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- AIM: To ask you to consider how
you will be and perhaps are Contending for the Faith within the UMC and
to be prepared for the challenges you will face in your ministry.
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- God withdraws his blessings when his people are continuously rebellious
and idolatrous
- But they put God to the test and
rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like
their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a
faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his
jealousy with their idols. When God heard them, he was very angry; he
rejected Israel completely. (Psalm 78:
56 – 59)
- Views from the pews and beyond
- Measurement & Analysis: State of the UMC
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- There is always remnant who are called and faithful.
- For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance... will
arise from another place, but you ... will perish. And who knows but
that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther
4:14)
- Example NIC VOICE
- Watershed Moment Presentation Overview
- God’s Word is True and can be trusted.
- All your words are true. (Psalm 119:160)
- Every word of God proves true. (Proverbs 30:5)
- Authority of Scripture
- Biblical Mandate
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- Views from the pews and beyond
- Measurement & Analysis: State of the UMC
- NIC VOICE
- Watershed Moment Presentation Overview
- Authority of Scripture (abbreviated)
- Biblical Mandate
- Reference
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- Reference
- Renewal Groups
- Progressive Groups
- Doctrine and the Authority of Scripture
- Scriptural Interpretation
- Our Theological Task (UMC)
- Theological Integrity (Bishop C. Joseph Sprague)
- Resolution 700-30
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- THE SHAM OF LIBERAL TOLERANCE
- Liberal tolerance is a sham.
Although portrayed by its advocates as an open, tolerant, and neutral
perspective, it is a dogma whose proponents tolerate no rivals. Those of
us who are concerned with presenting and defending our faith in a
post-Christian culture must be aware of this sort of challenge, one that
masquerades as open, tolerant, and liberating, but in reality is
dogmatic, partisan, and coercive.
- From “DECONSTRUCTING LIBERAL TOLERANCE”
- by Francis J. Beckwith
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- Based on Jude, NIV:
- 3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the
salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for
the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
- 4For certain men whose
condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among
you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a
license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and
Lord.
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- From the Series, Fight for your Life, by James MacDonald
- "There is a fight going on. There are some precious things
being taken from you and from me."
- "The problem is urgent."
- "The issue is God's Word. That's what the fight is over,
that's what the fight [for the Faith] is about."
- "The Faith is the body of Truth centered in the Gospel -- the Good
News of new life in Christ by repentance and faith."
- "The Bible is not still being written. There (are) no new
things we need to find out from God. He said it all."
- "It goes without saying, the Word of God is ever and always under
attack."
- "Sadly Christians are more content than willing to contend."
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- Mainline denominations have been shrinking nationally for decades. They
still have pockets of strength in the Midwest and South, where many
communities are heavily Protestant, and mainline churches are generally
more conservative. Overall, the denominations have struggled mightily to
face their problems, distracted by never-ending debates over gay clergy
and gay marriages that still threaten to split one or more
denominations.
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- These evangelical groups are active within the Episcopal Church USA, the
Presbyterian Church USA, the Disciples of Christ, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, and the United Methodist Church, among
others. Most have very large mailing lists and fervent supporters.
- Some, like the Confessing Movement among United Methodists and the
Confessing Church Movement in the PCUSA, have grown very quickly.
Almost all of these groups have dedicated and articulate leadership,
informative newsletters and magazines, and very active web sites.
But they are losing.
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- It is true that the groups have had some limited victories.
Presbyterian evangelicals convinced the PCUSA General Assembly to
declare that goddess worship (as in the infamous "Reimagining God
Conference) is unbiblical. But the organizers of the conference
remain in positions of influence. Liberals are solidly in control
of the bureaucratic machinery of the denominations, have free reign in
their seminaries, and consider the evangelical groups a nuisance.
- Christianity Today quotes Methodist theologian Richard Steele, who
admits: "It's hard to imagine any theological position that
would get you convicted of heresy in the United Methodist
Church--except, perhaps, for teaching that heresy deserves to be a
chargeable offense."
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- Indeed, United Methodist Bishop Joseph Sprague recently denied the
virgin birth of Jesus, the bodily resurrection, and supernatural
miracles. Evangelicals made absolutely no headway in pressing
charges of heresy. In the worldview of the liberal
bureaucrats of mainline Protestantism, heresy doesn't even
exist. The only problem children in the church are those noisy
evangelicals.
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- So why can the article promise that evangelicals are poised for eventual
victory? The authors point to sociological studies indicating
rising levels of congregational involvement in parachurch ministries
such as Youth for Christ and the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes. On the other hand, the sociologists suggest that the
numerical decline of the mainline churches may leave the evangelicals
with more influence. "Even if all else fails," the
article argues, "the renewal insurgents may simply outlive the
liberals."
