2024 General Conference

It is never too early to pray. With the mass disaffiliation happening in the United Methodist Church (nearing 25% of the churches in the United States). With the twilight of paragraph 2553 coming at the end of December 2023 (and the abuse of this exit path by some conferences by adding ransoms for churches trying to remain faithful to Orthodox theology). With the lawsuits around the United States – including 30+ churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church (trying to get their conferences to be more reasonable with their ransom). And with General Conference happening in April of 2024 (see here). It is never too early to pray.

As a life-long United Methodist – and with two previous generations of Methodist pastors – and with a 4th generation behind me – I grieve the fact that bishops – pastors – members and church leaders are ignoring church law and doing whatever their itching ears want to do. For more than four decades – liberal tried to change church law and failed. So – the new plan is to simply ignore church law (unless it fits their narrative – like the Trust Clause).

The Scriptures: God’s Holy Word

Luke 11:28

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

We just finished Annual Conference with the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC. Our denomination has a number of issues. One of the issues we seem to have is a different understanding of the Bible – a different view of its authority in our lives. For me – it is very clear – the Bible is the inspired – inerrant – infallible Word of God.

For some – the Bible is a good book where God’s Word can be found. Those who believe this way also think new revelation – new experiences – can supersede the Bible. The Mormons – for instance – believe the Book of Mormon supersedes the Bible. Others believe that the Holy Spirit is giving new revelation that supersedes the written Word. Of course – I do not agree with these understandings. I believe that the Holy Spirit will help us understand the written Word of God – and that no revelation from the Holy Spirit will conflict with the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit will remind us of the teachings of Jesus and continue to teach us – but not in a new revelation that is contrary to the written Word.

I was communicating on social media the other day with someone who sees things different than I do. This person used to attend a church where I served. We have remained friends over the years – even though we differ – a great deal – on certain positions of the church.

The Bible is the Word of God. John records Jesus putting it this way – John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Hollow and Deceptive Philosophy

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

In 2012 – I wrote the following devotional. It rings true nearly 8 years later. I will make a few changes – but basically it is the same article from 2012. I believe this is a passage that speaks about the split that is happening in the United Methodist Church today.

Recently (back in 2012) at our Annual Conference for the Baltimore-Washington Conference – a suggestion was made concerning our church’s stance on issues like homosexuality. The suggestion was that our denomination’s stance – which in part is as follows from the Book of Discipline – is hindering the church’s ability to reach young people.

¶ 304.3 – While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals¹ are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.²
1. “Self-avowed practicing homosexual” is understood to mean that a person openly acknowledges to a bishop, district superintendent, district committee of ordained ministry, board of ordained ministry, or clergy session that the person is a practicing homosexual. See Judicial Council Decisions 702, 708, 722, 725, 764, 844, 984. 2. See Judicial Council Decisions 984, 985.

¶ 341.6 – Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.

We MUST Hold Onto Truth!

2 Timothy 4:2

to preach God’s message. Do it willingly, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. CEV

As the partisan impeachment fiasco continues – more of my colleagues are weighing in with their thoughts. Everyone is entitled to their opinion for sure. It seems to me that those who line up on the left theologically are lining up on the left ideologically and politically. The same can be said about those who line up on the right theologically – as they also tend to line up on the right ideologically and politically. The United Methodist Church’s map almost perfectly matches the red and blue map of the political scene.

I mentioned Sunday that I would love to be able to preach the warm and fuzzy theology that some on the left preach. I would love to say that everyone goes to heaven or that there is no place some call hell or to say that there are other ways to heaven than Jesus. But I cannot – because it would be heretical to do so.

Some pastors will do almost anything it seems to be liked by their congregations. I’ve known pastors who are people pleasers (many are it seems). I personally will do most anything to keep peace in the church – as far as it involves me and what I wear – how I work – etc. Where I draw the line – and I hope many pastors draw the line here – is with the truth of God’s Word. I will not dilute the Word of God. I will not water it down (for those who don’t know what dilute means – lol). I will not back away from preaching and teaching the truth of God’s Word.

Some pastors – IMHO – seem to be drawn toward political correctness. A social agenda seems to supersede the truth of God’s Word for some. I was reading some church publications recently online – and some of our churches and even some of our conferences seem more focused on social correctness rather than understanding the truth found in God’s Word.

We’re Not Working Alone!

John 14:15-17

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

I’ve always liked to work with someone rather than alone. I could work all day if my dad was helping (or rather I was helping my dad) – yet if I was working alone – it was hard to stay on task. Even when dad gave me clear instructions – it was hard to stay on task with no one to help me.

I’m the same way today – work better with someone helping me. I would even invite my brother over to watch me work so I had someone present.

My wife and I cleaned the garage and painted a wall in the garage Monday. We cleaned up a couple of tool boxes and moved two to the basement. We threw a bunch of stuff out and straightened things up. My wife even claimed part of the basement as hers and wouldn’t let me store any of my stuff there – nothing goes near my motorcycle – she said. It was hard work – but it was fun work – working with her all morning before we went over to a daughter’s home for family time.