United Methodist Church Conservatives Prepare to Form New Denomination

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Traditionalists decrying a lack of respect for Scripture have lamented that United Methodist evangelism lately has consisted mainly of spreading the social gospel of good works rather than the spiritual freedom of The Great Commission. In more than 18 months, only a couple stories of well over a thousand on the daily UM News feed have reported people accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

ChristianPost.com reports that

The United Methodist Church, the third-largest Christian sect in the United States, took another step toward schism over their longstanding debate on LGBT issues when theological conservatives recently unveiled their plan for a new denomination.

Known as the Global Methodist Church, it was the product of the 17-member Transitional Leadership Council, a group of theologically conservative United Methodists.

The Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative United Methodist advocacy group, announced the launching of the GMC on March 1, explaining that it will not officially begin operations until a formal separation policy is approved by the UMC.

“Theologically conservative United Methodists have made no secret of their efforts to form a new church,” stated the WCA in the announcement.

“In late 2018, the Wesleyan Covenant Association created a Next Steps Working Group to begin drafting its own ‘Book of Doctrines and Discipline’ outlining essential theological confessions and governing structures for a new church’s consideration.”

The creators of the GMC and other United Methodists are holding off further action until the results of the next churchwide legislative meeting, known as the General Conference.

Due largely to the coronavirus pandemic, the global denomination has had to postpone the legislative meeting multiple times, with it presently being scheduled to take place Aug. 29 – Sept. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On the agenda for General Conference 2022 will be a proposal to fund and create at least one new separate denomination for those who no longer want to remain in the UMC.

Before I begin, please allow me to be honest with you.

I left the United Methodist Church at the age of 39, when I realized that, thanks to those in control of the denomination, whose headquarters was in the Northeast, some parts of the UMC were beginning to value secularism more than it did the Word of God.

How did I come to that conclusion?

I walked into a Sunday School class and a theology student was teaching out of a book titled, “Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists”.

While I hated to leave the Choir Director whom I had sang under for 20 years, like Belshazzar, I saw the writing upon the wall.

That was over 20 years ago.

Now, after a long journey down a road filled with Liberals’ “religion of social justice”, the United Methodist Church is about to pay for following the word of man instead of the Word of God..

Right now, I can hear the Liberals who read my posts in order to raise their blood pressure beyond their usual catharsis, saying,

Well, what’s wrong with embracing the lifestyle of the LGBT “community” and allowing them to have leadership roles and to get married within the church?

Christ loved and embraced everyone.

Indeed He did.

Jesus was often found in the company of sinners…but not because He accepted their sins. He was with them because he loved them and loathed their sin. He was there to redeem them through His Loving Grace, so that they might repent and find salvation through Him.

When secular idolatry and popular culture is worshiped and celebrated, instead of Jesus Christ’s victory on the cross through His Blood as the expiation for the sins of the whole world, those who believe that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God have a decision to make: either stay and worship man’s word or attend a Bible-believing Church.

While Evangelicals, such as myself, welcome all sinners, including gays, into our churches, we do so because we view the church as a “Hospital for Sinners”, which we all are.

The Good News is that we are all sinners saved by His Grace and, as Christians, we are not perfect…just FORGIVEN.

Liberals, through their “religion of social justice”, view the church as the latest “Shrine in which to Worship Political Correctness”.

The problem with their belief is that God always has the last word.

Remember Sodom and Gomorrah?

Until He Comes,

KJ

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“Gay Marriage”, Christian Americans, and Liberal Intolerance

philrobertsoncartoon9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV)

A remarkable thing has been happening since last FRiday’s Supreme Court Ruling “legalizing” “Gay Marriage.

Christian Americans, from State Attorney Generals to City Court Clerks, have been refusing to issue Marriage Licenses to homosexual couples.

Their Explanation?

They refuse to violate their Christian Faith, and to go against God.

Were Liberals, including the ones on the Supreme Court, who changed the definition of “marriage”, evidently thought that Christians would sublimate God’s Law for Man’s Law.