- That's hardly a platform for a "resurgence.“
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- I hate to throw cold water on this flickering flame, but it does seem
that the Christianity Today article is more about hope than
reality. No mainline denomination appears in any fashion to be
returning to confessional fidelity, theological orthodoxy, or moral
sanity.
- There is no joy in this analysis, only grief. A concerned
Christian can have nothing but sympathy for brothers and sisters in
Christ whose churches and denominations have been ravaged by liberal
theology and hijacked by radical causes. We should fervently
pray that the renewal movements will indeed gain the influence and power
necessary to reform and revive these historic denominations.
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- But hope is not a strategy, and it does no good to substitute a
"rosy scenario" for today's tragic reality. The
Episcopal House of Bishops' lopsided vote to elect a declared and active
homosexual as a bishop of the church is an unmitigated disaster.
- Are the mainline denominations turning around? If the current
trend is victory, I shudder to imagine what defeat would look like.
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- Unaudited reports from all but two of 65 U.S. annual (regional)
conferences paint a disturbing statistical picture of membership and
weekly worship attendance …
- As of mid-July, U.S. conferences reported 7,871,866 million members.
- A recent study indicated that nearly 90 percent of United Methodist
worshippers are over age 30.*
- The reported membership decline for 2002 equals 50,865, an increase over
the 43,000-member decline reported in 2001. However, the roughly 7.8
million interim membership total compares unfavorably with the 2001
official count of 8,294,445 U.S. members.
- Average weekly attendance at main worship services was reported at
2,751,155. Total reported decline was 30,811. Again, the interim 2002
total compares unfavorably with the 2001 total of 3,546,695.
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- Researchers discounted claims from traditionalists that The United
Methodist Church's declines are primarily caused by the denomination
becoming too liberal politically and theologically. Rather, people are
switching because more conservative denominations that are just better
at inviting people to visit church, where attractive and lively worship
gives people spiritual support, they said.
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- Regarding growth in evangelical UMC annual conferences and decline in
UMC “progressive” annual
conferences:
- "It would seem that the vastly different membership statistics
reflected … (are) instructive to the Church – where you have radical
theological . . . leadership, you have a Church in decline. Where you
have orthodox evangelical leadership that is supportive of the
authority of Scripture and committed to the Great Commission, you have
a Church which is vibrant and alive.”
- Dr. Ira Gallaway, Assistant Executive Director, Confessing Movement
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- New data on church membership trends drew divergent reactions from the
United Methodist Church’s bishops during their April 28-May 2 meeting.
Some bishops, focusing on the U.S. figures, expressed a sense of urgency
about reversing the downward membership trend. Other bishops, noting the
lack of global data, said the U.S. research didn’t necessarily reflect
the strength of the denomination as a whole.
- The percentage of U.S. congregations not receiving at least one member
on confession of faith or "restored" status increased from
37.8 percent in 1984 to 40.7 percent in 2000, according to the report,
"Making Disciples for Jesus Christ." Bishop John Hopkins, who
leads the church’s Minnesota Area, presented the report on behalf of the
Council of Bishops’ committee on pastoral concerns.”
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- …If the Methodist Church had continued to maintain its level of
membership at a constant 5.3% of the population as it was in 1970 that
we would now have almost 15 million members. The actual loss in membership is about
22% since 1969, however, considering the drop to 3% of total US
population from a high of 5.3% in 1970, there is an overall real
decrease in membership exceeding 42%.
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- The current Yearbook of Canadian and American Churches reports that the
rate of decline of mainline Protestant churches is remarkably stable. In
fact, The United Methodist Church was cited as losing only .51 percent
of its membership.
- However, this small decline is deceptively misleading because while the
UMC and others have lost members during the past 20 years, our country
has added 54 million citizens.
- Because of our church's lack of growth and our aging congregations, our
membership declines will soon rapidly accelerate unless we change our
emphasis.
- Other denominations and faiths are making spectacular gains in
membership. According to the Yearbook, there are more than twice as many
Muslim Americans today as Episcopalians, more Muslims than members of
the Presbyterian Church (USA), and about as many Muslims as Jews. There
is also evidence of growing communities of Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs
in this country.
- Dr. Michael Watson of Bamberg, S.C., is a retired physician and member
of Trinity United Methodist Church (South Carolina Annual Conference).
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- What has happened to us?
- Early in the days of Methodism, John Wesley realized that the church had
shifted its emphasis away from evangelism and ministry among the poor.
He "took to the fields" to make the original emphasis of the
church his primary emphasis.
- By following Wesley's methodology, Methodism throughout the world
exploded with growth and became a dominant Protestant denomination. From
1784 to 1939, American Methodism grew from 14,988 members to 7.7 million
— one of the most astonishing growth records in the history of
Christianity based on evangelism and ministry among the poor.
- As the commitment to evangelism began to erode, however, so did the
growth.
