UM Council of Bishops - Silence is Deafening

In the last few days the Dumbarton UM Church in Washington, DC proudly proclaimed that they would conduct gay marriages since the local law had recently been changed to allow such marriages. This is the latest in a series of challenges to our connectional system where active and retired pastors in New England, in California, and now in Washington DC (there may be others) have publicly announced their intention. On a number of occasions these pastors have gone through with the wedding ceremonies. And yes, the local bishops dutifully said that such actions would force them to investigate and take potential action according to the discipline. The Book of Discipline for United Methodists clearly states that such civil disobedience is a chargeable offense that can result in the loss of clergy credentials. But, NO, these acts of civil disobedience, where clergy have gone through with their promise to conduct the weddings, have not met with church trials. Some of the clergy thought that they might duck the provisions of the Book of Discipline by conducting the ceremonies off-site from the church itself. The BOD doesn't say that location is the key to make this a chargeable offense. So my question is this...the Council of Bishops is very quick to speak out on all kinds of things in the political and spiritual realm as actions of justice ministries like gambling, the war, health care, and others. But where is their voice now when United Methodists need to hear a loud, "Thus Saith the Lord?" Perhaps many of them aren't sure what God says about such things or perhaps they don't like what God has clearly said on the issue of gays and gay lifestyle. The Lord has clearly spoken and so have United Methodists over several General Conference sessions (even if the margins were not large...General Conference United Methodists did speak). The Judicial Council has spoken clearly as well. United Methodists have spoken and have set a standard for chargable offenses that says that clergy who conduct such marriages, active or retired should expect to have to surrender their clergy credentials for the United Methodist Church and should not expect to get to pastor a UM Congregation. But the Council of Bishops is sadly and not unexpectedly silent. You see there is some kind of unspoken rule of not challenging or questioning fellow Bishops on how to discipline their annual conference. Perhaps it is a mutual protection society or just mutual respect. But mutual respect should not stop a large number of Bishops from quickly speaking up and calling for swift action against civil disobedience that surely threatens the connection that is United Methodism. Perhaps they do not actually believe that such actions threaten the connection because they are hoping that the sheer number of such stories will cause a change in the policy itself...in the Book of Discipline itslef. But just as the Democrats have misread the Tea Party phenomenon, so the Council of Bishops has misjudged what this will ultimately mean. Annual Conferences are without excuse and cannot ignore the Book of Discipline even if they disregard the Scripture itself. If individual Bishops cannot find the backbone or will to conduct church trials, no matter how many they may have to conduct (or how expensive it would be to conduct that large a number), then they should resign and hand over their leadership to those who will uphold the Book of Discipline (or at least recuse themselves from the trial). If the elders of such annual conferences will not uphold the Book of Discipline and try and convict their peers then perhaps they too should recuse themselves or resign). And if the United Methodist Council of Bishops cannot or will not speak out on such matters maybe they should just be silent and not speak out on anything because they will have forfeited their God given authority over the Church that they swore in the ordination vows to uphold the law of the Church. I have spoken to Bishop Ough on such matters over the last two years and begged him to speak out to other Bishops as a moderate voice. Perhaps he is not such a moderate voice. He speaks out against gambling. I beg him to speak out now and give the Council of Bishops the focus on this matter that it needs. United Methodists all around the world are watching. General Conference needs to forefully address such civil disobedience as well as the lack of willingness of the presiding Bishops to conduct Church discipline. The Anglican/Episcopal Church has gone down this path and it has meant much hurt. If the Council of Bishops is to be the body of Spiritual Leaders that they have been set apart to be then they must speak out now...soon. We have an ethical dilemma and some are seeking to redefine whata an ethical clergy person or Bishop should do. There is only one choice. Speak out and try and convict those who break our Discipline.

