Cleaning Up Our Act

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Monday, January 27, 2020

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.  Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you.  Such sins have no place among God’s people.  Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.  Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.  You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.  For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.  Don’t participate in the things these people do.  For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of light!  For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.  Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.  It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.  But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.  This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”                           Ephesians 5:1-14

With the struggle of our culture over human sexuality currently coming to a head, particularly in the United Methodist Church, today’s poignant reading from Paul is a vibrant reminder that the sins of one group ought not to be categorized worse than the sins of another.  Telling coarse jokes, or spewing expletives, and even foolish talk seems to be of little consequence, matched up against sexual immorality and rampant greed.  However, Paul lumps them all together and calls it all worthless deeds of evil and darkness.  He flatly says, expose that nonsense; don’t take part in it, or make excuses for that kind of behavior.  Wouldn’t you just love it if Paul didn’t beat around the bush so much?

Paul’s blunt rebuke for ungodly behavior is no stranger to me.  Years ago, in a new pastorate, I met a church member for the first time in the nursing home.  She was struggling with the fading strength of age, complicated by dementia.  Her family told me before I went that Grandma didn’t have long to live.  So, when I arrived at the home I introduced myself and asked her to share her faith story with me.  She immediately began to tell about the revival that was held when she was a young girl, and how she’d served Jesus at that church in this way and that way.  When there was a brief pause in the recounting of the last 70 years, I asked if she was secure in her heart that when she left this world she would meet Jesus in heaven.  She said, Oh, yes, young man.  I know I’m going to heaven, and if you want to get there too, YOU’D BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAYS!  Granny had nailed me like Paul the Apostle, right where I live.

Funny, I don’t remember much else we may have talked about on that visit.  What I do remember is being caught up short about how in world she knew I was such a sinner.  This was the first time we’d laid eyes on each other, and she didn’t know me from Adam’s housecat. 

On one level I knew it was the dementia speaking, but on another level, spiritually speaking, she was spot-on; I was (and am) a sinner.  And it makes little difference if it’s greed, coarse speech, foolishness, gossip, anger, lust, or homosexuality; how much, or what kind of sin does it take to make one a sinner?  When you think about it, it’s kind of like robbing banks, or killing, or lying; one will do!

And so, this morning I’m thinking particularly about how United Methodists will treat each other in the coming days at the meetings where they’ll try to work on how to part and go separate ways, as opposed to staying together like two fighting cats with their tails tied together.  Or how the people I know who populate the churches I serve (along with their pastor) will treat our community.  We are, as Paul the Apostle (and Granny the nursing home sage) said, supposed to be about the business of changing our ways to be more like imitators of God’s godliness, and less of the other!

For You Today

You and I won’t be able to solve every bit of what’s wrong with the world, or even within our own hearts by lunchtime today, but we can start to bend our ways to His ways with a season of prayer that shines a little light on our darkness.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:   Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

Dusty Sandals

This post is a special edition of Rocky Road Devotions, as a response to the recent news of the proposed “Protocol” suggested by a group of leaders in the United Methodist Church, as to how the church might be split-up, so as to put an end to the UMC’s struggles concerning human sexuality.  I sense a need to express thoughts that have been brewing for some time over this intractable stew and the attitudes and actions of those at polar odds in the making.

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Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town.  And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”  Luke 9:4-5

For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”  When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.  So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.  Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.  So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.  And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  Acts 13:47-51

Those first-century Christian radicals tended to live like Jesus taught them to live.  When sending his disciples out to spread the Good News Jesus told them to go to the surrounding cities, find a hospitable family with which to stay, and get busy telling the story.  But if the message was rejected, they were to shake that town’s dust off their sandals and move on.  The dust hanging in the air was a warning that rejecting the Gospel meant rejecting God’s loving embrace.

