HOW SHALL WE DEAL WITH UNITED METHODIST HERETICS?
by Rev. Wally Cason, St. Mark and Oak
Hill UMC, Tupelo, Mississippi
General Conference 2004 closed with a certain
ambiguity. On the one hand, we saw the Discipline strengthened with
regard to forbidding practicing homosexuals to serve as clergy and
forbidding our clergy to perform homosexual unions. We defined marriage as
one man and one woman. On the other hand, there were many poignant calls for
unity with those within the “reconciling” position; and there seemed to be
very little support for the position of the Rev. Bill Hinson, who said it is
time to separate from pro-homosexual and anti-scriptural churches. There
were statements from those calling themselves “middle-of-the-road
Methodists” advocating that we continue as we have done. Yet many of us
considered “right wing” and “ultra-conservative” and “neo-literalists” are
more upset than ever. We wonder what the Lord would have us to do.
Let us go to the Bible for
guidance. First, let us look at scriptures which could be interpreted as
guidance to separate; then let us look at scriptures which could be
interpreted as guidance to remain united. I’ll just make a list of each and
then explain. Finally, I will take a look at the Jerusalem conference in
Acts 15, and at Paul’s confrontation of Peter in Galatians 2, and apply what
we learn to what we might be hearing from the Lord in our present situation.
Should Bible believing Methodists separate from
unbelievers?
Here are some Scriptures for
separation from unbelievers, with commentary in parentheses:
§
Matthew 1:19, “19Then Joseph her husband, being a just
man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her
away privily.” (This tells us that it can be righteous to end a covenant
relationship where there is sexual sin. I would argue that what is true of
marriage is also true of our covenant with one another in a church setting.)
§
Matthew 18:15-17, “15Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy
brother. 16But if he will not
hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of
two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And
if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he
neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a
publican.” (This tells us that Jesus considers lack of repentance to
be sufficient reason to end a relationship with one who was formerly a
brother. The relationship is ended in a church setting, i.e. a church
conference or trial, when the guilty brother refuses to repent of a fault.)
§
Jeremiah 3:8, “8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby
backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a
bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and
played the harlot also.” (This tells us that God used sexual sin as a
metaphor for idolatry – just as adultery was a sufficient reason to end a
marriage, so idolatry was a sufficient reason to end God’s covenant with a
person. Idolatry and sexual sin are thus equated as sufficient causes to end
a relationship.)
§
Matthew 7:15-17, “15 Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17…every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” (This tells us
that the body of believers can be invaded by wolves pretending to be sheep,
and that we are to judge them by whether their behavior is morally corrupt.)
§
Luke 17:3-4, “3Take
heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if
he repent, forgive him. 4And if
he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn
again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (This tells
us that we are only required to forgive those who repent. We are not
obligated to forgive [to accept or include or trust again] those who refuse
to repent of their sins.)
§
II Corinthians 6:14-18,
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord
hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (This tells us that we are to separate
from those who are unbelievers; once again the comparison is made between
infidelity to God and infidelity in marriage as being a sufficient reason or
ground to divorce or separate.)
§
Galatians 1:6-9, “6I marvel that ye are so soon removed
from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now
again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.” (This tells us that perverting the gospel of
Christ leads to being cursed by God.)
§
II Peter 2 is too long to quote, but is a powerful passage against
false prophets “who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and
despise government” (II Peter 2:10). They “shall utterly perish in their own
corruption.” Peter warns us, II Peter 2:1, that “there shall be false
teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction.” These false prophets “have eyes full of adultery” and follow
the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter does not say how to deal with them; he
just points out their existence within the body of Christ, and their end –
destruction.
§
The case of the man who had his father’s wife in Paul’s letters to
the Corinthians is very strong concerning removal of sexual sinners from the
fellowship of a church and their restoration upon repentance (I Corinthians
5:1-8; II Corinthians 2:1-11). The reason Paul said to remove the sinner was
that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” therefore “Purge out…the
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump….” (I Cor. 5:6-7).
Although these scriptures
seem plain enough, nevertheless we should interpret scripture with
scripture. Therefore let us look carefully at the other side lest we jump to
the wrong conclusion through proof texting.
Should Bible believing Methodists remain in
their churches?
Here are some Scriptures which could be
interpreted as being for remaining in unity with unbelievers in the church,
with commentary:
§
“The Lord … is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should
perish …” (2 Peter 3:9). (This tells us to be longsuffering with the wicked,
as ambassadors of Christ and as children of God. And on this point we could
also quote Jesus: Turn the other cheek…go the second mile…love your
enemies…pray for them who despise or persecute you.)
§
Matthew 5:21-26, “21Ye
have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and
whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But
I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause
shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother,
Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool,
shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother
hath ought against thee; 24Leave
there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree
with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at
any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee
to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily
I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid
the uttermost farthing.” (This tells us to be reconciled with our
brothers who have been offended by us.)
