New Methodist High Court Shifts Left

paulbrown »

Thu May 01, 2008 5:55 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

chris333, i do not have difficulty with the Catholic Church, nor do I have a problem with so-called "Bible-believing" churches - I have dear friends and family who are members of both. My problem is when any Christian, regardless of denominational affiliation, has the arrogance to not only presume preeminence within the body of Christ but actively seek to convert other Christians from their traditions. There is a difference between seeing yourself as "the fullness of truth" and actively engaging in the disrespectful practice of poaching members from another Christian communion. And hopefully you recognize a difference between the sect movements of the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons and the mainline Protestant churches...

We should be spending less time tearing each other down and arguing over who is right, and more time praying for one another - and loving one another, that one day we all "may be one," and spend more time working together to meet the enormous spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the world around us.

New Methodist High Court Shifts Left

paulbrown »

Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:56 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

additionally, the way to either get someone to either join your church (for catholics, to heal the divisions of the body of Christ) or to get someone to come out of a church you think is "apostate" or "a synagogue of Satan" is to embody the life and teachings of Jesus, who called us to love not only our fellow Christians ("that they may be one"), but our enemies as well. Remember, Jesus saved his harshest words for the religious conservatives of the day.

New Methodist High Court Shifts Left

paulbrown »

Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:44 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 3

msnchris70, your shameless attempt to poach fellow Christians from their church is sickening. If perhaps you were more informed, you would realize that the Catholic Church recognizes the United Methodist Church as a communion where the spirit of Christ is real, present and active. The World Methodist Council also recently joined the Catholic Church and Lutheran communion in a statement affirming the doctrine of justification. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the same body. No true Catholic, including the current pope, would encourage Methodists who love Jesus and are active in their local church to abandon their tradition for Rome. Shame on you.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

paulbrown »

Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:16 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

This is a ridiculously biased and astoundingly oversimplified article that does not do justice to the theological positions of either Christian tradition. Young completely ignores not only the position of Roman Catholic theology as wholly dependent on grace, but on Protestantism's necessary use of tradition in interpreting the Bible.

No Future for Methodists Unless Change Occurs, Say Leaders

paulbrown »

Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:46 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

Here is a quote from my Old Testament professor at Duke Divinity School regarding Scripture journals we wrote that reflects to some small degree the school's commitment to the Bible as the Word of God; however, it is unlikely that any explanation will be sufficient for those who wish to attack and divide the church.

"Previous generations of seminary graduates will likely remember their Old Testament coursework as more historical-critical in orientation, perhaps even narrowly focused on the reconstructed sources “JEDP.” This scripture journal assignment grew out of a substantially altered pedagogical model, in which the goal is to interpret the Old Testament in its canonical form as Christian scripture. " http://www.divinity.duke.edu/news/spotlight/20080226oldtestament

From the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church:
Article IV of the Confession of Faith
We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.

Article V of the Articles of Religion
The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church.

No Future for Methodists Unless Change Occurs, Say Leaders

paulbrown »

Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:36 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

doc411, your comments are not only hateful and inflammatory, they are also not based in fact. I attend a UM seminary, and the professors there certainly advocate Christian orthodoxy - including the Bible as the Word of God. Instead of spending your time attacking Methodists as ignorant and apostate, you could take time to pray for unity in the Church of Christ.

No Future for Methodists Unless Change Occurs, Say Leaders

paulbrown »

Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:29 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 4

First, there is "a little bit of trash" in every church. Anyone who wants to turn up their nose and pretend like their church is full of perfect people is a liar. Everyone sins, everyone is in need of grace - and that is what the church is, a place for ALL kinds of sinners to join together in a loving, forgiving community that seeks to build each other up in holiness and good works as followers of Jesus.

Second, in reference to your quotation of "depart from me," you need to take a look at Mark 9:38-41, where Jesus says "whoever is not against us is for us." The point is, it is not any of our jobs to judge one another - since, again, we are ALL sinners - in fact, God will do the judging and is the only one who knows people's true love and intentions. Also take a look at Matt 13:24-29 where Jesus affirms that it is God alone who will separate the faithful from the wicked at the final judgment.

Finally, in reference to your comments about the United Methodist Church, it must be said that the church continues to maintain Christian orthodoxy, including affirmation of Scripture as the Word of God, and of the historic ecumenical Creeds. For more on official Methodist doctrine, please go to http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1648. Your "advice" to turn and run from the body of Christ where God has placed millions of souls and where God's Holy Spirit continues to work only has served to splinter the Church into 40,000 denominations.

I don't know a single church where every single member agrees on 100% of what the Bible says - that is why we have people leave churches left and right - we all think we are right! Instead, God calls us to a spirit of humility and grace, to seek His guidance in our interpretation of Scripture, and to "show tolerance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; for there is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:2-6).