That’s exactly what happened at Antioch as Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, came to town and preached a sermon at the local synagogue about how God’s grace had been extended to even the non-Jewish nations.  It started a riot, and got Paul and Barnabas chased from the city.  But as they left, they did what Jesus had instructed; they shook the dust off their sandals and moved on with joy. 

Twenty centuries later Christians seem to have forgotten how to do that!  That is, at least some Christians in the United Methodist Church.

It’s no secret that progressive, centrist, and traditionalist Methodists have been at each other’s necks for a half-century over whether the denomination will be an evangelical/Biblical or socio-political movement.  The focal issue of late (since about 1972) has been the acceptance of other than traditional heterosexuality as normative.  Traditionalists believe homosexuality, trans or bi-gender, and even multi/self-identifying (non)gender proponents are attempting to re-define what God has clearly stated; that is, we are created male or female…clearly.  Progressives prefer the door wide-open, and all restraints removed on human sexuality.  In short, traditionalists believe the very idea of LGBTQ[2] as normative is sin, while progressives believe the historical orthodoxy of heterosexuality is open for individual interpretation without prejudice.  This is the immovable object of heterodoxy meeting with the irresistible force of cultural rebellion.

True Wesleyan practice holds what its founder held, a quite high view of Scripture, that our loyalty to Christ is lived-out with adherence to God’s Word, not trying to change God’s Word to fit the image of progressive cultural trends.

Progressive thought tries to scramble for the higher moral ground, proclaiming the love of Jesus as their marching banner; albeit a love which ignores the righteousness of the Christ, the One who will one day judge every action.  That is certainly a fly in the ointment of progressive thought.  To hold that one is following Jesus, when one is unquestionably following self-desires and cultural popularity, is a de facto denial of what Christ said plainly:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.  Matthew 16:24

Progressives have little desire to be crucified daily, when one can be puffed-up daily with a platitude that elevates humanism’s I must be true to ME over Christianity’s I must be faithful to God.

In case you haven’t yet detected where my deeply-held conviction lies, let me come out front with the substance of my argument here:  I am shaking the dust off my sandals, abandoning progressivism (as if there was any embrace of it in the first place!), and moving on down the road with Paul and Barnabas in joy.

With that declaration I wish to hold up an admonition to my sisters and brothers in Christ who hold the opposing view.  If you claim to be followers of Christ, do like the first century Christians did – follow Him…not your disobedient bishops. 

According to The Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation the “separation” will be when the Traditionalists leave the United Methodist Church to form other denomination(s).  This is as odd as it gets. 

For a moment, pretend I support the Progressivist position.  And we go back in time to – well, pick a time in history when homosexuality was considered a normative alternative as opposed to heterosexuality – Oh…pardon me; you can’t find one?  Perhaps that’s because there isn’t a time frame such as that, even if you go all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  And since that is so, it is hard to imagine John Wesley presiding over a conference to wish the traditionalists Godspeed while he and his progressivist bishops actually do the Lord’s work. 

Considering Jesus’ instruction to not get embroiled in the disbelief of others, but to leave and continue your own work (working out your own salvation with fear and trembling), how is it that Traditionalists are blamed for ruining the United Methodist Church by imposing bigotry and homophobia on the United Methodist Church, which was founded upon, governed by, and operating within traditional orthodoxy according to Scriptural parameters?  Traditionalists (as I understand the term) wish nothing more than to continue within those parameters

My question then, for my dear friends in Christ who hold progressive convictions, presumably for the purpose of honoring and following Christ, is:

Shouldn’t you be shaking the traditionalist town dust off your sandals, instead of taking over and inhabiting what you didn’t build, and only acquiescing to separation if the traditionalists leave town…how is THAT denying self?

The sin in this takeover is it finds zero precedent in Scripture.  Perhaps the Scriptural precedent is being seen in the Traditionalists willingness to leave the home ground (as Abraham did when God called) and begin a new work, unencumbered by petty grabs for money, notoriety and power.  You can grab the house if you want to, but what will you have when it collapses around you (as it has done in the case of every other mainline denomination to embrace progressivism)?