§
Galatians 6:1-2, “1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a
fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear
ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (This tells us
to strive for restoring those who have fallen into sin. We hear this from
our bishops as their reason for not rebuking other bishops who have
outspokenly denied the faith. However, I wish they would try to restore them
the way Paul did with Peter, by sharp rebuke; and if there was no response
or repentance, by bringing it before witnesses, and then before the church.)
§
Galatians 2:11-14, “11But when Peter was come to Antioch,
I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12For
before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when
they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were
of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise
with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation. 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them
all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as
do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (This
tells us there is a time to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered to the saints,” Jude 3, among our brothers in the household of
faith who have become deluded. There is a time for withstanding the errant
to their faces. There is a time for sharp rebuke – as is mentioned in the
next scripture below.)
§
Titus 1:10-14, “10For there are many unruly and vain
talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11Whose
mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they
ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12One of themselves, even
a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil
beasts, slow bellies. 13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke
them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14Not giving
heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
(This tells us that there is a time for sharp rebuke to those who lead away
from correct doctrine, to put them back on the path of truth. Would that we
would see more public use of sharp rebuke by our episcopal leadership
against those who have fallen into heresy! If we ultimately conclude that we
should not separate, nevertheless we still should not condone outright gross
sin in the body of Christ.)
§
The parable of the tares and wheat (Matthew 13:25-43) tell us that
only at the end, when the Lord Himself comes in judgment, will the tares be
separated from the wheat and burned. The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew
25:1-13) has the exclusion of the five foolish virgins only by the
bridegroom when he comes, not by the five wise virgins. And the separation
of the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25:331-46 is also done by the Lord
alone and His angels when He comes in His glory, and not by any earthly
action of the church. Jesus says, Matthew 7:1, “Judge not lest ye be
judged.” All these passages warn us not to usurp the Lord’s authority in
judging. We must be extremely careful not to step on the Lord’s prerogatives
in judgment.
§
Revelation 2:20-22, “20Notwithstanding
I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,
which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to
commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And
I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22Behold, I will cast her into a bed,
and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds.” (This passage shows us that Jesus does not
wish us to suffer, i.e. tolerate, the false prophets who teach immorality
and idolatry and seduce believers into sin. It also says Jesus Himself will
punish Jezebel. It does not say all Jesus’s servants who have been seduced
should be cast out, however; Jesus does not address that issue here except
to warn that they will experience great tribulation if they do not repent of
their deeds.)
What then are we to conclude? Should we leave?
Should we stay, but make an attempt to cast out unbelievers? What should we
do? Let’s look at some specific New Testament incidents.
A Look at the Jerusalem Conference in Acts
We really ought to take
more interest in and pay more attention to Acts 15. It is relevant! In Acts
15, there was a dispute across the general church concerning what was to be
required of Christians, especially ignorant new believers coming out of
paganism. The Jerusalem council decided that circumcision would not be
required – on the basis that salvation is of faith and not of works. But on
the issue of sexual sin, the council decided that it would indeed be
required that Christians not practice fornication. Also, it was decided that
new believers should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from meat
with the blood still in it (strangled rather than drained). What is
interesting to us today is how we might see nothing wrong with eating meat
with blood in it, considering that a matter of ritual, while agreeing
wholeheartedly with the other three decisions – no circumcision requirement,
no fornication, and no meat sacrificed to idols.
The main point to be derived is
that there is a biblical basis for holding a general conference to decide
theological issues. A secondary point is that some of the issues that
come up can be settled based on political expediency – not eating meat with
blood in it in order to keep from offending Jewish Christians – while other
decisions go deeper – not requiring circumcision goes to the heart of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. On some issues there can be no compromise because
they touch on foundational doctrine. Homosexuality is one of those
issues. Let us consider the issue of fornication, i.e. sexual sin, more
closely to see why this is so.
Fornication affects the soul. It
is not a matter of mere ritual purity, as in whether to eat meat with blood
still in it, or whether to wash the hands before meals. Fornication goes
directly to the issue of covenant. Like adultery, fornication (Greek
porneia) destroys marriage as God designed it, since by definition it is
sex outside of marriage. (Marriage is biblically defined as the union of one
man and one woman – Matthew 19:4-5). Proverbs says that an adulterer sins
against his own soul. Homosexuality is porneia – it is sex outside of
holy matrimony. Homosexuality too destroys the soul. The Jerusalem
conference could not condone fornication, and today we cannot condone
homosexuality, because it is a deal breaker with God – that is, it
adulterates marriage as God designed it, and it is a sin against one’s own
soul – it leads to a corruption of our covenant with God. There are seven
major scriptures forbidding homosexuality or calling it a sin or an
abomination to God (Lev. 18:22-23; Lev. 20:13; Deut. 23:17; Isa. 3:9; Rom.