Haitian Voodoo Priests Complain

There was an article online about the Chief priest of Voodoo complaining about Christians and trying to get people to be more understanding of their worship practices. This man was complaining about being misunderstood. They worship one God. They believe in many of the same things as the Roman Catholic Church. But they cast spells, call on spirits to bless and curse people, and practice elements of African animistic religion as a part of their historic belief system. In the article different "voodoo priests" and "preistesses" talked about invoking different spirits to accomplish good things. Some of them admitted that there were those who also practice dark arts as well. The article went on to say that some voodoo prophets had foretold the earthquake as a judgment from their god a few months earlier. These arguments parallel the arguments of Wiccans and Druids in our own western culture. A "neo-pagan" stone circle was recently erected at the Air Force Academy in Colorado to provide a "worship space" for wiccans, druids, and other neo-pagan peoples. These people and groups want us to believe that these beliefs are just a variation on a theme and that they just worship a god who is different than that of the Christian but also could as easily be the same god under a different name...so why the offense. Their credo of in so far as you harm no one do as you will is a restatement of no harm no foul...to each his own. Can't we all just be friends and respect each others beliefs?
Well, no all things and belief systems are not the same. And just because a people or group says that they are worshipping the one god does not make it the same as our Christian God anymore than allah is the same as our God. The difference is in what each person believes about who Jesus Christ is and whether they accept him as Lord and Savior. Do they see themselves as sinners in need of a savior or as pretty good people doing the best that they can? What we believe about Jesus and how we view and practice obedience to the scripture as God's truth and authority for our lives is the difference between faith and saving faith. So when the early voodoo practicioners made their prayer to their god (as differentiated from the white man's christian god)and made sacrifices and offerings as a part of a bargain they were really making a bargain with the devil. That is a part of the unfortunate truth, that when one is not dealing with the One Real and True God (the Great I Am) in prayer and in worship then (no matter what or who you call him) you are really dealing with the devil as the ultimate father of lies and deceit. You might call this god or goddess, allah, buddah, vishnu (or one of a million other hindu gods), thor, diana, cupid, baal, asherah, or a host of other names that have been worshipped. But from the Christian Scriptural perspective you are worshipping an idol and the power behind all of these little "g" gods is satan or the devil. So when wiccans say they are not devil worshippers really they can really believe this. The fact that they believe that they are not and say that they are not devil worshippers is not really important or valid spiritually from a Christian prespective. The haitian voodoo high priest can really believe that everybody should just understand and adjust...that their worship is just as legitimate. After all haven't they also been "good catholics" all these years as well? The fact that they added catholic beliefs to fit in with the Roman Catholic church but then held on to their animistic african religion meant that they were not really in tune with orthodox catholic beliefs at all. We cannot have it all and just a little of this religion and a little of that. They do have a right to worship and believe any of these things because God has given us all free will. But God gives us that "right" and the end result is death, hell and a burning lake in final judgment for those who choose poorly and fail to turn to Him. God does have mercy and He does understand our hearts. What is in a name? The Bible says that there is power in a name and that God is a jealous God not willing to share His power and glory with an idol. All others are idols including allah...even if billions believe. God has shown mercy by coming to earth as Jesus, our Emmanuel; He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that all of these people who worship false idols can be saved. True believers need to reach out in compassion and in love, preaching the real good news of the Gospel. We need to pray for these Haitian voodoo preists and priestesses (as well as the neo-pagans who got the stone circle erected at the Air Force Academy); that their hearts and minds would be opened from the lie that they have believed. Their minds are clouded by the father of lies, the devil. And we are called by God to share the Good News about Jesus, not so that they can add Jesus to their list of gods but so they can accept Him and Him alone...nothing else will do.

Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Finance

Well, The Supreme Court did it, they made a decision that irritated President Obama because he sees allowing Corporations to give to political issues and candidates as bad for America. But perhaps their decision is just a case of what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. By limiting corporations from giving, President Obama says that this limits special interest money from tainting politics and politicians. That is pretty funny because he allows and rejoices in the influence of organized labors and unions in the political process and uses their thugs to his personal advantage. This decision just levels the playing field and allows both unions and corporations to participate more evenly. It does not allow the election process to be bought. By allowing these donations it will partly counterbalance other union efforts.Let me just ask this simple question...if corporations giving into the political process taints things and opens the doors for corruption then how does using organized labor, their dollars, their organization and their message differ? Organized labor and unions, as they exist today, are not just a bunch of individuals speaking out with freedom of speech. Labor Unions are organizations and are just the opposite side of the same coin of corporations. Labor is about big money. If one is to purify politics from outside influence then one would have to eliminate the political influence of unions/labor, PACs, the AARP, the NRA, organizations, other lobbyists, and things like Newspaper endorsements. All of these groups seek influence and the ability to pressure politicians into certain favorable decisions as well as to get particular candidates elected.
Now that the Supreme Court has made this "historic decision" there are those calling on Congress to change the law to limit corporations again. But perhaps most importantly maybe this decision will move the congress to clarify and place proper limits in a number of places...but that would just be wishful thinking as if congress would do something right that would step away from the politics of power and influence to a "we the people" place. If these politicians are really after a political process free from corruption then they should include legislation that limits the power and ability of other groups as well to influence the process, but they should also place mandatory term limits upon politicians because it has become increasingly clear that the longer a politician is in office the more their concerns are around getting re-elected and retaining their "precious power". But I suspect that they are not really interested in taking the the influence or corruption out of politics.
The reach and influence of a growing labor movement are not really in America's best interest. When you look at the sweetheart deals being given to labor in place after place you can see that they have a political agenda that is different from that of their constituents...they have become a corporation interested in their own best interests and power. There was a time when labor unions were helpful in our nation...now they just stand in the way of firing incompetent people and they enrich the labor boss as CEO. Perhaps it is time for light to shine into the darkness and the Supreme Court decision makes for a good conversation starter. Obama's bed has gotten rather crowded with special interests and "community organization groups" like ACORN and he has allowed so much influence and promised so much that his judgment is clouded (if it was ever clear).
So what should believers do? Read, become informed, know the players and the influencers and determine not to lie down with serpents. The Bible tells us to beware of being unequally yoked. Hold your politicians accountable for who they are, who they associate with, as well as how they vote. Beware of politicians with little or no background of success. Ask questions. Seek God. Read the Bible. Know the issues and what is at stake. Pray. Humble yourself and Seek God. Turn from any wicked way. And ask God to heal the land.

Pat Robertson Reflections...Bad Form Pat, Bad Form...