- Dr. Michael Watson of Bamberg, S.C., is a retired physician and member
of Trinity United Methodist Church (South Carolina Annual Conference).
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- Wesley said, "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists
should ever cease to exist in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest
they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion
without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold
fast the doctrine, spirit and discipline with which they first set out.“
- What a prophetic warning for us to heed today.
- Dr. Michael Watson of Bamberg, S.C., is a retired physician and member
of Trinity United Methodist Church (South Carolina Annual Conference).
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- *Some bishops have spoken and "broken rank" with the other
bishops by speaking against (Bishop) Sprague. I think that we need to
encourage them to speak out more and support them with our prayers and
in any other way that we see fit.
- *The other bishops, by their silence, either support Bishop Sprague's
"dissension" from the Christian faith or lack enough boldness
to speak out against him. Either way, they will have to answer to Christ
for their "leadership" for adding to the decline of the UMC if
they do not repent. I have to wonder if they accepted their positions of
Bishop without understanding the enormity of the responsibility to
Christ that goes with it. I hope they enjoy their rewards for their
positions today, because that may be all the reward they are ever going
to have. The downside (eternity) is something that they'd better focus
on understanding.
- Cathy A. Bihler, Laity
Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds, WA.
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- *I think that the Bishops have already been given plenty of opportunity
by God to choose which side of the fence that they are going to be on -
do they believe in and are they prepared to defend our Articles of
Faith? By our actions and inactions, God is separating goats from sheep.
- Cathy A. Bihler, Laity
Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds, WA.
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- *Clergy, too, have been given plenty of opportunity to evaluate and
decide what they believe and preach/teach the same to the congregations
that they are given charge over. God will hold them accountable. Those
who are faithful will receive their rewards in heaven. And great they
will be. Those who are not faithful would be "better off with a
millstone tied around their necks and drowned in the sea.”
- *Lay leaders (varying in
responsibility and titles in the local church - Trustees, Ad Board
Members, Pastor Parish Relations Committee Members, etc.) are also
making choices - though they are only going to make good decisions to
the extent that they have truly searched through Scripture and the Book
of Discipline enough to make informed Christian decisions.
- Cathy A. Bihler, Laity
Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds, WA.
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- *Part of the important work in the Church is the contending for the
faith internally against the heresies that arise. God will raise up
people and empower them for this important work. Not all are willing.
It's tough and lonely work. But, if you look at how Elijah went to
heaven, God has a special place in heaven reserved for them. God bless
those who are so called and respond.
- *The battle takes place in General Conference, Jurisdictional
Conference, Annual Conference, Committees on Investigation, Judicial
Council, & Local Churches.
- *We fight not against flesh and blood but against the forces of
darkness.
- *None of us are exempt from the war, though we know the outcome has been
determined. The battle was won in the Garden of Gethsemene, in my
opinion, when Jesus determined to do the will of the Father and not His
own. Jesus was enabled/empowered to follow through the plan for which He
came to earth. And He has been resurrected. He ascended to heaven, where
He sits at the Right Hand of the Father, crowned Lord of Lords &
King of Kings.
- Cathy A. Bihler, Laity
Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds, WA.
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- After reading Bishop Sprague's book and some of his newsletters, I've
come to the conclusion that he's just not too sharp a theologian, and
repeating a lot of the stuff he probably learned in a systematic
theology class or Christian history class when they got to Albert
Schweitzer and other similar 'quests for the historical Jesus.' He's
taken horrible liberties with his teaching office, and chosen to
disregard foundational doctrines of both Christianity and Methodism. I
know by doing so he has undermined my ministry where I serve. I'm tired
of people coming to my office to ask me what has changed about the
United Methodist Church.
- The Rev’d Sky Lowe-McCracken
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- I'm not ignoring the damage that a bishop can do. But a lot of damage
has come from … apathy … .
- Most of the Sprague followers are IMO (in my opinion) poorly-grounded
Methodists who were drawn more to the social-activist side of Methodism
than the holiness side. Sprague's following is one of his own creation
made by the pastoral appointments he carried out. He may still be a
bishop when he retires, but he'll be a bishop that no longer makes
appointments. In the UMC, that will mean he'll preach some sermons, and
give some lectures. He may continue to do some damage, but less so, I
believe. I don't think he's held in as high esteem as he used to be by
his fellow bishops, if for no other reason than the fact that he's made
life hell for a lot of them.
NIC VOICE, a growing number of seminary professors and younger
clergy, and Sprague's own retirement will do more damage to him than I
could ever do.
- The Rev’d Sky Lowe-McCracken
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- I would highly recommend that anyone concerned about the overall future
direction of the United Methodist Church should attend the “NIC VOICE”
presentation or spend a few hours reading details on the internet.
- The presentation is a much more organized way to get the details and it
allows for interaction with questions and discussion.
