Encouraging News

The news reports came down that were very encouraging.  They met in St. Louis on February 23-26, 2019 in a special session to address the issue of human sexuality.  In this session, the United Methodist Church leaders voted to reject the One Church Plan which would have eased the restrictions on gay clergy and same sex marriages.  The delegates rejected that plan by a vote of 438-384 thus keep the official stand of the church against gay clergy being ordained and same sex marriage.  The General Session of the United Methodist Church will be meeting in May of 2020.

I was encouraged by this vote by the group.  A middle of the road plan was also rejected that would have let individual churches make their own decision on this issue.  It was good to see that there were some who stood firm.  I attended seminary class with a United Methodist pastor who was trying to stem the tide of liberalism in the Methodist Church.  He was praying much and working hard with others who were trying to hold the line on clear biblical issues.

I was troubled in recent years to read reports of individual churches in that movement ordain gay clergy and in some cases marry same sex couples.  It remains to be seen what the long term outcome of this issue will be.  I was astonished that 384 delegates would stand against a clear biblical issue.  The report I read said the vote was carried by delegates from Indonesia and the Philippines.  This report said over 60% of the delegates from the U.S. were opposed to holding the line and thus in favor of same sex marriage and gay clergy.

I hope that the United Methodist Church can turn things around in that movement and my friend be successful in drawing them back to the clear teachings of Scripture.  However, there is a time that the biblical admonition given in 2 Corinthians 6:17 has to be followed, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord”….

I am thankful that our church clearly stands with the Bible on these issues.  Society does not determine what we believe and practice, the Word of God does.  Nothing is clearer in the Word of God than that marriage is between a woman and man.  Nothing could be clearer that sexual activity apart from that marriage union between one man and one woman is sinful and wrong.  Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, etc. are all perversions of God’s plan and thus sinful and wrong in the eyes of God.  Thank God we have likeminded people in our that stand on the Word of God!!