Here is another e-mail that I received from Dr. Riley B. Case that I wanted to share with all of you.
Randy
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One of the bishops who spoke in support of the General Conference’s action on homosexuality was Bishop Lindsey Davis of North Georgia. Davis is quoted as saying: “I think the church is right. I think we are very much in sync with historic Christianity and very much in sync with 99.9 percent of Christians in the world. I make no apology for our position. It is biblical, and it is in keeping with 2,000 years of Christian tradition.”
Bishop Davis may have overstated the case, but if so, not by much. The truth is that Christians in all places and at all times have almost unanimously agreed that marriage between a man and a woman is a Biblical “mystery” (a truth too deep for rational explanation) pointing to the relationship between Christ and the Church. The sexual ethic “faithfulness in marriage and celibacy in singleness” points to that mystery and precludes the blessing of homosexual practice.
The United Methodist Church stands with Christians around the world in proclaiming this mystery. To have declared otherwise, or even to have added a qualifier that “we disagree” about the practice of homosexuality and/or the definition of marriage would have placed us outside the mainstream of Christian tradition and identified us as an extremist sect, if not a cult.
Evangelicals as well as others affirm our church’s doctrine and discipline and place United Methodism within the mainstream of Christianity. We reject the idea that our stand on sexual morality is “sinful” (as one speaker during the demonstration at General Conference asserted), or “wrong” which was the word used by Bishop Melvin Talbert. We also reject the accusation that the action is “hateful,” “homophobic,” “intolerant,” and “unloving.” These accusations must be seen as being leveled not just against evangelicals and the action of the conference, but also against Christian standards as defined by the church through the ages. What appears to be taking place is that an alien church culture, fed by religious inclusivism, would be willing to deconstruct Christianity and replace it with an alternative ideology.
It is important to understand just how out-of-step this desire to deconstruct Christianity is. Issues of truth, or even morality, are not to be resolved by majority vote, but at the same time, one must have a powerful argument to overturn the overwhelming consensus of world Christianity.
How much of a consensus is there? In United States alone one can postulate a church membership of 200 million, of which about 14.6 million belong to the four most liberal denominations (UM, Presbyterian USA, Episcopal, and UCC). According to figures taken from the Connectional Table study 39% of UM’s strongly disagree or disagree somewhat with the statement on considering the practice of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching (even this statistic is quite suspect because of the type of people surveyed). If that same percentage were applied to the other most liberal denominations, the total who disagrees with the church’s historic stand would total 5,759,000. If another 4.3 million are added from the most conservative denominations that would total 10 million, or 5% of the total Christians in the United States. Even if we were to double this figure (20 million) this still represents only 10% of American Christians.
But Americans represent only 10% of the world’s Christians (200 million out of 2 billion-figures taken from the World Christian Encyclopedia, 2000 figures). Except for Canada and Europe, the rest of the world stands strongly with the Scriptures and with tradition on the matter of homosexuality. No matter how the statistics are figured, anywhere from 95%-98% of the world’s Christians do not believe the practice of homosexuality is consistent with Christian teaching.
Granted, interpretation of statistics is an imprecise science. Still, however the statistics are analyzed, it is difficult to come to any other conclusion than that the blessing of homosexual practice is anything other than an extremist position within world Christianity. It is also possible to argue that no Christian groups (except the cults) have ever redefined marriage to mean anything other than between a man and a woman.
Our United Methodist stand is, if anything, far more sensitive than much of the rest of the Christian world. We support civil rights for all people; we (including the evangelicals) believe that homophobia is to be resisted; we affirm the sacred worth of all individuals. We confess that as a denomination we have not always lived up to our own standards. But our church’s stand is right.
As you may have seen this past Sunday, the church had some ancient books available for viewing this weekend. Some of the Academy classes got a chance to see them, and here are their thoughts:
Robin Chiang - 5th grade
My class visited the ancient books display yesterday and found it very interesting. The gentleman in charge gave the students a brief explanation of the history behind the exhibit. The students were amazed by the sheep skin scroll and the precision that the writers used to print the Word in square blocks. It was a once in a life time opportunity for our students to be so up close to museum quality writings of the scripture. Thank you to Mt. Bethel UMC for hosting such a historically relevant exhibit.