Evidently, they overestimated themselves.

I first heard Voddie (pronounced “Voadie”) Baucham speak at a Youth-led Sunday Morning Service at the church I was attending. My step-son, who was in the 9th or 10th grade at the time, had been in a weekend-long youth seminar, which Voddie had led.

He came home from the seminar, all excited, telling me that I had to hear this Black Evangelist, that I would really like him.

He was right.

My step-son went on to not only play football and participate in the Weight Lifting Team at his high school (6’1′, 280), he also sang in the school choir and, most importantly, he was the President of the Fellowship of Christian Students and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is now 27 years old, in seminary, and is helping to “plant” a church.

He has made me very proud.

But, I digress…

Voddie was a dynamic speaker, who told the youth of our church that Sunday Morning, that with God “nothing is impossible”.

Today, Voddie is the Pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas.

On the website, “desiringGod.org”, I found the following article…

Likely you’ve heard the claim “gay is the new black.” It’s been repeated over and over in recent years to equate the plight of blacks in America during the Civil Rights era with the new plight of homosexuals today.

While there are overlapping similarities between the two movements, sexual orientation and ethnicity are fundamentally different. Ethnicity is innate and unchangeable in a way that “sexual orientation” is not. Even if someone can be “born gay,” the gospel saves sinners and has the power to change evil desires.

Both movements value constituencies, or preferred minority groups, in order to gain power. Therefore, many Americans see themselves as part of a group instead of one whole. Constituencies preserve the “us against them” mentality and further divide America. This mentality has crept into the church and works against gospel unity.

In this four-minute video, Voddie Baucham explains the similarities between the Civil Rights and so-called Gay Rights Movement, while highlighting the significant differences between ethnicity and sexual orientation. The following is a lightly edited transcript…

“What is the difference between the Civil Rights Movement and the so-called Gay Rights Movement of today? Not a whole lot. Unfortunately, I think there are some things that we accepted philosophically in the Civil Rights Movement that were not based in biblical truth. And those things are being applied in the Gay Rights Movement the exact same way and now we are calling them out.

For example, the idea of seeing people as constituencies and seeing rights as rights for constituencies of people is prominent in both movements. This continued division based on our constituencies and so-called communities is problematic. We’ve embraced a hyphenated understanding of ourselves as opposed to a view that sees us as one people.

The homosexual community is latching onto some of those very concepts. These concepts, by the way, are rooted and grounded in cultural Marxism. That was the goal of Gramscian Marxism. Divide people up into constituencies, and then the way you gain power is by making promises and representing particular constituencies. Now you never give them what you promise, but by creating this idea of constituencies and being the one who is the representative of the constituencies, you gain power and you keep your power to the degree that things don’t get better for your constituency. If things get better for your constituency, you lose your power.

So even when gains are made, you have to downplay those and go looking for other things that are problems. That is the way you keep your power.

The homosexual community has latched onto that approach and has identified itself as a constituency deserving of our attention and pity. They did so intentionally using the AIDS crisis. The direct result is they now have achieved a one-to-one correlation that we are finding it very hard to move away from.

So are there differences between ethnicity and so-called sexual orientation? Absolutely there are. Ethnicity is innate and unchangeable. So-called sexual orientation is not innate and is changeable. We know this. First Corinthians 6 is two-thousand-year-old evidence that people can stop being gay. So we know that it is neither innate, nor is it unchangeable. There are huge differences between the two. However, if all you are doing is using the language of the culture and the idea of people as constituencies, then you end up right where we are, and it is hard to stop that train.”

BOOM.

I believe the position that America finds itself in, with an all-out push to minimize the voice of Christian Americans in our nation, is a result of a lack of moral guidance from generations before. The Bible tells us to lead children in the ways in which they should go. As humans, we are fallen creatures, who often do not do the right thing. Being good parents is one of those things which God requires of us.