- Their presentation gives a disturbing message, but it is a message we
should know.
- Paul Marshall, Serena, IL UMC
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- I have looked at your website and commend you for taking a stand against
the apostasy in our denomination. This whole thing is senseless
and is crippling our church. But we must take a stand for there to
be a church that is true to God's Word. My comment to Bishop
Sprague's stance is that, "you can't vote on the truth."
This whole issue needs to be addressed in our seminaries if we are going
to get at the heart of this cancer in our church.
- —Dennis Redstone, Senior Pastor, Trinity UMC, Lighthouse Point, FL
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- I have a great deal of respect for what you and others in NIC VOICE are
doing. I think you are giving many laity a model of what laity CAN do
and what kind of power they have. When laity realize the power that they
have, the Church will grow and powerful disciples are made. The success
and power of Emmaus Walks - laity-led movements - is one such example.
…Continue your work. It is bearing fruit, and the way you are handling
it has been stellar. You are being taken seriously, and not as some
'kook.' You are evidently a well-balanced and mature Christian, and I
pray that God will continue to bless your work and message.
- The Rev’d Sky Lowe-McCracken, OSL
- Senior Pastor, Clinton (KY) First UMC
- Director, Hickman County Parish
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- Introduction
- Time Line
- Participants
- Complaint
- Authority of Scripture
- Doctrinal Issues
- Virgin Birth (Christology)
- Resurrection of Christ
- Salvation through Christ Alone
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ
- Other Bishops' Responses
- Complaint Summary and Status
- Response Team Recommendations and Complainant’s Response
- Bishop Sprague’s Statement
- Northern Illinois Annual Conference Support of the Ministry of Bishop C.
Joseph Sprague
- Summary
- Action
- Renewal Groups
- “Progressive” Groups
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- Concern for Doctrinal Integrity
- How can we walk together if there is division over our core beliefs?
- Connectional
- As a connectional community of faith, we are part of the Northern
Illinois Annual Conference, The North Central Jurisdiction and the
General Conference of the UMC
- Responsibility
- Within our local community of faith
- Within our conference
- Within our denomination
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- The complaints … against Bishop Sprague are a very serious matter, both
for Bishop Sprague and the Church.
Indeed, the supervisory response team recognizes this as a
potential watershed moment in our denomination. The response to the
complaints could establish the cultural ethos and the missional
direction of the denomination (particularly in the United States) for
the foreseeable future. The entire Church is watching. Critical
questions hang in the balance and frame the context of the complaints.
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- Introduction
- Eight Chapters
- Epilogue
- Autobiographical background
- Chapter Three - The issue is Biblical Authority
- Chapter Four - Fully Human Jesus
- Synopsis available
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- “United Methodism at RISK: A Wake-Up Call shares extensive research to
show who is behind the campaign to force the denomination into a narrow
political and theological framework.”
- “The book was published by the Information Project for United Methodists,
co-chaired by Bishop C. Dale White, widely known for his leadership on
peace issues, and New York attorney and well-known United Methodist lay
leader Beth Capen. Veteran Christian journalist Leon Howell is the
author. The books close to 200 pages detail the rise of conservative
renewal groups within United Methodism and sister denominations, and
link their activity to right-wing activity in society.”
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- “All United Methodists need to read this book to be fully informed on
the tactics, ideological bias and theological restrictions evidenced in
the life and work of the conservative renewal groups," Bishop White
said in announcing the books release. The direction they would take our
church demeans clergy and laity, he said.”
- "It is insulting to the professional integrity of the clergy to
dictate to them the precise theological language they must use in the
pulpit and Bible studies," Bishop White said. "And its
insulting to the laity to assume they cannot be trusted to engage in
theological reflection and define their faith according to their own
perceptions and conscience.”
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- HERE I STAND For God's sake — literally — let's stop battling Rev.
Kathryn Johnson, Executive Director, Methodist Federation for Social
Action
- Get The Facts Straight Before You Write the Book, by Dr. Bill Hinson,
President, Board of Directors, The Confessing Movement.
- Good News editor denies 'extremist' designation in editorial Dr. James
V. Heidinger II, President and Publisher, Good News Magazine, Wilmore,
Kentucky
- Bishops at fault John N. Grenfell, Jr.. Fort Gratiot, Michigan,
in a Letter to the Editor, United Methodist Reporter, July 9, 2003.
- "Risking Methodism", by D. Stephen Long, Associate Professor
of Systematic Theology, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
- (UMC) Bishop Talbert Assails IRD, UM Action
- United Methodist Leaders Release Book Challenging
Ultra-Conservatives
- Ad hoc group releases book on ‘United Methodism at risk’
- Amid the smokescreens, UMC needs a 'third way to heal itself 06/11/03
- The risk of renewal groups by Jim Heidinger of Good News
- Information Project for United Methodists (IPUM) - United Methodist is
at Great Risk!
