Conservative Methodists

[JM]

Are there any? I've never had a discussion with a conservative Methodist.

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

I am a conservative Methodist. But you seem to be right in that we are so few we are nearly invisible. But being a "strict" baptist isn't necessarily a good thing either. Jesus dissed the conservative pharisees and the liberal sadducees.True Christianity is altogether different. I feel free to go to bars to witness if He should ever call me to (although that is not something I'd ordinarily feel free to do), and to dance for joy, and the gift of tongues is still real (but not the charismaticky notion of tongues). We should seek to be altogether different. Strict is not necessarily good. Self-controlled is good if done according to the Scriptures and not according to churchy expectations. I must control myself and obey even when i wouldn't ordinarily do something or when I know the churchy crowd won't get it. Conservative, middle of the road, and liberal are not necessarily good or right. All three are often very wrong - often at the same time. We should be good and right.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Define "conservative"?

Depending on whether you mean political party, social issues, economic polity, theology, or just conforming to past religious traditions I stand at many different places on the conservative-liberal spectrum which I don't even consider a continuim to begin with.

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

GraceSeeker makes a good point. I'm very socially conservative, but I don't always agree with the conservative politics or with liberal politcs. That's what I say: Christianity is something altogether different.

 

[Chris81]

I tend to be rather confused as to what is to be a theologically conservative Christian. I believe the authority of the bible and believe it to be divine inspired. However I believe scripture must be clearly understood through its genre of writing and its historical context. I also believe there are some theological issues where it is perfectly fine to admit you do not know and will require further study. I try with great diligence to understand scripture based on its original intent and I seek guidance on the understanding of scripture by well respected theologians. I tend to call myself a traditional christian because I believe in preserving the historical traditions of Christianity and Methodism while also holding traditional orthodox theology guided by the teachings of Wesley and other Methodist preachers.

 

[mcswan]

Add me to the list of conservative Methodists.

 

[Mr Dave]

I'm more conservative than most, in Britain at least (I'm not really sure where the stereotyped UMC member falls).

 

[GraceSeeker]

Check out Good News. Most people would probably classify this publication as being conservative, yet it is published by people who are all United Methodists. The organization is certainly seen as the bane of "liberals" (depending on how you define "liberal") in the United Methodist Church.

 

[mcswan]

Check out Good News. Most people would probably classify this publication as being conservative, yet it is published by people who are all United Methodists. The organization is certainly seen as the bane of "liberals" (depending on how you define "liberal") in the United Methodist Church.

I think a good test of whether, as a Methodist, you're liberal or conservative, read anything by Jim Winkler or Jim Wallis and see if you agree with them.

God forbid!!

 

[GraceSeeker]

I think a good test of whether, as a Methodist, you're liberal or conservative, read anything by Jim Winkler or Jim Wallis and see if you agree with them.

God forbid!!

Don't know anything about either one of these guys, but if that is the standard, and these quotes are representative of what are considered conservative views, then I guess I'm a conservative.



Hope unbelieved is always considered nonsense. But hope believed is history in the process of being changed.
Jim Wallis

I believe in the separation of church and state, absolutely. But I don't believe in the separation of public life from our values, our basic values, and for many of us, our religious values.
Jim Wallis

I don't think we should discriminate against an organization or congregation because they're religious, if they're doing good work. But government can't subsidize proselytizing or worship or religious activity. It can't.
Jim Wallis

I think it's a good thing for a president or political leaders to want to put their values or their faith into action. Desmond Tutu did that in South Africa. Martin Luther King Jr. did that here. This is a good thing.
Jim Wallis

But when we place God on our side of things, that we are now ridding the world of evil - that's very dangerous, that one nation has this role to rid the world of evil. What about the evil we have committed, that we are complicit in?
Jim Wallis

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

I tend to be rather confused as to what is to be a theologically conservative Christian. I believe the authority of the bible and believe it to be divine inspired. However I believe scripture must be clearly understood through its genre of writing and its historical context. I also believe there are some theological issues where it is perfectly fine to admit you do not know and will require further study. I try with great diligence to understand scripture based on its original intent and I seek guidance on the understanding of scripture by well respected theologians. I tend to call myself a traditional christian because I believe in preserving the historical traditions of Christianity and Methodism while also holding traditional orthodox theology guided by the teachings of Wesley and other Methodist preachers.

Stay orthodox in your theology. Contrary to United Methodist teaching, the Bible alone is the source of authority. One bit of advise a college prof once gave me about something else I've applied to my own Bible study: "Never read [the Bible] for what you think it says, want it to say, or have been told it says. Read it for what it really says."
God will guide you.

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

By conservative, I mean, I oppose homosexual behavior, for example, as God forbids it, but am not so uneducated as to call tempation a sin, or to assume a Christian thus tempted but who does not act on it is a weak Christian simply for being tempted. But rather they are strong to resist temptation. I'm conservative in that I don't believe in abortion. But I do believe that church should be a safe place for people to go, not the often threatening place it is become. Some liberals attempt safety by eliminating the need for repentance. But that is wrong.
I don't go so far as to say I must wear coat and tie on Sunday (where is that in the Bible?) but eating out and shopping on Sunday is wicked as it robs others of the chance to go to church and hear the Gospel (assuming that is still preached in some church somewhere on Sunday) and to rest.

