Whither Goes the Methodist Church?

As I have continued to read information on the wrap-up of General Conference and Annual Conference, some disturbing facts and trends continue to make themselves known. Our denomination appears to be in the middle of a shift. We are floundering about in the midst of a storm, and our anchor appears to be slipping. Let me give you a few examples.

First, the unity statement at General Conference. After a resounding vote affirming marriage as being between one man and one woman, General Conference delegates approved a resolution affirming our unity as one body. The purpose of the resolution was to demonstrate to the more liberal members of our denomination that Christ's love was for all. However, it came about as another statement of tolerance and left people feeling that all are welcome in the Methodist Church, regardless of doctrine or belief. That should not be the case. We are called to love the sinner, but hate the sin. If we start excusing sin in an effort to not hurt the feelings of the sinner, then we have failed the church and our Lord.

Second, according to Wesley Putnam (link), we have lost the equivalent of a 200-member church every single day for the past 30 years. Every time one of our liberal brethren put forth a protest or a doctrine contrary to those in the articles of religion in the Book of Discipline, we lose members. Every time the media reports that our denomination is struggling with the homosexual agenda and the ordination and appointment of homosexual pastors, we lose members. Every time our denomination boards issue statements opposing war in Iraq, efforts to reform welfare and immigration, and take up other liberal political causes, we lose members. However, statistics show that the majority of our denomination are conservative in religion and politics. So what is the problem? It is two-fold -- a lack of publicity over the true beliefs of the church, and a blowing in the wind by our leaders in the church. If we do not come out and take a strong stand in favor of biblical doctrines and in support of the articles of religion in our Book of Discipline, we will continue to see a decrease in membership in our denomination. Who wants to join a church that doesn't know where it is going and doesn't know what it believes in? While I don't agree with everything the Southern Baptists do, I do admire their steadfast adherence to the Gospel of Christ, in spite of cultural pressure to change.