July 26, 2023

 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:42-45

 

The church needed to provide a funeral meal. This is the Deep South and such a thing is expected when a church member dies. In this case, it was the husband of a faithful worker.

 

We no longer are members of this church. When the church voted several months ago to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, we moved our membership. So did most of the Sunday school class. In fact, we restarted that class at our new church. The new widow remained at the old church and, presumably, joined another class.

 

You can imagine my shock when the call came wanting us to help provide food for the meal. In addition, one class member was asked to decorate the tables. We all politely declined. Another class member had responded to a request for a previous funeral meal and been treated badly by some who had stayed at the disaffiliated church. The new request was just inappropriate.

 

It was sad that the funeral meal coordinator was worried about having enough food and decorating tables. Did she even have enough workers? It was also appalling that the coordinator was doing it from the hospital. Just a few days earlier, her husband had open heart surgery. Why in the world didn’t someone step up and relieve her of this duty? It was the last thing she needed to be dealing with.

 

The sad truth about this church is that no one wants to work. Being a church member, isn’t about running things. Nor is about how large your check might be. Churches are families who show up, roll up their sleeves and help. Even those who are physically unable to do much can usually make phone calls.

 

Jesus said the above passage after James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had asked for one of them to be at Jesus’ right hand and the other at His left when they all got to heaven. In other words, they wanted to be above the other disciples. You can imagine how that request went over.

 

The Kingdom of God is about being servants. It’s about doing for others. When we lose sight of that, we lose sight of Jesus. We are to be His hands and feet.

 

Should we have stepped up and helped with the funeral meal? No. There are consequences when you choose to split a church over control issues. There are literally hundreds of people who are members of that church. It’s past time for them to get off their collective pedestal and get to work.

June 23, 2023

 

The Blood of Jesus

 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7

 

Who is a so-called “good” Christian? What does it look like for flawed people to follow a good God? Can we ever get it right? Can we ever reach a point where we can indeed judge others on their faith journey?

 

The United Methodist Church has suffered hundreds of disaffiliations in the district to which I’m a part of. Some churches have gone without any bitterness or harsh words. Others have gone – or stayed – with a battle that left all who participated wounded deeply in their desire to be right.

 

Disagreements happen among believers. And while the Bible warns us against division amongst ourselves, it’s something we do on a regular basis. We are so focused on being right that we lose sight of love and grace.

 

There are those who are determined to pull sentences from the Bible and use them as weapons with which to judge others. The more someone else makes them uncomfortable, the harsher the criticism. Aren’t we all guilty of that?

 

Recently a pastor I’ve known for years decided to leave the UMC and return to a previous church. His decision rests between he and God. Still, I can understand the bitterness of those left behind. On Sunday, they had a pastor passionate in his stated desire to remain in the UMC and by Wednesday he was resigning to leave the UMC. It’s just one more reason why we don’t put our faith in humans.

 

But what really pushed my button was the response of a young woman in the newly disaffiliated church where he’s headed. She took to Facebook to rant about those who felt the need to make comments about his leaving the UMC church to which he’d been assigned. She even called out those “Christians” – and, yes, she put the word in quotation marks – for saying anything beyond congratulations. In her mind, anyone who criticized the pastor wasn’t really a Christian.

 

Whoa! Wait a minute! Let’s step back and look at the facts and the obvious disappointment that comes when someone you trusted with your Biblical teaching has suddenly changed course.

 

No. People shouldn’t have gone to Facebook to voice their displeasure. As I said, his decision rests between him and God. No one else. God looks at the heart and He alone will judge the motivations at play.

 

But in failing to acknowledge the pain of others, this young woman raised a red flag over her own life. She ignored the lies, half-truths and fearmongering that led to her church’s disaffiliation vote. She swept under the rug her own flaws and her own quick temper to point out the flaws of others. Anyone else remember that Scripture? (Matthew 7:5)

 

We are all so busy being right that we’ve forgotten who we are – and who we are not. We don’t know the hearts of others, including other Christians. We don’t know the motivations. We don’t know if they are saved by Jesus or are still lost. We don’t.

