Posted on 06/05/2006 12:39:01 PM PDT by MplsSteve
Yes they have become left wing. They are members of the American Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches
The American council started that whole "What would Jesus Drive."
The Methodist church is not the only church going left, many other churches are doing the same. I guess they do not want to offend anyone and are more concerned about numbers than biblical truths and teachings. It is a sad truth.
It has been this way on the national level for a long time and in areas where you would expect liberalism to be dominant. I grew up in UMC in southern Illinois and it was okay then (30-40 years ago) but it exhibited even there the weaknesses of non-creedal Christianity. It was all too easy to have important theological concerns unravel quickly in that kind of environment.
I've been to UMC congregations in the south, and my impression is that the church is in fairly good condition there. At least it was where I visited.
It's a rotten shame the way it's turned out. Even though I left the UMC many years ago, I've always valued my upbringing in old-style Methodism.
Acceptance of gays is NOT sound theology. Their lifestyle is a sin and abomination. The Bible tells us that we are to accept all who seek forgiveness. But we cannot accept their sin along with them. That makes such theology a heresy.
You're not required to "accept" them. That is the Church leaderships' silly idea.
Down here in Gainesville, the New Hope UMC doesn't have any place for gays in our leadership, but if they want to worship God and ask for forgiveness, then they're welcome in our congregation.
In any case, we are told hate the sin and love the sinner. If they won't stop sinning, we can refuse to associate with them; but we shouldn't stop hoping and praying for them.
I tend to believe that churches are losing members in droves because more and more people recognize the absurdity of religious sects pretending to have the answers to unanswerable questions. In past days peoples' lives were so difficult that they had to cling to hopes of a heavenly afterlife to survive. That is no longer the case, and the only church goers now are (mostly older people) going out of social habit, to make business connections, or because they somehow have managed to have miserable lives in a land of great prosperity and opportunity.
I used to be a Methodist. But then I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and left.
I agree wholeheartedly with that. But I cannot and will not be a part of any church body that believes it is alright to accept them without their first renouncing their sin. That church body is practicing a heresy and I will not support them. That's why we left the ELCA last year.
St. Paul warns us in 1 Cor 5 beginning with verse 9 that we are not to associate with those who abuse His commands. That includes church elders who do not follow the true path. Also in Rev 2 beginning at verse 12, Christ chastises the Church of Pergamum for its following the ways of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, practices which included idolatry and fornication.
Must we not also hold OUR church and its leaders accountable?
Become a Catholic, notice that Louisiana has a covenant marriage law. This is entirely due to the influence of the Catholic Church in that state.
After reading the article, I noticed that she was addressing the Minnesota conference.
Nationwide, Methodists are divided on these issues, and the leftist clergy does not have the same stronghold over the national conference as it does over the Minnesota conference.
The log in my eye is too big for me to worry about the speck in other folk's eyes. I'll just worry about our own pastor and our church administration. The heathen in the Council will have to look after their own souls and will be held accountable in the end. As long as New Hope doesn't do anything weird (like changing the hymns...), or upset my wife, I'll support them.
Trust me, I've seen MUCH worse. Remember one church I was going to that, when all was said and done, was spoutin' stuff that sounded like my limited understanding of Voodoo.
Same here. I wasn't happy with that but it wasn't quite enough to push me over the edge. It wasn't until some of local female Methodist ministers helped to lead a pro-abortion rally that I realised that the church had left me long ago.
And let's not forget the United Methodist's position in favor of a total handgun ban...
Only lost 30% of its membership, what keeps the other 70% I wonder.
I understand the sentiment, and am not berating you by any means. We all have to respond to our beliefs in our own way.
The reason the wife and I left the ELCA is exactly that; we could no longer 'worry' about what they were getting in to. It took away from our reason for going to church to begin with; our worship of our Savior. So, we left and never looked back. If you can still worship and ignore the rest, then fine for you. Just, be careful.
I'm not sure that is an official UMC position. Here are the social principles:
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=519
I couldn't find "guns" in there. It could be a position of one of the agencies.
Something tells me that several of the people on this thread are gonna stay in all day tomorrow.
"I'm not sure that is an official UMC position. Here are the social principles:
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=519
I couldn't find "guns" in there. It could be a position of one of the agencies."
Thanks. There are lots of articles and links dating back quite some time, documenting their position. All of my 2nd Amendment shortcuts are on my other computer. Here is one that came up at the top of the list when doing a Google search:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=15359
I tend to not ever use WND as a source, but there are many others, saying the same thing.
Can't answer for all but can tell you that my parents still go for their friends and just because that's what they always have done. They are very old and just can't see the forest for the trees. Since I left the UMC we can't really discuss it without friction. They don't want to hear any doctrinal issues since the UMC doesn't really like doctrinal truths. Sad thing is my father has no assurance of salvation though he has a profession of faith. I can't help but think that if the UMC preached the gospel faithfully instead of social pablum he would have to know better. The first time I heard real gospel preaching I knew I would never go back to the Methodist church.
The Methodist Church is dying by its own hand, but that's their problem.
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