Over 7,000 churches have left the United Methodist Church amid homosexuality schism: More than 5,000 churches have disaffiliated in 2023

Well written, well thought out and presented... and sadly not that surprising. Thanks for sharing.

Churches run on $$$ and you would be surprised how much it costs.
Belivers need to take their $$$ and find a place that doesn’t treat them like fools or monsters for not following the lemmings.

America’s Cultural Revolution

Same thing that killed the Boy Scouts.
As soon as they let the gays in, everyone else left.

Excellent news.

I was raised in a UMC and graduated from 2 UMC universities. Both parents very active - at church any time the doors were opened until graduation day. Grandfather was a circuit rider in the UMC. All of this is provided for context for my following comments.

The UMC used to be a somewhat charismatic congregation in my youth. Bible study/teaching was a top priority. Spiritual gifts were appreciated and encouraged - although in the minority. Some pastors were anointed by God and preached powerful sermons under that anointing. Many knew the HEAD of the Body, and knew that those led by the spirit were children of God. That was then.

By the time I graduated high school, three of the last four pastors at my home church couldn't tell the difference between the Holy Ghost and Casper the friendly ghost - Only a slight exaggeration. Many who were "spooky" (spiritual) were chased away, or worse, accused of heresy. Sermons that resonated in your spirit, were replaced with quiet talks about being nice or helping the poor. Nothing wrong with a social gospel, but those works come from being Born Again, and are most effective when God is leading. The UMC, from my experience, became overly focused on works and outward actions, rather than spiritual maturity first.

The seminaries (or cemeteries if you prefer), kept graduating kids that know how to act like a Pastor, but know little about the Word, and even less about Spiritual things. They get in churches and instead of being led by the Spirit, and preaching the Word, they start doing worldly things to grow their church. And if you see the Bible as nothing more than some helpful advice, its not long before you start doubting God's Truth. All it takes is a little worldly pressure to cause you to compromise.

IMHO, that is why the UMC is where it is today. I hope the split will grow life back into some churches, but I have concerns. The last one I attended, on my last day, played a Disney film and used it to reinforce that Sunday's message. This church voted to split.

My oldest sister is the music minister for a "Reconciling" church as it is called. We spent a few hours discussing the issues that led to the split, but made no progress either direction. I do believe there are good people on both sides. They are so eager to keep the Love commandment and not "hate" that they compromise the Word. For me the key is simple. Jesus dined with sinners. He knew Judas was stealing, yet gave him plenty of chances (mercy) to repent. When He met the woman caught in adultery, He told her to go and sin no more. To me that is the key. Are they even attempting to set people free from the bondage of sin, or simply normalizing it, like fornication, adultery and many others.

On the other side, the danger is becoming self-righteous, and adopting the attitude of the religious Jews of Jesus day, and wanting nothing to do with those dirty sinners.

Either side could do good, if they go back to the Word, and let God be in charge. If not, I expect many of these churches to fade away, and the property sold. My sister's church has downsized to a PT pastor (semi-retired) and will likely be forced to merge with another congregation if they want to survive. She has given 20 years to this congregation, and about a third left over the vote to not split.

None of this makes me happy. But God is in control, and good will come from this. I am confident that HIS CHURCH, the Body of Christ, is expanding every single day!

What got let in was the ‘gay agenda’... I suspect there have always been gay kids in the scouts.

“..It’s been a long time effort to infiltrate and destroy the church...”

Yes! The social revolution of the 60’s and 70’s led to the budding but powerful homosexual movement infiltrating universities, government and churches. They had a plan and they succeeded beyond imagination.

actually much before then. A book written in the 1700’s called Plan to Abolish Religion discusses how elites plan to infiltrate all parts of society to implement debauchery.