But I do think that churches should pay taxes instead of selling out to the world for a buck by agreeing not to speak out on some things. I think that churches that engage in building programs for the 501(c)3's own benefit should be taxed like any business. I don't believe that any government has any authority to regulate real Christian evangelism or to prohibit the display of religious things on public property. I'm not going to put something on public property in defiance of the erroneous court rulings, but I will share my faith wherever, whenever, without asking permission and without apology - even if it should defy some government edict at some point.

 

[TheArtguy58]

Interesting question as to whether there are any conservative Methodists. It would depend on your meaning, are we conservative politically or in our religion?
Having been born in the deep South and being very much a Southerner by the grace of God I am inclined to be conservative politically. But as a Methodist I am inclined as are many of my fellow Methodist to be a bit more liberal in my religion. Which is one of the things that sets us apart from the Baptist in these parts.
So maybe you're right in respect to theology we are a bit more liberal but when it comes to politics that's a whole 'nother ball game.

 

[GraceSeeker]

By conservative, I mean, I oppose homosexual behavior, for example, as God forbids it, but am not so uneducated as to call tempation a sin, or to assume a Christian thus tempted but who does not act on it is a weak Christian simply for being tempted.

That's not the same language as our Discipline, but it is pretty much the same position that our Discipline has taken on the issue. I recognize you will hear other voices in the United Methodist Church, but to date however loud they are, right or wrong, they are actually in the minority.

I'm conservative in that I don't believe in abortion. But I do believe that church should be a safe place for people to go, not the often threatening place it is become.

Again, the United Methodist Church and you might be closer than you realize. Our discipline specifically says: "our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion." And in fact the only time we justify abortion is in cases of "tragic conflicts of life with life." Some people interpret that very broadly, but the words themselves I believe imply here what is specifically spelled out elsewhere, "we oppose the use of late-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible wtih life." But given that abortion is, despite our view, a reality in our society, we then seek to be in ministry with women who have made or are considering that choice.

But I do think that churches should pay taxes instead of selling out to the world for a buck by agreeing not to speak out on some things. I think that churches that engage in building programs for the 501(c)3's own benefit should be taxed like any business. I don't believe that any government has any authority to regulate real Christian evangelism or to prohibit the display of religious things on public property. I'm not going to put something on public property in defiance of the erroneous court rulings, but I will share my faith wherever, whenever, with asking permission and without apology - even if it should defy some government edict at some point.

I think I would call the views expressed in this paragraph more libertarian than conservative in nature.

 

[Chris81]

Stay orthodox in your theology.

For most of the history of Christianity there were no Liberal or Conservative Christians. To that I want to return to traditional understanding of Christianity.

Contrary to United Methodist teaching, the Bible alone is the source of authority.

Hmm... I don't know of too many Methodist who do not believe in the authority and sufficiency of the bible.

One bit of advise a college prof once gave me about something else I've applied to my own Bible study: "Never read [the Bible] for what you think it says, want it to say, or have been told it says. Read it for what it really says."
God will guide you.

Amen!! Too many people now read into the bible what they want to hear or manipulate scripture for their own theological leanings or political purposes. However, we can only find unity in Christianity if we we all seek to understand its original intent.

 

[mcswan]

Hmm... I don't know of too many Methodist who do not believe in the authority and sufficiency of the bible.

I don't know many either. Though I can understand how someone could hear the Wesleyan quadrilateral - Scripture, tradition, experience, reason - and think we place far too little authority on scripture. It's certainly easy to abuse, if one is so inclined.

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

Well this conversation has certainly put my mind at some ease and reassured my heart that the UMC, which has been so good to me and for me, hasn't completely tanked.

I've been really disillusioned for the last year. I've heard lay leaders say they don't believe the Bible's declaration of creation. I've even heard a "preacher" talked about millions or billions of years ago. Why trust nonCHristian scientists (nonChristians deny the Truth and so are liars) who promote the lie of evolution? Why not trust the God who was there and Who can't lie? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY Word the proceedeth from the mouth of God."

And I know of a bishop who allegedly has defended a practicing homosexual as pastor. That is so wrong.

Maybe I'm just geographically too close to Emory University and its sphere of influence. But this conversation has really been good. Thanks, everyone!

But on abortion: not in any case. Genesis says that a woman will be saved in childbearing if she believes. Let God remain the Author and Finisher of life.

 

[JM]

Why are so many Methodists liberal?

 

[GraceSeeker]

Why are so many Methodists liberal?

Again, please define your terms. "So many" is a very relative term. Some Methodists are more liberal than others. But putting hard numbers to that isn't something that I'm prepared to do, even as a percentage. So, many Methodists are liberal, but also many Methodist are conservative.

You've asked a question that assumes facts which aren't even in evidence. One could just as easily (and truthfully) ask, why are so many Methodists convservative?

 

[Jeremiah's Calling]

Why are so many liberal? Well, from my own experience, I'd guess it's because maybe there's not much preaching on the Biblical requirement Holy Spirit-led repentance. That would be my guess. We do need much more of that preached. But, it's only my guess.