Asbury Seedbed just published an article of mine, “Why the United Methodist Church Needs a Catechism.”
They’re also giving you an opportunity to win a free Echo catechism set. See terms for the giveaway at the bottom of the article.
Enjoy! I’d love to hear your thoughts here.
A recent article in Relevant Magazine, Why I am (Still) a Christian, and a recent blog post by Chad Brooks, Why I became Methodist, have inspired me.
The Relevant Magazine article is beautiful. It speaks well for my experience. Go read it before you finish this.
Chad’s post about Methodism is right on, too. These are things I love about the Methodist tradition.
The two articles got me wondering why I’m still a Methodist.
I love Methodist theology – at least the true, Wesleyan core of it.
But that’s not why I’m still a Methodist. I could keep my most important beliefs in several other (non)-denominations. In fact, I don’t know that the UMC’s theology is my best fit, as it has softened or entirely caved on some pieces of real Wesleyan belief.
I love Methodist history. I think the early Methodist movement was one of the greatest movements of evangelism and outreach since the primitive church.
But that’s not why I’m still a Methodist. Some have even suggested that other churches are learning from our history while we have forgotten it. I could embrace the early Methodist missional impulse just as well in another (non)-denomination.
I don’t love Methodist polity. You’ve probably picked up on that by now. But I will approve, support, and maintain it unless I have proper opportunity to encourage some changes. And I do believe there are some good things about it. A pastor can make difficult decisions or preach a hard, prophetic word, and the congregation can’t hold a vote afterward to send him/her packing.
But that’s not why I’m still a Methodist.
There are 3 major reasons I’m still a Methodist…
1. The Methodist Connection and Pastoral Ministry
I received a call a few months ago from a mother in another state. She goes to 1st UMC where she lives. I serve at 1st UMC Lexington. Her son had just been imprisoned, and she was hoping someone could visit him. I was able to visit him that week.
I was also able to call a friend at the family’s home church and tell him what was going on. The family had been inactive for a while, and my friend was able to visit with them that same week. They have since re-engaged in the church.
A month later, the young man I had met in jail was released. He moved back to his home state, but to a different town. A relatively small, rural one. He called and asked if I knew any good pastors in the area. He didn’t just want to walk in cold without an introduction. In 30 minutes’ time, I was able to give him the name of the local Methodist pastor, while a friend who knew the pastor called the church to tell them about this young man seeking a church.
The Methodist connection amazes me. Someone can move into a rural town in another state, and I can make a personal introduction to a recommended pastor within 30 minutes. A family that has disappeared from the church can have a crisis, and within hours, I can have a trusted friend on their doorstep. I’ve seen that Methodist system work time after time, and I’m continually amazed by it. As I have understood it, few others have this sort of connection.
2. The Methodist Connection and Revival
I agree with my friend Bill Arnold, who says, “If revival is going to come in America, the Methodists have the best shot.” Because when we catch fire in one place, our connection makes it possible for that fire to spread well.
I don’t know if that will truly happen. The most visible point of our connection – General Conference – sure didn’t give anyone hope for revival this year. But we have a better shot at fire spreading than those who are unconnected have.
3. UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is a shining star within the major Methodist bureaucracy. When disaster strikes anywhere around the globe, they are among the first responders. Charitywatch.org gives them an A rating for their use of funds. And they provide opportunity for me to be on the ground, or get others on the ground, for long-term relief and development work as soon as it would be helpful and appropriate.
For all the reasons I love the Methodist Church, and for all the frustrations I have with it, I think these are the biggest reasons I am still a Methodist.
For those of you who are Methodists, why are you still a Methodist?
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In my last post, I listed 4 questions I think you should ask and be asked every week. I gave some thoughts about what the first two mean. Here are some notes on the second two.
I hope you’ll see in these a spirit of prayer and support, not a time of guilt and condemnation. We know that everyone is at different places in their walk, and we don’t expect that anyone has everything just right. Our intent is to help each person, wherever he/she is, to continue growing in faith.
3 – How have you availed yourself of the means of grace?
My group has changed this to, “What Christian practices have you kept this week?” because they understand it a bit better. I think we may be losing something, though, by not always talking about these as means of God’s grace.
Either way, the intent is the same: we believe God transforms us through particular means of grace. If so, we want to encourage each other to participate in these.
Are you receiving the Lord’s Supper? Praying? Searching the Scriptures? Fasting? Participating in public worship? I believe all of these practices have the ability to transform you. For my Methodist friends, John Wesley specifically listed the first three as the “chief means of grace.” And he spoke strongly about the importance of fasting and attending the church service (regardless of how you feel about the church).
When I’m not doing well, I often don’t even realize it until my group asks me about these. There have been times that I have begun to share by describing some turmoil or restlessness or apathy in my soul. Then I get to this question and realize it may be because I haven’t availed myself of hardly any means of grace.
I’ve found that when people are keeping means of grace in their lives, they tend to be doing well, even if the circumstances around them aren’t great.
Again, the goal isn’t a spirit of judgment or shaming people. The spirit is of mutual encouragement.
4 – How can we as a group best pray for and support you?
This is pretty obvious. It also gets to the core of what we’re trying to do in these groups. They are about spiritual support.
The group’s goal is not problem-solving or advice-giving. There may be occasions where that’s appropriate, but the main goal as a group is to listen, pray and support.
I recently spoke with someone who attends a daily Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He said it’s important for him to be there every day because they ask how he’s doing and encourage him to keep going. They realize how dangerous alcoholism is, and they fight it daily by meeting to ask each other if they’re still on track.
In some sense, Christianity is a lifelong recovery plan. We realize how dangerous the devil’s schemes are and how easily sin entangles. As part of our fight against that, we meet with each other as a chance to share how our souls are, with opportunity to mourn or celebrate with each other.
We meet to discuss celebrations or struggles with good and evil, and to encourage each other to press on.
We meet to encourage each other in things like prayer, Scripture reading, and fasting, and to hear how those practices are transforming others.
And finally, we meet to pray for each other. Because we need it.
I hope you’ll consider finding a place to ask and be asked these questions weekly. I think it will do great things for your soul. If you have questions or thoughts, please let me know.