I have been doing some reflection on both what Pat Robertson said about judgment in Haiti as well as the reactions to his words and timing. I believe Pat Robertson is a true man of God and perhaps even a prophet in our times. God has done amazing things through Pat and his ministry. Operation Blessing has helped millions of people, including in Haiti. I would be surprised if Operation Blessing and Pat's ministries weren't already planning a great outreach in Haiti to minister during this disaster. Pat Robertson spoke a truth about a deal that Haitians made long ago with the devil to break free from slavery. The Haitians made that deal long ago and have been reaping the consequences ever since. Sometimes natural disasters have been a form of judgment throughout Biblical history. Generally, they are just natural disasters with bad things happening to the righteous and to the wicked as a "natural" consequence of the fall of the human race in sin. Pat also used the occcasion of Katrina to speak a word about New Orleans...wondering outloud whether the wickedness of New Orleans had helped bring about this devastation. One can wonder...there has always been great wickedness in that city. It is also true that a part of the judgment upon New Orleans was a natural consequence of having and keeping a major city at below sea level so that a tidal surge of any consequence would bring flood and disaster. People build in flood plains, on fault lines, on cliffs and on mountain sides and then wonder why bad things happen...did God do this to punish them for building there...no but God did not stop the disaster either and the consequences are made worse because of the free will of the human race choosing to build in such locations. Pat also spoke out about a possible national judgment at 9/11. That is entirely possible....God does judge nations, communities, families as well as individuals.
At issue with Pat Robertson's observations and pronouncements (even more than their content) is the timing of such pronouncements. The possibility that non-believers would be turned off by his pronouncements to the Good News is always a possibility. But let me clear here...Jeremiah and Ezekial were not listened to either. People (believers and non-believers) were not happy with the timing or words of the early Biblical prophets. The timing on Pat's words could be better served and received (although many would still call him off-base) if they had been a bit later on. Some would consider his words those of a quack religionist, regardless. Most people believe that now is the time for compassion and outreach to Haiti not words of judgment. Satan wants to use this disaster for evil and God wants to use this natural disaster to turn people by the millions to serve and worship Him. God wants His words spoken into this situation...healing words, holiness words, words of peace, but also words of warning. A greater disaster will fall on those in Haiti should they not turn to God in this terrible time. A greater disaster awaits those who merely reject Pat Robertson's words as those of a failing old man who has lost his edge. There is truth in His words but now is not necessarily the time for these specific words. But remember, Pat has been preaching about the judgment to come for those who are outside of faith for decades...not as a threat or in a mean spirit but in the spirit of one who genuinely wants millions to come to Christ. He is a man who has believed for decades that those outside of faith face an eternity in hell. An earthquake is not the greatest disaster...going to hell is. He does not merely wait for tragedies to happen to speak a Word from the Lord. He preaches the same way all through the week. He seeks to call the lost into a personal relationship with God. He consistently preaches, apart from any disaster, that those who make deals with the devil will always have bad consequences. We hear about these pronouncements now because most people don't regularly listen to brother, Pat. He sees himself as called by God to be a watchman on the wall, calling all of us to see in this and other disasters those sinful patterns in our own lives, families, communities, states, and nations that may set us up for disaster and natural consequences and the even greater disaster of a life separated from God. That is the heart of Pat Robertson...I have seen it.
We as fellow believers wish he would not make it harder on us by speaking these words, seemingly out of season. Before we cast a stone at Pat Robertson, maybe we should look at the Old Testament Prophets and see how they were treated when they spoke a thus saith the Lord in the midst of national and natural disasters. The modern world always struggles with the prophet because it doesn't want to hear a, "Thus saith the Lord." Look at Pat's heart and his words when there is not a disaster...they are consistent...he doesn't want people to experience hell nor the greatest natural and supernatural disaster of all...separation from God because of the choices we make as individuals, families, communities, states, countries and the world. Woe, Woe to us if we only look at the timing of his words and not the actual words and urge people that the time is urgent...people are perishing and going to hell in Haiti, in New Orleans, in New York, and in Toledo, Ohio because they reject God.
Now there is the separate issue as to whether God still does judgment in this way. Consider this, friends, in the Book of Revelation, the Bible reminds us that 1/4 of the earth will perish in a single natural/supernatural disaster of judgment before Christ returns triumphant. That is over 1.5 billion dead in a single event or cataclysmic disaster. That will be far, far worse than Haiti or the tsunami in Indonesia a few years ago. The world does not want to believe that a loving God would still work in that ancient and archaic manner any more but the Bible tells us a different story. Peter tells us that since the world will melt away in a fiery storm, what kind of people ought we to be and how should we then live. This is not popular preaching these days but it is Biblical preaching.
So as Captain Hook said to Peter Pan in the movie, Bad form, Peter...bad form...so we may say to Pat Robertson that his timing was not good or how we would do it...but maybe God was also speaking through Pat an uncomfortable truth about an even greater disaster...one that Pat had been preaching about for decades and now looks bad because we do not see it in the bigger context.
I am not willing to cast a stone at Pat Roberston on this one. But I am praying that millions of people around the world would look at "natural disasters" and seek God and turn from their wicked ways, humbling themselves and praying so that God would heal the land. Haiti could use such a healing and so could we. God wants to work in this but so does Satan. Let's not let Satan win on this one. Let's rise up as believers, seek the Lord, proclain His Word faithfully, and seek to turn a dying world to God who has a better way. May God have mercy on us...we all deserve judgment but while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God is rich in mercy...but it also says that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. We know these things as believers...but now is the time to rise up and pitch in to do a "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven thing" for the people of Haiti...for the people of the world ...for God's sake.

Happy New Year...What Will You Make of It?

