“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!”
–How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
As churches lean into their stewardship campaigns, United Methodist church members are asking, “Do I really want to give?” We put our money towards what we believe in, which can be hard to do when you’re not sure what your denomination will look like this time next year.
And who can predict that? In February 2019, conservatives won a sweeping victory for what has been called “tradition.” Then in May and June many Annual Conferences elected predominantly progressive delegates to the 2020 General Conference. After that, gatherings have continued to prepare for an inevitable split in May 2020, including the most recent gathering of Wesleyan Covenant Association this weekend.
Every time these issues come to my attention, it feels like the Grinch just snuck into my town and stole every ounce of joy.
They’re Finding Out Now That No Christmas Is Coming!
Now, there’s plenty of Grinches out there that delight in the downfall of their enemies. But I don’t believe there’s some mastermind Grinch at the top of Mount Crumpet, devilishly grinning at the demise of The United Methodist Church. Unless we’re talking about “powers and principalities,” in which case, I think there’s more delight in the church’s chaos than in a particular political agenda winning the day.
But who in the church believes that Christmas doesn’t come if there’s no presents? Who of us believes that the Church ceases to exist if the budget tanks? And does schism make impotent the incarnation of Christ? Maybe this is the last liturgical year we’ll spend together as United Methodists. Maybe we will not figure out how to reconcile our differences over human sexuality and scripture in this lifetime.
So the Grinch is out there, sack full of all the trappings we thought we needed to have joy. The church you grew up in doesn’t look the same, talk the same, think the same. The New Year’s Book of Resolutions failed. Numbers decline. Anxiety expands.
Do we believe in Jesus or not?
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved” (1 Cor 1:18). The cross is not our destruction, but the power of God, ya’ll. Cling to Christ’s cross, and you’ll find yourself holding hands with your supposed enemies. Trust in that victory, in that all-sufficient grace, and you’ll find yourself heart to heart with some real basket cases. Dive into those baptismal waters, and you’ll find yourself bathing next to the people you didn’t think should stay in your church any longer.
Give to your local church. For the love of Christ, up your pledge. Your local church is where the most meaningful ministry happens, why wouldn’t you support it? Regardless of what the denomination is going to do, give your apportionments…they keep real people in real jobs that are also making real ministry happen. Don’t let the Grinch spirit overcome your joy or your generosity. The coming of Christ is still something worth celebrating. Sing with those foolish little Whos down in Whoville:
Welcome Christmas! Come this way
Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day
Welcome, welcome, fahoo ramus
Welcome, welcome, dahoo damus
Christmas Day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
New Charlie Baber
The Rev. Charlie Baber, author of Wesley Bros cartoon.
When not drawing the Wesley Bros cartoon, the Rev. Charlie Baber, a United Methodist deacon, serves as youth minister at University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, N.C. His cartoon appears on United Methodist Insight by special arrangement.