The Future of Methodism

August 30, 2018

12:23 PM

Future signs

Which way to the future? Being attentive and nimble will help churches discern their path. (GraphicStock Photo)

The very thought of splitting The United Methodist Church over the issue of gays and lesbians in the pulpit strikes me as one of the most foolish things I know. When calling his disciples to follow him, Jesus did not say. First I need to check out your sex life. He stressed love, caring, service, caring for the least, the lost, and the last. On the cross, he did not ask the thief about his sex life. Just forgiveness for a sorry sinner.

I can imagine God and Jesus sitting and mulling over this entire thing, imagine mere men, and women with the future of their church in imperfect hands of clay, and discussing the very idea of gays and lesbians in the pulpit, and concluding to themselves, well those humans have messed up the human experiment again. And stating when we launched the trial, there was no mention made of credentials in the pulpit or wherever, only "take up your cross and follow." How many opportunities do these humans need to make a go of things? Time could be running out.

I was born and raised a Methodist. I grew up as a Methodist. I have been a Methodist all my life. I married a Methodist farm girl, fresh off the farm. I believe my mother surely prayed me into the distinguished ranks of Methodist clergy. Like the late Bishop Roy Short, it was just the natural thing for me to do. I had no choice. I have no regrets, only wishing that I had done a better job. My wife and family all pitched in and made the 50-year journey around the circuit, exciting and inspiring. They were the best.

In my limited knowledge of Methodism, I am not all surprised with what is transpiring in our large, glorious and historical denomination. It is nothing new. It's been going on for generations. Some people with a burning religious fever get on a distorted jag, lose sight of their primary calling, love, win, inspire and assist in ushering in the Kingdom of God, and find themselves entangled in an endless and hopeless maze of a so-called "Holy Calling," to straighten out and clean up all the habits of their wood be followers. Jesus did not use this method. The Apostle Paul may have done this. But he is not our leader. Jesus is! Paul, who appears to have had his problems with sex, women and other issues is not our "Savior." Jesus is! While an endless, inspiring and courageous leader of the Christian Faith, Paul was made of flesh and blood, just like the rest of us, with a historical record of love and service, and ultimate death for that in which he believed, and with far superior credentials than any of us will ever have.

Over the years our denomination has gotten sidetracked, confused, hostile, divided, and sometimes split over issues such as:

Bitterly taking sides during the Revolutionary War (the King or freedom),

Slavery (Some bishops owned slaves),

The Civil War (Divide the nation),

Women's Suffrage (Deny women the right to vote),

Wine at Communion, (Welch's Grape Juice),

Preachers smoking (Not here you won't)

Divorced preacher in the pulpit (Not in our church),

Same-Sex Marriage (Should be outlawed),

Temperance Sunday (No drinking, selling, or making alcohol and serving as an Official),

Integration of Public Schools (It won't work here), and

Fear of AIDS (dirty needles are often the culprit, not sex partners).

These are just a few of the issues that have gotten under the skin of a lot of zealots, and in many instances, have brought the denomination to its feeble knees. And it appears it is about to do the same thing again with much more force and devastation. It strikes me, as they say in all political issues like this, it's the old “wag the dog" force at work. Someone or someplace is wagging the dog. They might want to reconsider the issue. I have seen such wagging of the dog in the local church. It often winds up with bitter and angry people, and a devastated local church.

I cannot imagine one of these "dog waggers", him- or herself or a close member of their family lying on the hospital operating table right before life-and-death surgery, and just before the anesthesiologist administers the gas, rising up on their elbow and looking the surgeon in the eye, and asking, “Doc, I need to know about your sex life. Are you straight or gay? If gay, forget the surgery. Let the death knells roll.” I seriously doubt it!

We Christians are an interesting lot. It appears to me that we desperately search out every possible avenue and cause that we can find to break the Heart of God and Jesus. Gays and lesbians are not our problems; we are the problem. We are the focal point of the entire issue.

While the world is sitting on a powder keg that could destroy the human race, Methodism is lost in a maze of God-given human sexuality. It’s our right! Who’s guarding the switch? It could be someday the Almighty will get fed up with this human experiment, and wipe the slate clean (I hope not). After all, there could be a Mars project in the future.