- Evangelical Methodists Experiencing Intolerance from Within Denomination
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- Dr. Steven Long, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in his essay, “Risking
Methodism”
- “At this point some persons will clearly think that Methodism@Risk is
correct; people like me “threaten” John Wesley’s “think and let think.” But
of course Wesley never thought one could think and let think about the
heart of Christian doctrine – the Incarnation, Trinity, Virgin Birth,
Bodily Resurrection – or a common quest for Christian holiness, which
includes specific worship practices. That is why he gave us the gift of
something called a “discipline,” Articles of Religion and a sermon
called “the duty of constant communion.” He urged the Methodist people –
out of “duty” – to frequent the Lord’s table as much as possible. If we
have no common vision, doctrine, moral practice or worship life then we
may as well become a confederation of independent churches. That is not
Methodism, but recent Annual Conference actions tend in this direction.”
- “ If anything is under threat in the Methodist Church today it is this
sense of a common teaching, practice and worship that comes from our own
tradition, and it is under threat by both the so-called “progressivists”
and the church-growth gurus who came up with the “open hearts, minds and
doors” campaign. Can we take the risk of Methodism and recover a common
life?”
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- “More and more was said about Jesus as the Son of God after his death on
the Cross as the confused and frightened disciples, who had not gotten
it, experienced the Risen Christ in their midst. Profoundly, they got it
at last so they sought appropriate means to tell the Story of his unique
presence that had transformed their lives and brought the Church into
being.”
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- “It was from their experience of
the risen and ever-present Christ Spirit, God’s powerful breath of life,
that the apostles and disciples came to see through their own trust and
obedience that Jesus was not dead and buried but alive forevermore,
calling them to pick up his mantle, even to take up the Cross and follow
him.”
- “Having said this much, I must
say more. I believe in the resurrection of Jesus, but I cannot affirm
that his resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical
body. The inconsistent reports in the New Testament of his several
and initially unrecognized resurrection appearances add support to this
point of view . . .”
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- “I affirm resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus. God’s Essence cannot
be killed, buried or kept from being active in creation and history. God
is from everlasting to everlasting.
But, resurrection, including that of Jesus, does not occur
through bodily resuscitation.”
- “God does not work this way. The issue is not the absence of God’s
power but God’s own “self” limiting role of revelation in history.
God works within the boundaries God has established. And while I
do not pretend to know the limits of these boundaries and realize that
we all see but through a glass darkly, I am certain that the miracle of
resurrection, pre-eminently that of Jesus, is not tied to bodily
resuscitation.”
- “The linking of resurrection with bodily resuscitation is to make
a literal religious proposition of a metaphorical, symbolic expression
of Truth itself. This is the kind of idolatry from which I
dissent.”
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- (Concerning the Resurrection of Christ)
- “Christ did truly rise again
from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to
the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and
there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day.”
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- 1 Corinthians 15: 12 - 20
- But if it is preached that
Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there
is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has
been raised.
- And if Christ has not been
raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to
be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he
raised Christ from the dead.
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- 1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 20
(Continued)
- But he did not raise him if in
fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised
either. And if Christ has not
been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen
asleep in Christ are lost. If
only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than
all men.
- But Christ has indeed been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
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- "Is Jesus the Only Way to Salvation?”
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- Response Team:
- “Are there certain foundational
doctrines that cannot or should not be subject to scholarly examination
and interpretation?”
- Complainants’ Statement:
- “We certainly do not object to
the "scholarly examination and interpretation" of our
foundational doctrines. (Rationale question #2) We only ask that the
interpretation and application of our foundational doctrines be
consistent with the permanent doctrinal standards bequeathed to us by
our forbearers in the faith (which we all agreed to upon entering the
United Methodist community).”
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- “Many in our Church believe the threat is doctrinal impurity and heresy.
Others in our Church believe the threat is the narrowing of Wesleyan doctrine
to a static, rigid formulation.”
- “It is the humble, but considered, opinion of the supervisory response
team that the real threat may well be our arrogance and parochial
attitudes.”
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- This resolution passed on the Third Consent Calendar at the Northern
Illinois Conference, June 5-7, St. Charles, IL. It had received 86% concurrence in
Sections:
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- "Bishop Sprague and others who teach like him are committing theological
malpractice," said the Rev. Scott Field, pastor of Wheatland-Salem
United Methodist Church in Naperville. "He not only has altered
the package (of Christianity) but completely gutted its contents."
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- Are these doctrines that should be open to interpretation and “debate” or
does this represent “theological malpractice”?
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64
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- “The Methodists must take heed to their doctrine, their experience,
their practice, and their discipline.
