One reason, among many, why I will be
staying with the United Methodist Church is that, just as Jesus got out of the
synagogue to do the practical work of divinity, the United Methodist Church stands
up from the pew and gets out of the sanctuary to heal, feed, and clothe.
This is in stark contrast to any church,
local, or denominational, that would stay in the sanctuary seeking an inward
focus such that it could proclaim “Look how holy we are!”
The United Methodist Church, seeking to be
faithful to the teachings and modeling of Christ, operates well connected
agencies such as United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church and Society,
to achieve on a community, national, and international level what local
congregations cannot do by themselves.
Local congregations
can do only so much. Most congregations are on incomes as fixed as those of
retired folk. And yet most are very faithful with their tithe to Conference and
District.
That is why it is
helpful to be in a well-connected system such as the Indiana Conference of the
United Methodist Church. The Conference “Diversity, Missions, and Justice”
ministry can leverage whatever giving we submit so as to fulfill the teachings
of Jesus to help the needy.
The local church
cannot, on its own, fulfil the mission of “feeding five thousand.” But, through
faithful tithing and contributions, the Conference can achieve the miracle.
For people who seek to
do the will of Jesus beyond the pew, the United Methodist Church is the place
to be.
If Jesus had stayed in
the synagogue reading and speaking the Law regarding stoning adulterous people,
he would never have been available to show compassion to the woman caught in
adultery (John 8:1-11).
If Jesus had fortressed
himself within the synagogue seeking to comply with synagogue official’s views
on the Sabbath, he would not have broken with tradition to heal a man with a
shriveled hand (Matt. 12:10).
If Jesus had sequestered
his spirituality to the gentile-exclusive synagogue, he would never have healed
a demoniac gentile in the region of the Gerasenes (Luke 8: 26-39).
Like Jesus, the United
Methodist Church gets out of the sanctuary and meets people where they are!
The United Methodist
Church…transforming the world.
And so yes, I will
continue to participate!