Holding back the future is like holding back the sunrise; it’s impossible.

The Rev. Billy Cox of Louisville, Ky., is a former military chaplain and retired clergy member of the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Comments (8)

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Repentance

Repentance is a requirement of forgiveness. Acceptance of a sin in place of repentance is not a substitution for forgiveness. It is for followers of Christ to speak truth in love and to be the salt and light of the earth. Shining light on unrepentant sin is a difficult, and often uncomfortable, responsibility. It is far better to be hated by the world for honesty than to lose our soul in acceptance of sin to appease the world. We can not, we must not be a stumbling block for those seeking salvation. I'm afraid the Methodist church is going down a dark path in a disguise of love. If you love a child, do you allow them to stick a fork in the socket or remove the fork before they hurt themselves? At first they may be mad you took their fork but through growth they'll learn it was because you loved them that you saved them.

William Argenbright more than 7 years ago

You seemed to have missed . . .

That Jesus lived a moral life. To follow Him it is necessary.

Skipper more than 7 years ago

Christ on sexual sin

Rev. Cox, you claim that Christ addressed sexual sin, but you are wrong and you know it. Christ saved the woman about to be stoned, but after her accusers left he told her to "go and sin no more". Sin is sin and those who sin with out seeking forgiveness, repenting, and expressing faith in Christ will never enter the gates of heaven. Your view just condemns people to death without the possibility of heaven. Go back to the lessons you learned as a child and pray on it!

Scott D more than 7 years ago

Love, not heterosexuality, is primary

Wesley taught that Sanctification was perfection in Love. I don't recall Wesley ever stating that Sanctification was perfection in being Hetetosexual.

Daniel Wagle more than 7 years ago

The saddest part of this post...

Is that someone could be a UM pastor for 50 years and yet know and care so little about Methodist and Christian doctrine. The debate over LGBT clergy is not the issue that needs to be addressed. The real issue is that we have nothing in common doctrinally. We radically disagree on who Jesus is, what sin is, what Christianity means, and what God desires for us and requires of us. Let's just be completely honest: I don't want people with your views in leadership positions in my church, and you don't want people with my views in leadership positions in your church. It is long past time to stop the madness, divide the assets, and go our separate ways.

Paul W. more than 7 years ago

A Perfect Response, with Exactly the Point

Paul W., well said. I could not agree more. And, mine becomes the fourth of four comments here in opposition to Rev. Cox's opinion. It is saddening, but not surprising, the liberal evolution of the leadership of our old church. I will never accept the new way and I join others who believe an amicable divorce will serve us all the best.

Reese more than 7 years ago

It would be crazy to divide over sexuality

However, the massive theological divide that underlies the sexuality debate is insurmountable. And your approach to Paul--who John Wesley continually referred to as the Great Apostle--is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what divides us.

betsy more than 7 years ago

You’ve given up

“Holding back the future is like holding back the sunrise. It’s impossible.” You’ve obviously decided the LGBTQI+ agenda of requiring not just tolerance but forced acceptance and affirmation is the future so the Church just might as well assimilate. Are you just a defeatist or a retired clergy member more concerned with your pension. I accept all to worship with me in my church but can’t ignore Holy Scripture and condone the sin. When the inevitable schism occurs, I hope and pray the two Wesleyan denominations which rise from the ashes of the dis-United Methodist Church will honor the pensions of the retired ministers within their conferences. I have no interest in funding the pension of a practicing lesbian from the Western Jurisdiction but understand the people in that Jurisdiction may feel comfortable doing so. I have no interest in funding the pensions of any Bishop or pastor who deny Christ’s divinity and orthodox Christianity in Sprague like fashion. I’m discouraged by how out-of-touch the majority of Bishops are with the majority of the laity in their advocacy of the misnamed “One Church Plan” and their apparent intention to punish Traditionalists who follow their consciences and resign from the denomination should General Conference not maintain our BOD and not require Bishops and pastors to follow it as they all took an oath to do. Best wishes on your faith journey. I’m willing to let you go your own way without losing your church property if your conscience requires you to do so if the Traditionalist plan passes. I just wish those supporting other options would afford congregations whose consciences require them to leave if adifferent plan passes the same loving accommodation.

John more than 7 years ago