If they attend to their doctrines only, they will make the people
antinomians; if to the experimental part of religion only, they will
make them enthusiasts; if to the practical part only, they will make
them Pharisees; and if they do not attend to their discipline, they will
be like persons who bestow much pains in cultivating their garden, and put
no fence round it, to save it from the wild boar of the forest.”
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- "I am not conscious that there is any one point of doctrine on
which I am accustomed to speak in public which is not here—incidentally,
if not professedly—laid before every Christian reader. Every serious man
who peruses these will therefore see in the clearest manner what those
doctrines are which I embrace and teach as the essentials of true
religion. ....”
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- Learn More About Jesus' Resurrection and Gift of Salvation
- Individual and Corporate Prayer
- Send Expression of Concern to UMC Bishops
- Send petitions for accountability to General Conference
- Continue to stay informed
- Schedule a presentation of "Watershed Moment" using the
downloaded PowerPoint presentation at your church or at a public
facility to invite churches in your area
- Network to inform laity and with other laity and laity/clergy led groups
by sending the NIC VOICE newsletter or Press Release!
- Hold a small group series or summer adult education study using the
resources you will find at NIC VOICE and focus on the key doctrinal
issues
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68
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- The Issue is Biblical Authority
- (Chapter 3, Affirmations of a
Dissenter)
- What does this mean?
- For Christianity to be true to its historic heritage it must be
authoritative.
- It has always understood itself to be a product of revelation
- Its legitimacy inevitably hinges
upon the factuality of this claim.
- (from “The Christian and
Authority”, by Elliot Miller)
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- United Methodists and the Authority of Scripture:
- As United Methodist Christians,
we affirm the authority of scripture.
What do we mean by that?
The Webster Merriam Collegiate Dictionary defines authority as
"the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or
behavior" (2b).
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- Wesley on the Scriptures
- "The faith of the
Protestants, in general, embraces only those truths as necessary to
salvation, which are clearly revealed in the oracles of God . .
. The written Word is the whole and sole rule of their faith,
as well as practice. We believe, indeed, that 'all Scripture is
given by the inspiration of God,' and herein we are distinguished from
other non-Christian religions. We believe the written Word of God
to be the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice."
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71
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- UMC and Authority of Scripture
- United Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that
Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. Through
Scripture the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming
grace. We are convinced that Jesus Christ is the living Word of God in
our midst whom we trust in life and death (from UMC web site)
- Scripture on Scripture
- “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at
his teaching because he taught as one who had AUTHORITY, not as their
teachers of the law”.
- Matthew 7:28-29 (NIV)
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72
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- Definition of terms
- Neo-literalist ("that Christianity is more than fundamentalism or
as I prefer to call it `neo-literalism.” – Bishop Sprague)
- Progressive (metaphorical and symbolic view of the Bible based on a methodology that is a “dynamic
process that is empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst
of the faith community’s discernment processes through prayer,
dialogue, informed scholarship, and application to the issues of
today.” – Bishop Sprague)
- Orthodox (“Christian tradition as defined by the sacred texts of
scripture, the ecumenical councils of the first five centuries, and the
teachings of the "fathers of the first millennium.“ (Tom Oden)
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73
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- Definition of terms
- Religious pluralism is the belief that every religion is true. One may
be better than the others, but all are adequate.
- Relativism claims that there are no criteria by which one can tell
which religion is true or best. There is no objective truth in
religion, and each religion is true to the one holding it.
- Inclusivism claims that one religion is explicitly true, while all
others are implicitly true. In other words, everyone will be saved.
- Exclusivism is the belief that only one religion is true, and the
others opposed to it are false.
- Dr. Normal Geisler, “Are All Religions True?”, Agape Press, 9-15-2003
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74
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- Do post-modernists literally accept the cosmology of the biblical world
as fact? Why do the time-influenced constructs of the early church
fathers hold such awe and reverence for them, given the oblique and
rather slippery language employed? … And, when and why did metaphor and
myth become such negative concepts to well-informed people in the
Church?
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75
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- “It has been surprising to me, not that neo-literalists have been virulent
in their clamoring for Mary’s gynecological virginity and for Jesus’
bodily resuscitation on Easter, but that seminary faculty members and
other well-informed clergy and laity need, teach and passionately
advocate a virginally born and physically resurrected, if not always
bodily resuscitated, Jesus. I find such thinking to be incredulous.”
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76
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- A bishop in the United Methodist Church, Joseph Sprague openly rejects
Christian teachings such as the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of
Christ. He delights in sowing discord within his own denomination by
gleefully referring to his writing as the "Affirmations of a
Dissenter."
- Episcopalians in New Hampshire just elected an openly homosexual bishop,
whose selection is expected to be approved next month. (He was elected –
editor’s note)
- A recent report by Religion News
Service notes that the question of whether Jesus is the only way to
salvation currently divides Presbyterians. In fact, only 43% of
Presbyterian parishioners, 50% of the elders, and 39% of the clergy
agree that salvation is exclusively in Christ.