Now, I’m not saying that homosexuality is the result of failed parenting. As most of you are aware, homosexuality can have several causes. In college, when I took the class, “The Sociology of Deviant Behavior”, back in the late seventies, the professors at that time theorized that homosexuality was caused by any number of social and psychological causes. Whether it be a dominant mother, an effeminate father, or some sort of deep shock to the system when the individual is young, they theorized that homosexuality could come from a myriad of experiences in each individual’s life.

The only thing that I can say for certain is that it is not a biological predisposition.

Why do I say that?

The reason for my comment, is the fact that scientists have tried to identify a gene or some genetic marker that causes homosexuality. And, as of today , in 2015, they have been stymied in their attempts to find a biological cause for homosexuality.

In recent years. Liberals have pushed homosexuality as normal sexual behavior. They have featured it on television shows, in movies, books, and encouraged mass demonstrations of it, in public, if you will, as the late Professional Wrestler, Dusty Rhodes, used to say.

However, try as they may, using Democrat-heavy push polls and a Liberal-Majority Supreme Court, who decided to “legislate”, instead of being judicious,  the majority of Americans remain against Gay Marriage, as demonstrated in the last few years by popular vote, and the reaction out here in Realityville, to Friday’s Ruling, “legalizing” Gay Marriage.

In confrontations with homosexuals,, concerning their behavior, our opposition to their sexual lifestyle, as Christians, is based on Christian concern and compassion for their very souls.

However, what gets in the way of Christians’ efforts to reach out to homosexuals, is the fact that God gave us all free will.

And yes, if you are homosexual and reading this, it is your right as an American and as a human being to exercise the free will which the Lord gave you, when he made you. However, do not expect him to approve of your sin, or expect me as a Christian American, to give you free license to engage in your sexual sin.

Because, you see, God gave me free will as well, and being American born, I have the Constitutional Right to speak my mind…in the street, behind a pulpit, or in the voting booth.

I don’t hate you. As an acquaintance or if  you area family member, I love you. I will pray for you. I will work with you. I will invite you inside my home. I will be your friend.

However, I will, out of Christian Love, tell you straight to your face that what you are engaging in, is wrong.

The bottom line, from a Christian’s Point-of-View, is the fact that confronting the sinner is not an act of hatred, it’s an act of Christian Concern.

If you are an American Liberal, one of the 23 percent of our population who believe that political ideology, do not attempt to tell me that my ideas about traditional marriage and about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior, are wrong.

Someone possessing a higher pay grade than you, is Whom I listen to.

And, He left me a guide to make sure that I get it right.

Until He Comes,

KJ

 

The War Against Christianity: Onward Christian Soldiers

Washington and soldierJust when I think that this Administration can not possibly come up with another way to attack the faith of 78% of the citizens it is supposed to be protecting and serving, I find myself slack-jawed in a state of astonishment.

Recently, Administration officials met with Mikey Weinstein, a bitter little individual, who heads up the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation”.

Per discoverthenetworks.org:

Established in 2006, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) describes itself as “a watchdog group” that is “dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled …” The organization’s primary objective is to eradicate the religious bias and “coercion” that it deems prevalent among high-ranking Christian members of the U.S. military. Toward that end, MRFF functions as “a clearinghouse for violations reported by military and civilian personnel,” offering “complete anonymity” to all complainants.

Headed by retired Air Force lawyer Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, MRFF declares: “At a time when the United States is encouraging greater religious freedom in Muslim nations, it is imperative [sic] upon America to show by example that religious pluralism is a viable and preferred option. Any sign of hypocrisy in United States policy … toward the free exercise of religion within the military makes it more difficult to convince others to follow our nation’s chosen path.”

In December 2006, MRFF issued a “Compliance Report on the Pervasive Violations of the United States Constitutional Religious Freedoms of Military Personnel.” “Military and civilian personnel,” says this document, “are subjected to blatant and unlawful displays of religiosity at mandatory formations, religious bias, and illegal proselytizing by their peers and superiors alike.” The report identifies “pervasive violations of United States Constitutional religious freedoms of military personnel” in five major areas:

(a) Blatant displays of religious symbolism on military garb.