Well, it is already the 12th of January. I was not sure how the early part of the month would go with the one year anniversary of our daughter, Dawn's death from CML last January 8th. It certainly helped to be together as a family unit with Steven in from Hawaii and Matthew and Kristen in from MO. A number of people reached out to us specifically on that day and others thought about us and prayed for us but didn't want to disturb us. Calls, letters, flowers, texts and facebook messages all played their part in making it easier for us to deal with our loss. Thank you for being there with and for us. I am so thankful for the grace of God in my life and in the life of my family. Each of us had a hard time, together and alone. Busyness helps in some ways. It also keeps us apart from caring for each other as we might. Psalm 90 tells us to get a heart of wisdom in dealing with time. I wish I could tell you that I am always wise with my time. I sometimes fail to say things or do things to make it easier on people that I care about and love. I think that there will be time...there is always another time isn't there? But there are times when that is not true. I know that as a pastor, as a father and as a man. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to, Trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge him and he will make our path straight.
As we face this New Year, each of us needs to gain that heart of wisdom by trusting in the Lord. We can help make this a great year by seeking God and his kingdom first...by trusting in him with our WHOLE hearts...our WHOLE being. Losing our daughter helped me to re-evaluate and take another look at my life and how I do as a God seeker and people lover. We can approach this new year passively as victims of what it might bring us or we can step into it as people who have discovered the secret of living in the now, God moment...as people determined to praise our God, who alone is worthy of praise.
I pray that this year will bring you a great year of "Thy Kingdom Come...Thy Will be done...moments" (and I don't mean our kingdom or will be done but God's). I want to be more wise and more present in the God moment...I want to be faithful. God help me and you too. Blessings in the House.

GoshDawnIt!

Goshdawnit.blogspot.com Is a great blog about the struggle of our daughter Dawn's journey with CML that took her life January 8, 2009. We will remember. We will worship the Lord our God.

Health Care Reform II - Democrats get their 60 votes

Well, It is the beginning of a new week and the Democrats just applied enough pressure to Senator Nelson (Neb), or greased his palm sufficiently, to go along with his other Democrat buddies to vote for this mytery bill. They say it will be good for us. They say it will save lives. They say it will save money...lots of it. They say it will save Medicare. Soon it will go to reconciliation with the House of Representative's plan. Neither conservatives nor left leaning liberals are happy with what they have heard about this mystery bill. So we will see what happens and where this goes. They say they want it finished before Christmas so that President Obama can sign it. The pundits of Fox have called a spade a spade over the weekend calling the Senators and President Obama what they have been in this whole process...liars. Can a good bill come from liars, cheats and from people who use strong arm tactics to get a bill quickly through? That is a great question. I believe that Jesus said something about building a house on a foundation of sand versus on the rock.
I say it again, health care needs to be reformed. The Republicans have some good ideas on these matters. But they have been shut out. The Democrats have committed themselves to do this even if it costs them in the coming election cycle. The liberal Democrats refuse to listen to the people and do not really believe that the common people know what is best for them. We obviously need the intellectual elite to show us the way (sarcasm dripping here). Ha, Ha. It is a shame that this is the attitude of the Democrats. I don't think so. But the Republicans also need to be careful. They are not on the side of right just because they are Republicans. If a politician or a person chooses to do right and then acts on it they can be right and perhaps even righteous whether they are republican or democrat. I don't see this in the current set of politicians much. We are being threatened and cajoled into thinking that if this doesn't get done now it won't get done in this generation. Both the President and others are using this hurry up mantra. The Democrats say it is the Republicans that are trying to frighten and threaten the people of this great land.
Hopefully, this bill will not be reconciled in anything like its current form. Hopefully, this bill will die a quick and painful death that will teach politicians a lesson. Maybe 2010 will be a good year to replace many of these people. Once the bill is killed, then hopefully the Republicans and the Democrats could come togther and re-start this important conversation for the true good of the people and our country and not wait for a generation to do something that needs to be done. Health care reform, yes. Insurance reform, yes. Tort, reform, yes. Control the unions and special interests, yes. But each in an upfront manner that doesn't try and present itself as health care reform when it is really about another agenda.
Obviously Republicans and Democrats have different world views on this, climate change and a host of other issues. America is divided on these matters. Intellectuals and liberals are not the sole source of insight and truth for what needs to happen. If we come togther, really, then maybe we can listen and not operate out of the politics of power...but out of a desire to do the right thing in health care that doesn't break our economy or our civilization. May God guide us into the right path.