Saying goodbye to the UMC

[rockytopva]

I consider myself Methodist who does not like belonging to any organized denomination. I have grandparents who were Methodist / Pentecostal Holiness who were not only a member of the church, but the Methodist ways illuminated/warmed them making them special. I will always consider myself Methodist, while looking back and regretting the passing of the old and dear ways.

 

[circuitrider]

I believe my denomination, Pentecostal Holiness, was at one time Methodist. When they abandoned the revival, camp meeting, altar service, and the like, it ceased to be so. Just because our denomination was grounded in Methodist doctrine, does not mean we are Methodist!

I don't have a problem with you being in whatever group you are in, or that Pentecostalism takes its heritage from Wesleyan theology. I'd just rather you not pretend that Wesley didn't intend to start the Methodist Church in the US when it is quite clear historically that he did so. And, in fact, his choosing to do so by ordaining Coke and Asbury caused him to have a huge fight with his brother Charles.

Even if you don't like where the UMC has gone, that doesn't change the historical fact that Wesley sent the two men (Coke and Asbury) who met with the Christmas Conference to start a US Methodist Church.

(Edit: - Details - Wesley ordained Coke to be first Superintendent and ordered him to ordain Asbury which was later done at the Christians Conference. This is clear indication of his intending to form and approve of a Methodist Church in the US.)

 

[FieryMethodist]

Interesting. I'd have put that at the top of my list of reasons to stay.

Some are asking about what false doctrine have been adopted by the UMC?:

1. Universalism - The UMC is supposed to be a Christian denomination and not a universalist denomination. It affirms views outside of scripture, undermining Biblical authority, pushing agendas, while undermining Biblical concepts, principles, and God's/Jesus mission. Universal is supposed to be defined as all Christian churches but not affirming every world religion. If you want to be a Universalist, go be ordained in a Universalist church, but do not become ordained as a United Methodist and pose as a Universalist with Unbiblical viewpoints and agendas. If you have God (Yahweh, God of Israel), Jesus, and the Bible, why did you become a UMC minister? Sounds like you need heeling and discipleship more so than being a minister. Stop undermining Jesus with unGodly agendas.
2. Christology - Progressives tend to affirm every world religion (e.g., Islam, Buddhism, etc.) while putting down Jesus. Jesus is Lord is the message. It is that simple. If you have a problem with Jesus, why did you become ordained as a Methodist ministery.
3. Hamartiology - Does not want to call sin a sin. Spits in the face of God. Approves of ungodly deeds. Calls Holy ungodly, and calls ungodliness/sin Godly.
3. Holiness - Homosexuality is a sin. We are supposed to pattern our lives after Christ and the highway of holiness, not the agenda of the world.

 

[circuitrider]

Some are asking about what false doctrine have been adopted by the UMC?:

1. Universalism - The UMC is supposed to be a Christian denomination and not a universalist denomination. It affirms views outside of scripture, undermining Biblical authority, pushing agendas, while undermining Biblical concepts, principles, and God's/Jesus mission. Universal is supposed to be defined as all Christian churches but not affirming every world religion. If you want to be a Universalist, go be ordained in a Universalist church, but do not become ordained as a United Methodist and pose as a Universalist with Unbiblical viewpoints and agendas. If you have God (Yahweh, God of Israel), Jesus, and the Bible, why did you become a UMC minister? Sounds like you need heeling and discipleship more so than being a minister. Stop undermining Jesus with unGodly agendas.
2. Christology - Progressives tend to affirm every world religion (e.g., Islam, Buddhism, etc.) while putting down Jesus. Jesus is Lord is the message. It is that simple. If you have a problem with Jesus, why did you become ordained as a Methodist ministery.
3. Hamartiology - Does not want to call sin a sin. Spits in the face of God. Approves of ungodly deeds. Calls Holy ungodly, and calls ungodliness/sin Godly.
3. Holiness - Homosexuality is a sin. We are supposed to pattern our lives after Christ and the highway of holiness, not the agenda of the world.

1. The UMC has not adopted universalism. While there are United Methodists that are universalists, that is a long way from the UMC adopting universalism.

2. Affirming that God might save people in other religions goes all the way back to John Wesley. That is about soteriology and not Christology. Those who believe with Wesley that this may happen believe that if they are they are saved through the grace of Jesus Christ. They haven't abandoned a trinitarian or incarnation theology.

3. My best guess is that some in the UMC aren't calling sin what you believe to be sin. Or you are focusing solely on homosexuality which, for conservatives, has become the most important Christian doctrine rising above all others.

4. Your conclusion, that homosexuality is a sin, is one opinion on homosexuality and nearly as many people disagree with you as agree with you. Those who disagree with you on this is growing in every denomination and branch of Christianity.

Most of what you are contending has been adopted by the UMC has been adopted by some members in the UMC. That is very different. There are millions of United Methodists. You can likely find someone in the UMC who believes all kinds of things that the denomination doesn't teach or adopt.

 

[Rawtheran]

I wanted to give everyone an update that I am currently in the process of joining a Nazarene Church as they are of the Wesleyan tradition which is something I'll always hold near and dear to my heart. I am sorry about what direction the UMC is going and I'd like for God to continue to do great things in it and through it. I also would like my Methodist brothers and sisters to know that there aren't any hard feelings and I wish you all the best

 

[circuitrider]

I wanted to give everyone an update that I am currently in the process of joining a Nazarene Church as they are of the Wesleyan tradition which is something I'll always hold near and dear to my heart. I am sorry about what direction the UMC is going and I'd like for God to continue to do great things in it and through it. I also would like my Methodist brothers and sisters to know that there aren't any hard feelings and I wish you all the best

Blessings on your new denominational choice. The Nazarene Church is a good Church too. I do hope you will consider that there is no denomination in the world they you (or anyone) is likely to agree with 100%. If you expect 100% agreement you likely will never find a church home.

 

[Dave-W]

I wanted to give everyone an update that I am currently in the process of joining a Nazarene Church as they are of the Wesleyan tradition which is something I'll always hold near and dear to my heart. I am sorry about what direction the UMC is going and I'd like for God to continue to do great things in it and through it. I also would like my Methodist brothers and sisters to know that there aren't any hard feelings and I wish you all the best

That sounds like a reasonable choice. I was raised in the CoN and it is a good denomination.