(b) Placement of a biblical quotation above the door of the Air and Space Basic Course classroom.

(c) Illegal use of official military e-mail accounts to send e-mails containing religious rhetoric.

(d) Attempts by missionary organizations to train active-duty military personnel to evangelize their subordinates and peers.

(e) Military leadership openly discussing their commitment to bring religion into the military.

Notwithstanding the disclaimer, MRFF states: “[S]erious violations were committed by prominent figures featured on the organization’s ten-minute promotional video. … [S]everal members of military leadership appear in the video, dressed in full uniform openly discussing their personal connection to Jesus and how they make this connection part of the work they do in their professional capacity each day. {They] state that, among other things, with the help of Christian Embassy, they hold bible studies while on duty in the workplace, many times in their offices.”

Ohhhh….how horrible. Why…morality and ethical behavior may break out at any moment!!! 

The non-military Liberal Bureaucrats, who are in charge of our fighting men and women, met with this schmuck on April 23rd about a policy called “Air Force Culture, Air Force Standards,” published on Aug. 7, 2012.

Section 2.11 of the policy requires “government neutrality regarding religion.”

“Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion,” the regulation states.

Military leaders were admonished not to use their position to “promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion.”

The Pentagon confirmed to Fox News that Christian evangelism is against regulations.

“Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense, LCDR Nate Christensen said in a written statement. He declined to say if any chaplains or service members had been prosecuted for such an offense.

“Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome in specific cases,” he said.

Ron Crews, the executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, warns that the Air Force policy would “significantly impact the religious liberties of Air Force personnel.”

“Saying that a service member cannot speak of his faith is like telling a service member he cannot talk about his spouse or children,” Crews said. “I do not think the Air Force wants to ban personnel from protected religious speech, and I certainly hope that it is willing to listen to the numerous individuals and groups who protect military religious liberty without demonizing service members.”

Yesterday, Former Alaskan Governor, and great American Christian, Sarah Palin, issued the following statement on Facebook about this idiocy:

President Barack Obama had better clear this up today, right now. Surely he is just allowing his handlers to throw up this kind of ridiculous, amoral, un-American trial balloon. I call on Obama to address this immediately with the American public, clear it up, and renounce these reports as the nonsense they surely in God’s name must be.

As of this post, Obama and the rest of his feckless Administration ain’t said a mumblin’ word.

As with the abolishing of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, Obama is using our Best and Brightest as lab rats for another one of his social experiments.

Obama seeks the elimination of Christianity from the military and, eventually, from our daily lives, as well. Obama favors another religion over the religion of our Founders.

Now, I know some of you will claim that he is just being sensitive to other religions. However, Jewish Americans have worked and served side by side with Christian Americans since the birth of our nation. They are respectful of our faith, and we are respectful of theirs. 

Nope. This initiative, as with the Administration’s reluctance to call the perpetrators of the New Boston Massacre what they are, Muslim Terrorists, is another case of the Manchurian President and his minions bending over backwards to appease the adherents of “the religion of peace” who might be in our military.

You know…like Major Nidal Hassan, who killed all those innocent Americans at Ft. Hood in that senseless act of “workplace violence”.

And, our course, this Administration has placed a Mosque area in the Pentagon, so the Muslims working there have an area where they can go to say their daily prayers.

Can you say “double standard”, boys and girls? I knew that you could.

What is it about Christianity that this Administration is so opposed to?

The American clergyman and author, Phillip Brooks, once said:

Christianity helps us face the music even when we don’t like the tune.

And, without America’s Moral Compass of Christianity in the way, Obama will have free reign to “radically change” the shining city on a hill”.

I pray that he has underestimated the resolve of the Believers among our Fighting Men and Women…the Best in the World! 

Onward, Christian Soldiers

Marching as to war.

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Please take a moment out of your busy day to pray for our Fighting Men and Women, their families, and our veterans.  And, thank God that you live in the greatest country on the face of the Earth.

God bless.

Until He Comes,

KJ