Recently I heard a devotional given by Rev. Dr. Tim Bruster (who is up for election for Judicial Council of the UMC). Rev. Bruster shared the story from 2 Kings 20:1-21 and how it relates to the UMC. For those of us who have not memorized the story, here is the key part Dr. Bruster shared:
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord. Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.’ For he thought, ‘Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?’
Dr. Bruster pointed out that Hezekiah was a king who was told that his actions and the way he was leading was going to result in some very bad news for his sons. However, this news did not provoke Hezekiah to repent and change his ways. His response to hearing this word was, "this is a good word that you have spoken." It is good that those closest to him will experience shame and punishment? Why?
Dr. Bruster pointed out that Hezekiah was a king who was told that his actions and the way he was leading was going to result in some very bad news for his sons. However, this news did not provoke Hezekiah to repent and change his ways. His response to hearing this word was, "this is a good word that you have spoken." It is good that those closest to him will experience shame and punishment? Why?
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Seinfeld in Grannies
Hezekiah may have thought this was good news because this news was about his sons and not about himself. Perhaps we could read his response, "Oh that sounds bad.... Wait did you say this was going to happen to me? Oh, no? My sons? Whew! That was close. I thought you were going condemn my actions, but you only are saying my boys will be affected. That was close, I really dodged a bullet there."
It might have been good news for Hezekiah, but his son's may have a different opinion...
Of all the voting delegates of General Conference of the UMC, only 7% of them are "young people." The gifted and talented Abigail Parker Herrera wrote: "Only 7% of the 864 seated delegates will be young people. Less than 30 people under the age of 35 from the Central Conferences and only 33 people under 30 from the United States will be on the floor making decisions. Almost half of these young people are women. A mere 6 of them are clergy."
With these sorts of numbers I wonder if the other 93% of delegates may fall victim to the universal sin of shortsightedness? May it remind us all that our perspective is influenced depending on if we have to live with for 10 or 50 years.
Valendy Thumb
Rev. Jason Valendy
The Rev. Jason Valendy and his wife, the Rev. Estee Valendy, co-pastor Saginaw (TX) United Methodist Church in the Central Texas Annual Conference. He blogs at JasonValendy.net.