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Romans 16:17-18 NKJV — Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
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It seems that staying together is getting harder and harder everyday. Being on the same page is becoming a thing of the past. Just ask any divorced person. “At one time, we were all in about everything. Now, we can’t stand to be in the same room with them.” Sad but this is happening more frequently than we would like to admit. How does this happen? How can a sports team owner hire a high profile coach, build a winning team, win a couple of championships and then, unexpectedly, fire the coach and part ways? Different ways, different philosophies and even different interpretations on how to do it the right way. We seemto live under the idea that there is no right or wrong just a different point of view. Working with others is a foreign concept and that’s why we see so much upheaval and division in our lives.
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Matthew 12:25 NKJV — But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
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This brings us to the problem the United Methodist Church is having.
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The United Methodist Church announced a proposal to split the denomination over what it called “fundamental differences” regarding its beliefs on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. The proposal, signed by 16 church leaders from around the world, will be voted on at the church’s 2020 general conference in May. If passed, it would allow for a “traditionalist” denomination to separate from the United Methodist Church, the second largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., with more than 12 million members worldwide.
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Isaiah 29:13 NKJV — Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men…
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What began as a spiritual awakening or a “new” movement accredited to England minister, John Wesley in the latter part of the 18th century, is now a denomination caught in the middle of a quagmire of political correctness quicksand.
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Courtesy of WJKBOOKS.COM
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Methodists generally accept the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed as declarations of shared Christian faith. Methodism also affirms the traditional Christian belief in the triune Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as well as the orthodox understanding of the consubstantial humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. Since the Methodist Church became the United Methodist Church in April of 1968 there have been challenges and subtle changes to their core doctrine.
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Currently, ordained pastors are not allowed to perform same-sex marriages, risking disciplinary action if they do, and “practicing” LGBTQ people also cannot become ordained pastors, according to the church’s book of discipline. The “new” traditionalist denomination, once separate, would open the door for the existing United Methodist Church to repeal the church’s ban on same-sex marriages and LGBTQ clergy.
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Matthew 6:24 NKJV — “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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Methodism was founded on the belief that salvation was available for all and not just for a select few. Preordination or predestination were discarded because they believed that people were gifted with free will and were free to choose their own path. Many have questioned the motivation behind this proposed plan. It could really be all about money.
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The nine-page plan, dated Dec. 17, 2019, was mediated by Kenneth Feinberg, a well-known lawyer who supervised the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and other high-profile compensation programs. The plan largely focused on the distribution of financial assets.
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Under the plan, the church’s General Council on Finance and Administration would provide 25 million dollars to the “new” traditionalist denomination over a period of four years. An additional 2 million dollars is allotted in the plan for any other new denominations that might be created. Pension plans for current clergy and lay employees would also remain in place.
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Local churches would be able to choose whether they want to stay in the United Methodist Church or join a new denomination. Those decisions must be made by the end of 2024, according to the proposal, and any church moving to another Methodist denomination would maintain its assets and liabilities.
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The question of whether to allow LGBTQ marriage and clergy has existed almost since the founding of the United Methodist Church in 1968. The conflict came to a head last February 2019 at a special session of the church’s general conference, when 53% of church leaders in attendance voted to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage and clergy. Leaders at that conference also introduced tougher measures against clergy who officiate at same-sex marriages. The measures included a one-year suspension for the first offense and removal from the clergy after that and were set to go into effect on January 1, 2020.
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The vote and measures introduced at that conference signaled a growing divide between Methodists in the United States and those in less-developed, more socially conservative countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. In the U.S., 60% of United Methodist members say homosexuality should be accepted, according to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV — Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
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Churches are always looking for diversity but sometimes it invites the wrong element. An element that may not line up with the literal interpretation of the Word of God. The Methodist Church is struggling with traditional biblical values and what the LGBTQ community and other alternate lifestyle groups propose. Is there a solution for the United Methodist Church?
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The attack on our faith is constantly waged on us in these latter days. Whether you are Baptist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, Church of Christ or Methodist, we are asked why we don’t accept people from all walks of life into our sanctuaries? The answer is quite simple. We are to pray for and love the sinner not the sin. A Godly and righteous life is what we should desire not the trappings of a sinful unrighteous life that will only leave us in bondage. We must put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ so that we may have the ability to show compassion and love to a world in need of the Gospel and the message of the Cross.
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The United Methodist Church as well as all denominations that worship God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit need prayer and intercession so they will be able to preach the Word of God as it was intended. We must remember that all paths do not lead to God, only One.
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John 14:6 NKJV — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
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As indicated at the beginning of this article, the following passage from the Apostle Paul is what the United Methodist Church and all who are followers of Christ need to hear.
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Romans 16:17-20 NKJV — Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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