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I don't think I can carry on at my church with integrity

hopeforhappiness

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Just as an update.... there is a loving reformed church quite near that my wife and I really like. But we can easily be swallowed up there, but maybe some pew-filling for a time would be good.
But who is going to bear a witness in our little methodist chapel? I don't know whether any of the congregation or even many of the preachers accept or understand or have even heard that Christ died for our sins. That wonderful news.
I have been writing to visiting preachers, and especially those that say they welcome some feedback. Only one replied and he's an outlier in personality and location. They really seem threatened by anyone who has really investigated the faith.
 
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hopeforhappiness

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And some people believe the reverse - that we must preach sin, salvation, and the Kingdom of God (which would should), but we should do as Jesus did as well - embracing the castaways of society. Social justice, if you will.
Only in America do you have to pick one or the other. Sad.
Yes, I worked for many years in Fair Trade. In so far as they had an underpinning biblical theology, it was Shalom, mental, spiritual and physical wholeness. But when I hear a preacher in effect encouraging law-breaking by saying we should welcome and even facilitate illegal migrant boat crossings (you know, those that don't want to be identified, having thrown away their passports, so not refugees), then a bridge has been crossed.
 
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jas3

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But who is going to bear a witness in our little methodist chapel? I don't know whether any of the congregation or even many of the preachers accept or understand or have even heard that Christ died for our sins. That wonderful news.
I've heard this argument made for staying in liberal mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, but I'm of the opinion that it's not healthy or sustainable to feel like you have to evangelize your own church.
 
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hopeforhappiness

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It's a good point. Good preacher this morning, talked about resolutions and covenant. But again avoided the open goal of Jesus's atonement. I pointed out that we had just sung "Blessed Assurance....washed in the Blood". He said he believed in all that, but could not give an explanation why neither he nor any other preacher could touch it.
 
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actionsub

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I would talk with a pastor if I were you. Do you still consider yourself Wesleyan? Is there a Church of Nazarene or Global Methodist Church near you?

I hope everything turns out ok.

Blessings
Update: the local Nazarene church wasn't quite to my liking, and there is no Global Methodist church near me. However, a friend of mine whom I know to be soundly evangelical was appointed to a UM church in a nearby community and I have since transferred my membership there.
As for the church I left, the pastor there decided not to retire as the church is declining rapidly and she just figured she'll go down with the ship.
 
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actionsub

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I've heard this argument made for staying in liberal mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, but I'm of the opinion that it's not healthy or sustainable to feel like you have to evangelize your own church.
My hot take on this one is that there are still many in the pews of the UMC who are not liberal or even remotely progressive. I'm 67 and was encouraged by my pastor to pursue Certified Lay Minister status in order to fill pulpits of some of these smaller churches. As such, I am not authorized to perform any wedding ceremonies, including same-sex ones, which was my main reservation.
I don't see myself as "evangelizing my own church", more like blowing on the sparks that remain to warm them up again!
 
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reBoot

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I don't think I can carry on at my church with integrity​

Your OP caught my attention, as it cries out for justice.

It seems that the work of Christ in atonement and salvation has almost completely given way to calls for social justice activism.
Oh yeah? When there is no call to repentance,
The wonder and glory and sacrifice of Christ is nowhere.
I don't know whether any of the congregation or even many of the preachers accept or understand or have even heard that Christ died for our sins.
But again avoided the open goal of Jesus's atonement. I pointed out that we had just sung "Blessed Assurance....washed in the Blood". He said he believed in all that, but could not give an explanation why neither he nor any other preacher could touch it.
The Caesarian-credentialed preacher has a business to run and literally cannot afford to accommodate anything that might reduce his flow of income (i.e. a call to repentance is unprofitable).

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him [because Jesus is the Real Deal, the King of kings, and he won't share his glory with another]. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. [Just like here and in the world at large, the nail that sticks out would be pounded back in.] Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? [IOW, "Jesus is interfering with our enterprise."] for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him ["Imagine that! They would become born again! But we can't afford to lose our authority!"] : and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation ["And we would lose all our stuff."]. ...Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put [Jesus] to death. (John 11)

Thus, Jesus, his blood atonement, and the requirement for confession and repentance HAVE BEEN OMITTED from mainstream evangelical "Christianity" today.

To lying hirelings, the atonement is the enemy.

The church is not a building.

Caveat emptor.
 
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