 

What we do know is that James tells us salvation should lead to good works. We aren’t saved by good works but salvation should be evident in who we are and what we do. We should strive to show Jesus to others in how we live.

 

There are no winners when God’s kingdom divides itself in a misguided attempt to be “right.” None of us are “right” without the blood of Christ. We are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. Perhaps if we spent more time remembering that and less time judging people we disagree with, all of us could indeed show others the light of Jesus in our lives.

February 7, 2023

 

Financial Gain

 

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

– 1 Timothy 6:3-5

 

Paul didn’t use soft words. He’d just written about slaves having respect for their owners and then he went right on to false teachers, unrest and money. God surely shows us exactly what we need and when.

 

I’ve written about our divided local church and the path toward a vote on disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. There are those who insist it’s over “traditional values” but the hard truth is that it’s all about money. And power. Oh, and control. It’s coming from people who think it’s okay to write a check, tell everyone else how to run the church, and then most of the time don’t bother to even show up. And it’s about judgmental people who point fingers without bothering to exam themselves.

 

At times I beat myself up for my own judgmental attitude. I struggle with anger at the pointlessness of it all. Where is Jesus in all this? Why do people think it’s okay to blame others for all the church’s flaws when they don’t bother to show up?

 

Money. Money. Money. There unfortunately are people who truly believe that money should give them the right to “own” church property. There are those who truly believe that money should give them the right to control all the decisions in the church, whether it’s hiring, Bible studies or various ministries.

 

I am a thorn that keeps drawing blood. Jesus’ blood. Because I believe that the church and all its properties belong to God. I believe that Jesus Himself should dictate hiring and Bible studies and all ministries.

 

I could provide my “credentials” if you will. I could talk about family history and ministry activities and volunteer hours. But why? I do what God calls me to do. I have nothing to brag about other than what Jesus has done for me.

 

We are stewards of what God has placed in our care, whether people or things. There are those who would destroy what is His because of their own greed and lust for power. It’s nothing more than a business deal to them.

 

I have no idea how it will all turn out. Satan seems determined to destroy what God has built. His minions are hard at work, spreading lies and constantly causing unrest. Deep inside, a peace fills me. This battle belongs to God.

January 28, 2023

 

How Did Jesus Do It?

 

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:27-28

 

Oh, Jesus! How did you do it? How did you love people intent on betraying you? How did you forgive people intent on destroying your temple for money and power and greed?

 

It’s not as though Jesus didn’t know. He did. He chosen the twelve. He broke bread with all of them, including Judas, knowing that he’d be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.

 

Money. Why does it seem like all these years later it still controls the hearts of men and women who proclaim the name of Jesus and still seem intent on betraying him? Will we “sell” our church for the privilege of excluding people made in His image?

 

Disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church has nothing to do with Jesus and the Bible. It has everything to do with men and women who are afraid of anyone who might be different. It’s about power and control. And let’s not forget money. Because those with the most money have the power and control of the church. No female preachers. No homosexuals. No to anyone who might look different than them.

 

And, yet, Jesus loves them. He calls us to forgiveness. He tells us to pray for them. He commands us to do good to those who would harm us. I look around at all the false disciples and see heartache and betrayal. Jesus sees those created in the image of God.

 

 It’s not too late. I remind myself that God can make a way when no way seems possible. I search scripture for passages of His Glory showing up at the last minute. I know this battle isn’t about buildings and endowments. I know it’s about souls and eternal life. This battle isn’t mine to fight.

 

Still, I struggle to do my part. I don’t want to love people who seek to harm our family. That’s what it is. Family. Now it’s torn apart and, regardless of the disaffiliation vote, nothing will ever be the same. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe Jesus wants to make us broken bread so that He can remold us into something far better than we could ever have done ourselves.

January 27, 2023

 

Who’s in Charge?

 

After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” – Nehemiah 4:14

 

In many ways it’s a fight between those who have money and power and those who are regular people. Factor in people who want to be part of the money and power group and it appears a landslide toward disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. But God has never been One to sit on the sidelines while people try to destroy His church.

 

What’s going to happen? I really don’t know. It’s impossible to predict what God will do. He could leave people who claim to know Him to their own devices. He could allow evil to rise up and use His name to further themselves. Or He could raise His might against those who seek to control what is His.

