor subsequent conversations with The Spirit. But I can’t help but wonder like Paul did about the church in Galatia: “You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for He is the one who called you to freedom.” (Galatians chapter 5, verses 7 and 8; NLT)
My deepest concern right now for those folks is the same one I’ve had since this Disaffiliation Movement started: That church property, ‘their‘ property, is more important than the Kingdom of God. It’s as if God can’t do something with them unless they have their property. Surely God is capable of handling their future even IF they lose their property. And I will admit it–it’s scary starting from scratch. And what about those founders of their church? Don’t you think they may be been scared of starting a new church? But starting something new with God is also exhilerating because we must trust Him, who never abandons HIS Kingdom, completely and without reservations or hesitations. Following Jesus and The Kingdom is never free of risks–but the rewards far outweigh the risks. Reality Check: It’s always been risky following Jesus. And that’s OK!
If you are one of those “second-guessing” the decision to disaffiliate, remember the words of Jesus I opened with today: But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Back to my original question: Are you fit for the Kingdom of God? I didn’t ask if you were worthy! None of us are worthy. But are you fit for the Kingdom of God? If you waffle and look back, Jesus says you aren’t. But if you keep looking forward, disregarding the price of following Jesus, it makes you fit for the Kingdom! And least you think I’m only trying to shame the ones looking back, I end with these other words from Paul to encourage all of us not to look back after we’ve put our hands to the plow:
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Galatians chapter 6, verses 8 and 9; from the NLT
So, keep plowing straight by looking forward, and don’t give up. Just don’t give up!
I’m still on our spiritual retreat at the beach. My plan was to share some of my previous posts rather than writing new ones. And as I was praying and looking, and yes, thinking, I found this post from six years ago. Honestly, in 2016 I didn’t have a clue of how true it would be, especially this line: “I foresee the time coming of a “split” or “divorce” within the United Methodist Church, and coming much sooner than many anticipate.” And no, I do no consider myself a “predictor of the future”.
At that time, a ‘commission’ was formed to ‘find our way forward’. And in 2019, a called General Conference was convened in St. Louis to settle “that” issue once and for all. But read this in the context of 2016. Oh, and when I mention my age, add 6 years to it. Here is that blog:
Kingdom Pastor 