Rather than attacking brothers and sisters in the Methodist Church, ask God for a spirit of unity, love, and patience - and pray for us all to receive wisdom as we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

No Future for Methodists Unless Change Occurs, Say Leaders

paulbrown »

Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:48 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 5

As a United Methodist, I take offense at the accusations of "apostasy" and "knee-jerk, touchy-feely social doctrine" that any "right-thinking" Christian should abandon. Not only is it disturbing to see fellow disciples of Christ reveling in the decline of one part of the universal church, but it reveals biblical ignorance on the part of many who are supposedly "Bible-believing."
While no church is perfect, many within the UMC stand for Christian orthodoxy - which is centered on the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Jesus Christ of the Bible saved his harshest words for the "religious" people of his day, preferring instead to spend his time with the marginalized of society. Open hearts means that Methodists seek to reflect this Christian principle by recognizing that we are all sinners in need of grace. Jesus also was concerned not only with spiritual but with physical needs (what does it profit to say "be filled" and send someone away hungry?) and so Methodists are often on the front lines with soup kitchens, clothing drives, care for immigrants, and humanitarian relief.
Open minds means that while we are rooted in our Wesleyan tradition, we are not afraid to ask difficult questions, encourage debate, and allow for differences of opinion. Any church that glories in being "closed-minded" risks legalism and the self-righteous piety of the Pharisees just as much as "open minds" risks relativism and compromise.
All that being said, I hope that instead of criticizing, you take the time to actually pray - not only for the Methodist church - but for the whole body of Christ to be strengthened and unified in its mission to reach the spiritual and physical needs of the world!

Clinton's 'Gutsy' Church Appearance Softens Evangelicals

paulbrown »

Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:19 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

I call her a sister in Christ based on her own confession. I do not know her heart, but I take people at their profession, only God can judge her soul. If you care to actually learn more about Hillary Clinton's faith in Christ you can read this excellent article found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/07/us/politics/07clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
If God only let people into heaven who were perfect, nobody would make it in. It is all about grace. I believe (based on her testimony) that Hillary is trying to help her neighbor, and while she holds some views that are opposite from mine, that does not make me not love her. The tone on this comment section has been (mostly) anything but loving and that was all I was trying to point out.
Yes, physical needs are only part of our duty as Christians, and spiritual needs are tantamount. But spiritual salvation is the duty of Christians and missionaries in those countries. As the United States we can help to alleviate some of their physical needs. Jesus Christ was concerned with BOTH physical and spiritual needs. He never set conditions for the ones he healed, he simply he healed them because he loved them. As we seek to be like Christ, so should we seek to heal our neighbor spiritually and physically. But a sick person is much more likely to hear the Gospel if you show you care about their physical needs and you aren't just hitting them over the head with a Bible. After all, Jesus said that if you say to a hungry naked person: be clothed and be filled, but didnt give them the coat off your own back then you have neglected God's command.
My plea with all of you is that you will not only love these people in Africa with these awful illnesses (yes sometimes because of choice--but have you never made bad choices? God forgives and gives second chances!!), but also that you will love Hillary Clinton, a woman I count as a saved-by-grace sister in Christ.

Clinton's 'Gutsy' Church Appearance Softens Evangelicals

paulbrown »

Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:23 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

Hillary Clinton is not running to be your pastor. You do not have to agree with all her views. She has reasons for supporting abortion (i.e., to help prevent women dying from seeking unsafe abortions) that you may disagree with, but whether or not she is elected, this position on AIDS and malaria is admirable and something that we can stand together as Christians on. As evangelicals, our emphasis should be on grace. None of us are perfect. Not Hillary, you, or me. The message of saving peoples lives is a message from God, NOT from Satan.
End AIDS, malaria, AND abortion.

Clinton's 'Gutsy' Church Appearance Softens Evangelicals

paulbrown »

Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:59 am Agree: 9   Disagree: 6

I am amazed at the amount of hatred that is present in any Christian discussion of Hillary Clinton. Certainly she has policies that I disagree with, but she is a fellow human being, a sister in Christ, and someone who is trying to help her fellow humankind (particularly here, with AIDS). What has she done that has made all of you hate her so?
Chica and Wilderness, you ask what faith she hails from? She is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, my own denomination, and has always been committed to translating the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into love of neighbor by reaching out to the "least of these." She has been a faithful attender of church and is well articulate in her faith, which she has said has been her source of strength through the trials in her own marriage and being constantly scrutinized by people like you.
Again, you may not agree with her on many things. But helping to find a cure to AIDS and malaria to men, women and children who are dying in Africa? If all we can do is criticize her for that what kind of Christians are we? It is an inconsistent stance for you to say you are pro-life and not work toward saving the lives of millions of fellow human beings. They will know we are Christians by our love. With all the grace and love that has been given to us despite our failures in Jesus Christ, can we not look at others through the eyes of love as well? Even toward Hillary Clinton? I pray that you will be able to. God bless.