Linda Thomason - 5th grade
My fifth grade class viewed the ancient texts yesterday. I only wish that we had had more time with the man showing the rare collection as he was a wealth of information and history! It was a priceless and unexpected gift for the kids, and us, to see the bibles and Christian Books. The Hebrew Scroll was wonderful! We all loved it and learned a LOT from the experience. Thank You so much for including us.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:11 that we will always have the poor with us. The question is often asked, “If we will always have the poor, then why bother? Aren’t we just throwing our resources away trying to feed, dress, educate and comfort them?!”
Sometimes the same attitude is expressed regarding the non-believer. Why bother? I mean, once we “get it”, why can’t we just “keep it”? Why must we share our resources, love, caring concern, the good news, with those who are without?!
Purely and simply, Jesus informs us that we can have no part of Him unless we reach out to the least, lost and last. Jesus taught that our very salvation hinges upon our relationship with the poor. Remember His words, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. And these will go away unto eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:45-46)
Do you remember the song “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers? Read (or sing) these words:
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow.
But if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow.
Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend.
I’ll help you carry on; for it won’t be long till I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on.
Please swallow your pride, if I have things you need to borrow.
For no one can fill those of your needs that you don’t let show,
So just call on me brother when you need a hand.
We all need somebody to lean on.
I just might have a problem that you’d understand.
We all need somebody to lean on.
Lean on me when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend.
I’ll help you carry on; for it won’t be long till I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on.
Jesus promises joy and love to those who reach out to the least, lost and last! That applies to everyone who goes on a short-term mission trip, as well as those who serve at MUST and the St. Philip community. It also applies to everyone who reaches out to those labeled as “illegal aliens.”
May we all come to know the deep, abiding love and joy of Jesus as we allow His brothers and sisters to lean on us. Why bother? So we can lean on Him when our time comes!
See you at the “Leaning Place,”
Randy Mickler
Senior Pastor
Have you ever had a CD that brings you joy from the first to the last song? A couple years ago I found “that” CD. It was a contemporary arrangement of classic hymns, and it flooded memories of my grandmother worshipping God from her kitchen. The music brought me great joy and served as the perfect travel piece for the many carpool runs I made during the day with a preschooler and elementary aged child.
One afternoon when I picked up my daughter from school I had “that” CD playing in the car, she asked, “Mom can you play #9″? Well, song #9 was an arrangement of “By and By” sung in the language of Kituba from Africa. I played the song and took just a moment to see what it was about this song that she enjoyed so much. I pulled over and in the rearview mirror I watched her expressions while she listened to the song. My 7 year old daughter and my 4 year old son where truly enjoying the song. I thought my children just tolerated my choice of music, but they where actually listening, in fact they had a favorite song on my CD and knew the number. When I asked them what they liked about the song so much, considering they couldn’t understand the lyrics, my daughter replied, “they are praising my God”.
She didn’t overthink it, she didn’t question the words, she allowed the music to take her senses to a state of worship. The words were spoken in a language she had never heard or understood, but she could hear the celebration of our King beating through the drums and carrying through the voices lifted in praise.
The children of God break all language, culture, and economic barriers. It’s a celebration of love, and it beats with the heart of every child. Can you hear it?
At Mt. Bethel we are blessed to share that celebration with God’s children and are intentional in efforts to connect the children at Mt. Bethel to God’s children both locally and globally. “Kids In Motion” is a new program designed to give children a “hands on” approach to serving, praying and understanding God’s big world and all His children. Children will participate in “hands on” mission projects to prepare, pack, and make items during Sunday School to be shared with children locally and globally. Check out “Kids In Motion” and other programs for children on our website.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Mt. Bethel’s latest produced video, you need to. Then ask yourself these questions:
1. What does it mean to be a Christian?
2. Is believing the right things enough?
3. What does the following scripture tell us about living a Christian life? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
4. When are we being most Christ-like?
5. What does it mean to be a compassionate servant?
The first year I brought my children to the live nativity at Mt. Bethel I had hopes of a deep rich spiritual connection for my family. The December night air was crisp and cool, and my husband and I began to share the story with our children as we approached the humble manger scene. As we walked up to the cradle we realized our children were both distracted by other activity around the manger. My son was fascinated with the chicken, and later cried because the chicken wouldn’t stop running so he could pick it up and love on it. My daughter was enjoying the warmth from a little pit fire close by, and visiting with friends. Not the connection I had hoped for at all that night at the live nativity.