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77
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- The Bible has a name for this kind of opposition from within the church.
It's called apostasy, and those who make up the fifth column, so to
speak, are apostates. The Greek word from which we derive the word apostasy
simply means "a falling away, a rebellion or revolt." To apostatize
in biblical times meant to desert one's station or post. The Greek
biographer Plutarch used the word to describe a political revolution.
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78
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- In apostasy, those who profess to be Christians say to the church and
the world at large, "The things that are seemingly clear in the
Scriptures are not really as they appear. What seems to be true is not
true. Sin is not actually sin. Hell is not a real place where the damned
suffer eternally. Hope is not found in only one way. Truth and morality
are not absolute." Distortions of the Christian faith are offered
as substitutes. These may be similar in some ways to the Christian
faith, but invariably they add, overemphasize, or leave something
critical out.
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79
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- The source of apostasy is the mind and heart of Satan. Jesus revealed
this fact in the parable of the wheat and tares, referring to the wheat
as the true children of God and the tares as apostates who are "children
of the wicked one," placed inside the church by the devil himself.
On the Day of Judgment, Christ promises that He will separate the two; "gather
the wheat" unto himself and "burn the tares."
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80
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- “The word "heresy," in its most common usage, refers to false
teachings that destroy. They are
destructive because they overturn the basic elements which make up the
historic Christian faith, substituting in their place doctrines which distort
or contradict the teachings found in the Bible.”
- CRI: HERESY AND ABERRATION -
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
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81
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- “The doctrines of the Trinity, the unique deity of Jesus Christ, and the
resurrection are among the essentials of Christianity. They represent
the core of Christian belief as contained within the pages of Scripture,
and they compose what is commonly called "orthodox theology." And
thus, heresies are teachings which openly deny any one of these
fundamental doctrines.”
- CRI: HERESY AND ABERRATION -
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
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82
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- The dictionary defines heresy as "opinion held in opposition to
commonly received doctrine, and tending to promote division or
dissension." Mention of heresy is off-limits among many United
Methodists. It would seem to be, well, unloving and suggests we are not
nice people.
- But the blacklisting of the word heresy is also a sign of our
theological impoverishment. If we begin to believe that there is no such
thing as heresy, are we not assuming that: (1) we have no commonly
received doctrine, (2) doctrine does not matter, or even if it does
matter, the new opinions being expressed are not really in opposition to
it, or (3) the real division or dissension is in bringing the matter up
in the first place.
- Riley B. Case, retired pastor (Indiana)
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83
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- “Remember, controversy for the
sake of controversy is sin. But controversy for the sake of the truth is
a divine command.”
- CRI: Exposing Doctrinal Errors:
Heresy Hunting or Biblical Mandate?
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84
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- When a church, a mainline denomination in this country, decides to
abandon the Word of God and to lift up a man who is in sin, then I think
what we have is a church that's decided to abandon the Word of
God," Parshall says.
- "What you have then is a social club -- but you don't have a
church, because a church is where God's Word is taught and the name of
Jesus Christ is lifted up.“
- Parshall says the absolute truth is always found in scripture, and
should be obeyed.
- "The Bible doesn't contain the word of God -- it is the Word of
God. And that same book says 'Woe to the shepherds who lead the sheep
astray.'"
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85
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- On his website, MacArthur acknowledges that some believers choose to
leave their church over "petty reasons," suggesting that
disagreements over simple matters of preference are never a good reason
to leave a sound, Bible-believing church. But he says there are times
when it becomes necessary to leave a church "for the sake of one's
own conscience, or out of a duty to obey God rather than men.“
- Among those reasons, according to MacArthur, are heresy being taught
from the pulpit, toleration of errant doctrine from those given
authority as teachers, wanton disregard for scripture, toleration of
"unholy living" in the church, and "giving lip service to
biblical Christianity but refusing to acknowledge its true power."
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86
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- Ministers must have the courage to identify false gospels of our day, he
said. If ministers do not confront false gospels, confusion will erupt
in the church.
"Confusion in the church is always due to a false teaching
or at least a false understanding of the Gospel, and a false
understating of the Gospel inevitably leads to confusion in the
church," Mohler said.
"Human improvement gospels abound. Health and wealth gospels
abound. The gospels of easy believism and no discipleship abound. We
face this perpetual problem of false gospels, and thus we must always be
on watch and guard the flock of God because false gospels kill."
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In this quest to preach the true Gospel, ministers should beware
of false authorities that commonly propagate false gospels, Mohler said.
Too often, believers think that a high position or a charismatic
personality make one a source of authority.
Seminary graduates, he added, must be particularly careful not to
think that an advanced degree in theology grants them special authority.