It’s difficult for me to fathom why progressives want anything to do with Traditionalists, seen as stodgy and obtuse…weak-visioned orthodox troglodytes, prejudicially abusing the gender rights of liberated souls.  That does not seem smart or right, as this impasse has demonstrated.  Progressivism won’t hold anything together, but only does what it always does, fight against something.  Progressive doctrine is to dismantle every doctrine, to drive whatever wedges of separation exist deeper between whomever resists.  And the unfolding ultimate consequences, in this case, will be tallied in souls.

Here is how Jesus described such takeover attempts to co-opt tired, rigid, outdated and unsuitable mechanisms to do new things:

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.  For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.  New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”  Matthew 9:17

For You Today

If you’re a progressive-minded United Methodist reading/listening to this, reconsider please what you’re supporting.  If you really consider Traditionalists as Satan’s pawns, why would you do anything else but shake the dust off your feet and go form your own system/church? 

Remember the monsters of Nazi Germany, or Russian Czars, or Mafia, or any other group trying to push another out?  If you adopt the monster’s methods, you then become the new monster! 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

[2] An acronym for Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Trans-gender Queer

Undivided God - Part 2

Monday, May 26, 2014

“…for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God – since you have received me with such favor.”  Jacob to Esau - Genesis 33:10b

I am schism-prone. 

As an introvert who despises conflict and confrontation, and avoids it like the plague, it’s easier for me to separate than debate, or worse. 

For United Methodists embroiled in this seeming no-win tug of war over homosexuality, the “easy way” of dividing so we can all take our ball and go home, is tempting – but hardly Christ-like.  (That was settled at Calvary when Jesus refused to take the bait about coming off that cross if he was truly God.)  Considering Jesus wouldn’t bail, there’s a message for us somewhere in that!

In the first post on this subject I alluded to Paul and Barnabas’ dilemma concerning John Mark, who had failed to go the distance with them on their previous missionary journey.  Paul gave JM a failing grade; Barnabas agreed, but wanted to take him along on the next trip in spite of his shortcomings.  A sharp division ensued, causing Paul to partner up with a more suitable companion – Silas – while Barnabas and John Mark went another way. 

Many would point to this as evidence that the “split” doubled the work-effectiveness – twice as many church visits!

But is that really so?

Do you suppose Paul, Barnabas or John Mark were clear-headed as they travelled and did the work of God? 

Do you suppose they were not heavy-hearted at the rift between them?

Did it not haunt their dreams?

Who is to say how much the division interfered with their work?  But this we do know – Paul and John Mark eventually reconciled.  JM was included in Paul’s salutation to the Colossian believers ^(4:10).  And at the end of his earthly life, stuck in a Roman prison, Paul had his friend Luke with him, but he asked Timothy to bring John Mark to him because (Paul said) John Mark would be helpful to him in his ministry there. 

Paul was a hard-driving, no nonsense kind of guy.  He probably could hold a grudge with the best; but here we see his underbelly – tender, exposed and ready to receive a brother. 

I can’t be totally certain Paul ever really liked John Mark; but he received him for the sake of Christ.

Both sides of the current UMC crisis can insert their own names in this story in every character.  Can you see yourself as:

          ·        Paul the stubborn one?

          ·        Barnabas the peacemaker?

          ·        John Mark the rejected one?

          ·        Luke putting up with Paul the grouchy one?

If you can’t see yourself, at least in some way, or at some times in each of these roles, you’re not working hard enough!

Going back to the Old Testament – remember Jacob sneaking out of town in the middle of the night because he stole Esau’s birthright?  (Ooooh…couldn’t we could draw some neat analogies from this in the current crisis?)  But God allowed Jacob 20 years of exile to get his head right; Esau got a 20 year cool-down for his temper.  And in the end, when the brothers are finally reunited, the (now) mature Jacob tells Esau, his former arch rival and enemy, seeing you is like seeing the face of God.