1:26-27; I Cor. 6:9; I Tim. 1:9-10; II Pet. 2:1-8; and Jude 1:7-8). There
are six other passages which make clear that homosexuality is a grave sin
against God (Gen. 19:5; Jdg. 19:22; I Kgs. 14:24; I Kgs. 15:12; I Kgs.
22:46; and II Kgs. 23:7).
It was fornication which the false prophet
Balaam recommended to the pagan king Balak as a means of corrupting the
children of Israel and making a way for Baal worship to enter in, according
to Moses in Numbers 31:16 (Cf. Rev. 2:14). Homosexuality is sexual sin, a
form of fornication. It tends toward destroying one’s covenant with God. We
see plainly how the homosexuals have taken to their bosoms the twisting of
scriptures. They are thrilled with the outright apostasy of Joseph Sprague
because Sprague’s position allows them to twist scripture to their heart’s
content…and their eternal damnation.
The Jerusalem council recognized the corrupting
power of sexual sin in Acts 15. So did General Conference 2004. Although we
sense the sincerity of those enmeshed in or advocating homosexuality as a
legitimate Christian lifestyle, and the genuine anguish of these who want to
be both homosexuals and an accepted part of United Methodism, we are in the
same position as the early church. We absolutely have to lay down the law in
love – we must say that just as fornication is not an acceptable practice,
neither is homosexuality, and for the same reason; namely, it destroys one’s
covenant with God. It is God who won’t tolerate it, and that is why we must
not tolerate it either. It will destroy the church just as surely as it
does the individual who practices it. Homosexuality does not rest upon God's
grace; it perverts God's grace! Both adultery and homosexuality are against
God's law, and also against God's grace -- because they destroy the soul and
break faith with God.
St. Paul Confronts Peter
One final incident! Our final scenario
involves a face-to-face confrontation by Paul of Peter – a confrontation by
one righteous leader with another church leader who is momentarily out of
God’s will. You can read all about it in Galatians. Paul is absolutely sure
of where he stands with God and man. He writes the first chapter in holy
anger. One of the things that he says there is that if anyone is preaching
another gospel than the one delivered by the Lord Jesus, let them be
accursed. That is not mild inclusive speech! When confronting the Judaizers,
Paul says, Galatians 2:5, “…we did not yield in subjection to them for even
an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.” That was
with non-Christians.
But also with momentarily deceived Christians,
Paul did not back down either! Paul lit into Peter (Cephas) himself, as he
says in Galatians 2:11, “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to
his face, because he stood condemned.” After a reminder of his careful
submission to the apostolic authorities, Paul says concerning Christ’s
apostles, Galatians 2:6, “But from those who were of high reputation (what
they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – well, those
who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.” Paul is absolutely dead
certain that his authority is from God Himself – and without denying that
God had used Peter in the past, nevertheless Paul asserts his own authority
in the same vein, Galatians 2:8, “for He who effectually worked for Peter in
his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the
Gentiles.” We can do as Paul did with Peter.
Now to conclude:
When in conference with fellow Christians, we
can behave as they did in Jerusalem and solve difficult problems with sweet
reason – no, wait! I fooled you! They actually had “no small dissension” and
“much disputing” (Acts 15:2, 7)! There may be times ahead when we need to
earnestly contend for the faith among our brethren, with salty speech. We
are going to have to get ever more potent, formidable, and biblical in our
confrontations at the next General Conference against wolves, unbelievers,
Jezebels, and infidels in the church.
When facing infidels – that is, those who are
the enemies of God even if they are within the church as false prophets, –
we can trust and pray that the Holy Spirit will give us what to say, as in
the case of the martyr Stephen. We need that same holy boldness, and we need
to understand that it was so confrontational that it produced a spirit of
murder in those who heard him, just as in the case of Christ before the
Sanhedrin. I also think Stephen prepared a lot of that speech in the Spirit.
We better prepare, too, also in the Spirit.
And when facing misled brothers, as Paul did
Peter, we can defend the faith with intense passion so long as we are
absolutely solidly rooted and grounded in the faith as delivered to the
saints by our Lord Jesus. That means having a scriptural basis for every
position we take. We can do our best to lead them back to Christ, trusting
in our brothers to respond to the Holy Spirit within us and them. We want
those who have offended God to get right with Him and come back into the
fold.
Davy Crockett was known for his motto, “Be sure
you’re right; then go ahead.” And that is exactly what we all should do. May
God guide us in knowing when to try to restore a misled brother; when to
sharply rebuke the wandering and straying among us; and when finally to
separate from unbelievers. This is the Lord’s business, and we had better be
very careful how we act lest we cause one of His little ones to stumble. May
God move in our midst to show us His way for us.
Dr. Wallace Cason III,pastor
St. Mark and Oak HillUMC
Tupelo,Mississippi