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"The church is more often led astray by those who believe
they are professionals than those who humbly understand that we, as
earthen vessels, are called to be containers of the Gospel, that the
glory would be in Christ and not us. There is no professional
authority."
The key question for ministers is ultimately whether they will
preach a gospel that pleases men or one that pleases God, he said.
"We will either seek to please God or to please men,"
Mohler said. "Our frame of reference will either be the
transcendent, eternal, infinite God who has revealed Himself in
Scripture, or our frame of reference will be the human beings to whom we
will address ourselves. Whose favor will we seek?"
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Quoting 2 Corinthians 2:12, Mohler warned that the temptation to
please men will always be present.
"What an urgent warning this is, lest we reduce our ministry
to man-pleasing. We must have as our horizon to please the One who has
called us, the only One who is a judge who can declare His
verdict."
If a minister will preach the true Gospel of God's unmerited
favor upon sinful humans, he will experience its power to save, Mohler
said.
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90
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- "The Gospel isn't about how clever we are in figuring out what God
would have us to do," he said. "In our blindness, in our
deadness, in our dullness, in our hardness of heart, the Lord Jesus
Christ appeared to Paul on the Damascus road and to each one of us who
knows Him, not as the One we have sought, but as the One who sought
us.
"Only one Gospel saves. The Apostle Paul elsewhere says, 'Woe
unto me if I preach not the Gospel.' It is because he knew the power of
the authentic Gospel and the futility and the deadliness and the poison
of the false gospels."
The Christian minister's responsibility, Mohler said, is to
preach exclusively the Gospel which is revealed in Scripture.
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91
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- "For if our ministry is
established upon an admixture of human wisdom and the wisdom of God, we
will soon find ourselves preaching another gospel, and we will soon bear
the judgment of anathema from those who know the true Gospel," he
said.
"Graduates, we are bold as a faculty to pray that the Lord
would use you as agents of the Gospel, the real Gospel, the authentic
Gospel, the Gospel that saves. And graduates, understand that the
greatest concern of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is that those
who would minister in the name of Christ would preach any other gospel.
May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in His church as His Gospel is
proclaimed in power, in authority and in clarity."
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92
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- 2 Timothy 4: 2-4
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,
rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
- For the time will come when
men will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them
a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from
the truth and turn aside to myths.
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93
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- 1 Timothy 4: 1-2
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the
faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such
teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been
seared as with a hot iron.
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94
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- 1 Corinthians 4: 1-2
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as
those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have
been given a trust must prove faithful.
- James 5:19
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and
someone should bring him back,
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95
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- 1 Corinthians 9: 15-16
- But I have not used any of
these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do
such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of
this boast. Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am
compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
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96
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- Titus 1: 7-9
- (an Overseer) He must hold
firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can
encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
- 1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone
out into the world.
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97
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- Matthew 7: 15-23
- "Watch out for false
prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ferocious wolves. By their fruit
you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs
from thistles? Likewise every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
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98
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- Matthew 7: 15-23
- "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!'
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99
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- Acts 20: 28-30
- Keep watch over yourselves and
all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own blood.
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you
and will not spare the flock.
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in
order to draw away disciples after them.
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100
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- Ephesians 5:11
- Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them.
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101
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- “Indeed, we seem to prefer to speak about "acceptance" rather
than "salvation", about "affirmation" rather than "forgiveness".
"Grace" has come to mean "niceness" rather a gift
flowing from costly sacrifice.”
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102
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- Romans 5:5 (NIV)
- And hope does not disappoint
us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy
Spirit, whom he has given us.
- Romans 12:12 (NIV)
- Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
- But since we belong to the day,
let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,
and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
- Titus 2:13
- while we wait for the blessed
hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ …
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103
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- I Peter 1: 3-9 (NIV)
- Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or
fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's
power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in
the last time.
- In this you greatly rejoice,
though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved
genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed.
- Though you have not seen him,
you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are
receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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- Biblically based expositional preaching
- Articles of Faith as well as Social Principles
- Wesleyan Distinctives
- Membership Classes – Content
- Adult Confirmation
- Understand laity perspectives – both progressive & evangelical
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105
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- Laity now are aware they need to know:
- Does/Do their pastor(s) know Jesus as Saviour and Lord?
- Does their church stay faithful to its stated doctrine?
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106
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- Concerned Laity impact
- Leaving
- Strained Relationships
- Apathy
- Doubt
- Lack of Trust
- Confusion
- Anger
- Are we more content than willing to contend?
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107
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- John 12: 42 - 46
- 42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But
because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear
they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from
men more than praise from God.
- 44Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not
believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45When he looks at me,
he sees the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so
that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
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108
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109
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110
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111
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112
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- Women’s Program Arm of Good News
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113
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114
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- 20 years, not technically a Renewal Group, outside UMC
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115
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Notes