Reconciliation doesn’t get any better than that!

And, one final example; how about the schism of Acts 15 over whether Gentiles belong in the church?  There was nothing more odious to Jews than uncircumcised Gentiles.  Yet, the outcome, after much General Conference debate was to accept those Gentiles who were turning to Christ, and simply ask that they refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols and fornication.  This was a via media (Wesleyan middle way) solution if I’ve ever seen one!

Main Question

Can we not take these examples as our game plan to “follow Jesus, make disciples and transform the world”?

We have a real (but dwindling) opportunity in these “pre-schism” moments to display for the world how genuine believers act under pressure, and in the face of an angry temptation to divide like contemporary culture lives.  We have the opportunity to show the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace instead of anger, rancor and judgment. 

We have the opportunity to be the face of God for an unbelieving world caught in a very dark culture.  We don’t have to add to the darkness; we can bring the light of an undivided God to a divided world.

Wouldn’t you call that mission?

Today…for you

United Methodists are simply a microcosm of the bitterness and contention which seethe and boil as the creation groans for redemption.

Today I’m praying for God to make my heart open for the via media a middle way to choose, and help others choose to accept the ministry of reconciliation in a way that clearly speaks the love of God.

Join me?

Undivided God

Friday, May 23, 2014

Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
While in essence only One, Undivided God we claim Thee;
And adoring bend the knee, While we own the mystery.
And adoring bend the knee, While we own the mystery.[1]

One of my favorite contemporary songs was written 20 years ago, and was born out of a response to the very trying times in which we live.  The song begins with the line:  These are the days of Elijah…[2]

Today Methodists are singing a new song:  These are the days of our schism…. 

Day after day for the past several months my email inbox has been flooded with new blog posts about the impending division of the United Methodist Church.  Of course it’s no secret that the Methodist brethren on the extreme left favor “full inclusion” of LGBT persons, while those on the extreme right want the status to remain “quo” (i.e., no same-sex marriage or LGBT members in leadership).

The reports and their respective outlooks are dismal, no matter which blog you read.  Talk of separation is everywhere, with imminent predictions of a church splintered and divided into two or more denominations.  

It’s so odd to sing the older song (above)…One, Undivided God we claim Thee, and at the same time blistering the Internet with hacking-up God’s bride like chopped barbeque. 

It’s odd; but not new.

Schism is as old as Paul and Barnabas dividing over whether John Mark had repented enough to be included on the next missionary journey ^{(see Acts 15:36-40)}.

There are people holding to the Methodist “middle way” – the via media, pleading with the extremes to give one another their hands, in the same manner they claim their hearts “be”.

I have little voice in this debate.  But what tiny splinter I may lay on the fire of “holy warmth” comes down on the side of holding together – in prayer, because, in spite of our many opinions, we are baptized with One Spirit. 

Schism usually settles little.  Doing the (sometimes) agonizing work of reconciliation portends great benefit for the church.  But, it will take swallowing a whole lot of pride on both sides of the aisle to do this.  But that’s not only difficult, it is Christ-like, and the only right thing to do.  Without that holy gulp of unselfishness the only face we present to the world is shame!

So, I return to the “old song” and its final verse:

Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray, 

By a thousand snares surrounded:

Keep us without sin today, 

Never let us be confounded.

Lo, I put my trust in Thee; 

Never, Lord, abandon me.

Surrounded we are; and the lion roars as he wanders, seeking those whom he may devour.  Opinions are easy to have; faith is in short supply.  Can we not tarry with our Lord in this Gethsemane just an hour?  Can we not tarry together until our undivided God gives wisdom and light from above?

Today…for you

Join me in praying and fasting for our Methodist brothers and sisters?  And the Presbyterians?  And the Baptists?  And the Catholics?  And…?

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[1] Ignaz Franz, German Catholic priest, 1771

[2] ©Robin Mark 1994