So General Conference of the United Methodist Church met again this year. Of course primary on the agenda was the debate over full inclusion of homosexual persons into the clergy and life of the church. The good news is that the rules didn't change. We are so thankful that our rulebook is safe from the "liberal element" and the "homosexual agenda". We are so fortunate to have the Confessing Movement and the Insititute for Religion and Democracy to protect the Book of Discipline!
True, some might say that the people are more important than a canon law book.. Some misguided persons might say that souls are more important than legal code and that perhaps, IF homosexuality is a sin we should invest time in researching a healthy, rational, and sane treatment to provide healing. Perhaps something that is based on psychology as well as prayer and not based in theophostic heresies. However the Gospel teaches that the law is first and that people are second. That's why Jesus was such good friends with the Pharisees!
So I want to send my thanks to our modern day pharisees! Thank you all of you for keeping the Book of Discipline safe from this generation's outcasts! Well Done!
4 comments:
You have quite a knack for sarcasm!
-- Jarred.
Dear friend,
Jesus, the "friend of pharisees" told the woman in adultery to "go and sin no more." Just as when a member of clergy is caught in adultery, or habitual lying needs to take some time away from the pulpit to be restored, so too those who struggle with their sexuality in homosexual ways.
I wouldn't support a habitual liar being instated as a pastor. I wouldn't support a womanizer or an alcoholic being instated as a pastor. And I wouldn't support instating a practicing homosexual.
It isn't because I don't love those people, quite the contrary! It is because I do. Those in ministry are held to a much higher standard by God for their actions. Someone who is in the middle of a very obvious moral struggle doesn't need to be thrust into ministry with it's extreme pressures.
Those rules, in that "heartless rulebook" are all about people. It is about speaking the truth (hopefully in love) that practicing homosexuality, or habitual lying, or any other sinful behavior is incompatible with Christian teaching.
Filling our pews at the expense of compromising the truth of God's foolishness on our part. As a friend of mine told me "Anything gained through broken fellowship with the Father is not worth having."
True... those persons like yourself who believe homosexuality is a sin still don't know how to change sexual orientation or heal homosexuality... but who cares right?
This is very helpful information on why protecting the rulebook is important. We don't have any answers but the good news is the door is closed to those who are asking questions.
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