As I watched my children I began to reflect on my personal experience with the live nativity. As a child I was amazed by the angel and thought that was the miracle of the story. When I met Jesus for the first time I made a connection with the baby in the cradle. The precious Christ child, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, King of Kings. When I became a mother I connected with Mary, the mother of Jesus. I could imagine the earthly love she had for her Son as she watched his lips curl in a smile, his little feet take their first steps, his hand hold hers. I cried for her thinking about the final days she would share with her son and the events that would take place on the road to the cross.
As my spiritual journey continued, I connected with the events of this precious night in history that would change the world forever. The reason for Christmas, the gift of hope and peace for the entire world, lie in the wooden cradle on a stable floor. I know how the story ends, that precious baby represents my savior, my Jesus. I know his blood will be shed on the cross for my sins. I know the victory of the empty tomb on Easter morning. I know the love of God the Father is eternal and everlasting: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
This year I wonder where the nativity will take me? Will it be the simplicity of the night? The only sparkling and twinkling lights will be those placed in the sky by God the Father. The only sound will be of the animals and the baby. The only focus will be on the hope that lies in the manger, the true gift of Christmas…the baby Jesus.
How will you connect this Christmas season with the live nativity? Join us Wednesday December 19-Friday December 21 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the front parking lot for the live nativity. Where will it take you?
I received this e-mail from Dr. Riley B. Case and wanted to share it with all of you.
Randy
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Evangelical United Methodists are sometimes seen as malcontents when it comes to complaining about the denomination. It is not uncommon to hear: “United Methodism is far too liberal”; “United Methodism has lost its way”; “United Methodism is apostate.”
These remarks should be seen as within the family. When it comes to outsiders, we don’t like to see our denomination under attack.
So the UM evangelical reaction to this characterization of the United Methodist Church in Joel Belz’s editorial in the November 11 issue of World magazine:
It would be hard to find two denominations that more vividly characterize the anti-evangelical spirit that became repulsive to such hard-core evangelicals than the United Church of Christ (Barack Obama’s denomination) and the United Methodist Church (John Edwards and Hillary Clinton’s denomination). Through and through, both the UCC and the UMC have been stalwarts of everything that is liberal-both theologically and socially.
We would invite Joel Belz and other “hard-core evangelicals” to attend our UM evangelical gatherings. The message that the Confessing Movement and other evangelical renewal groups seek to communicate is that evangelical faith is alive in the United Methodist Church. Despite what some of our seminaries teach, and despite what some of our boards and agencies say (which unfortunately is sometimes the public face of United Methodism), a large part of our church is faithful to the Doctrines and Discipline of the Church (which is, theologically, evangelical and orthodox), is evangelistically minded, and has a heart for missions. We frankly are not pleased to be put into the same boat as the UCC.
To set the record straight: 70% of United Methodists live in the red states (as per the 2004 national elections); Republican congresspersons who are United Methodist outnumber Democratic congresspersons 2 to 1. In terms of theology and mission outreach, United Methodists are among the largest supporters of parachurch evangelical ministries. The United Methodist hymnal is the only mainline denominational hymnal that has maintained most of the traditional language in its hymns and has not purged from its pages the atonement and blood hymns. The United Methodist Church has not compromised its stand on traditional marriage and its teaching on homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching.
Of course the church is diverse. Of course the struggle for the soul of the church is still taking place. But consider: in the upcoming General Conference it is not the evangelicals but the progressives who are most unhappy with who we are, and who want to do a major overhaul on the traditions and the stances of the church. It is the progressives who in the name of “inclusiveness” want to do away with all membership standards, and who, if they cannot impose their way legislatively would seek to do so through packing the Judicial Council. It is the progressives who would redefine marriage and bless the practice of homosexuality. We maintain that is not really who United Methodists are.
We urge the critics not to give up on the United Methodist Church, because we ourselves haven’t.
Finally! Let’s get together as God’s people and pray for rain! Check out Randy’s comment in the AJC on praying for rain at the State Capitol’s steps today.