 

Satan is doing his best to destroy what God has built. At least that is what appears to be happening. I wonder now how long Satan has been a part of this church. How long have people masqueraded as Christ followers all the while only knowing the darkness of evil in their hearts?

 

People are afraid. They follow like little puppets, assured that going against those in power will result in destruction. They’ve witnessed the business dealings, the legal proceedings, the horror of opposing a ruling class that appears unstoppable. This is the Deep South. This is still a small town. Certain families are in charge.

 

Until they’re not. If we truly believe in the Gospel, if we truly know that God judges our hearts, if we truly understand the power of the Holy Spirit, then how can we give up without a fight?

 

I’ve seen miracles happen. I’ve witnessed God showing up in the midst of the impossible. I’ve watched as those who seemed untouchable were brought low by the mighty power of Jesus.

 

I have no idea how this will end. But I do believe that in this moment God has called me to stand still and watch His mighty sword. Perhaps Whatever happens, I follow Christ. I call on Him for strength and wisdom. I pray for light to guide the way. His will be done.

January 24, 2023

 

Beware of Your Words

 

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37

 

She sat in the very back, watching it all. When the pastor began praying, she began talking about how awful he is and listing all that he had done to harm her church. She is furious at him for what she believes he hasn’t done. She doesn’t see the need to look in the mirror.

 

A few years back she needed, and received, grace. She was fired from her job because of harsh words that deeply hurt a child. Her church, the very one she attends, extended grace and helped her heal. This church even offered her a job that led to her restoration in her chosen field.

 

And now she sat back and condemned a man for doing his best in an awful situation. She rarely lifts a finger to do anything but judge. She’s blaming someone else for all that she sees wrong. She believes, as do others, that a new pastor will fix everything. It won’t because the problem isn’t the pastor. The problem is her and all the others who expect more from one person than he can possibly give. The problem is that we all have forgotten about serving others.

 

We are so quick to judge, aren’t we? We tell ourselves we’re entitled to our opinion and we are. But the Bible reminds us repeatedly to watch our words. The tongue can do so much harm, especially when the devil is in our hard hearts.

 

Our church is discussing disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. One reason is that many have formed a wall against a pastor doing his best. Is he perfect? Absolutely not. None of us are. We forget that sometimes. We also sometimes forget that we are called to serve with our hands and feet and not just with our checkbooks. We are called to love. And we are warned not to judge.

 

I don’t know what will happen to our church. Only God knows. I’ve no doubt, though, that the Holy Spirit is grieved by all the anger and hatred permeating throughout the hearts of His people.

January 23, 2023

 

Be A Church That Loves

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 

Our United Methodist Church is going through a discernment process right now. It isn’t pretty. The official reason is over “traditional values.” We are, in essence, going to vote about the loss of things that we haven’t yet lost. It is, as one member noted, like divorcing your wife because she might be unfaithful in the years to come.

 

That’s the official reason. The unofficial reason, the underlying issues, are money, power and control. Those who have stepped up and offered to “buy” the church back from the United Methodist Trust, are upset with a pastor who stands up to them. They are furious – and, yes, I witnessed the angry outburst – that their money doesn’t currently guarantee their control over what happens in the church.

 

The church is split, following one group or the other. Many haven’t bothered to research the issue on their own. They honestly don’t even realize that the United Methodist Church as actually fairly conservative. The are afraid of homosexuality, environmental issues and gun control discussions.

 

Church divisions aren’t new. The Apostle Paul addressed the divisions in the Corinth church with letters we know as 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Those books have taken on new meaning as the lies and misinformation fuel fears about what “might” happen. It seems that in all that discourse we have forgotten to love each other.

 

We think of 1 Corinthians 13 as the “wedding scripture” because we hear it often at weddings. The original text was written to a church that was fighting amongst itself. The members were tearing each other apart in their efforts to be right. They’d forgotten what Jesus said about loving each other.

 

My church is no different. The ugliness has nothing to do with Jesus. The foundation for this journey isn’t about doing God’s will or following the Bible. I pray that those involved, myself included, will open their hearts to truly discern the will of God.