(Editor’s note: Many church denominations, actually all over the world, today have problems within their church family. Every now and then, issues boil up which can cause disruption among various churches. At present, the United Methodist Church in Georgia has such a problem. Here’s one view from a longtime and loyal Methodist. –eeb).
By Tommy Purser
Editor and Publisher, Jeff Davis Ledger
HAZLEHURST, Ga. | Methodist congregations across the state and country — across the world, really — are struggling among themselves to decide whether to stay or leave.
Purser
Whether to stay within the United Methodist Church or leave to form another union of churches that adheres to principles they believe have been violated by modern day Methodist doctrine.
I’ve been a Methodist all my life. I embrace the church and John Wesley’s methodical organizational methodology, which, I realize sounds redundant.
The church has moved in a direction that concerns a lot of people and I understand and respect their concerns.
A longtime friend of mine sent me a message recently. He and I and his brother and my sister grew up deeply involved in Waynesboro Methodist Church youth activities.
As an adult, I have continued that involvement with Hazlehurst First United Methodist Church. My longtime friend, now retired after a career of teaching in Telfair County, has continued his involvement in McRae United Methodist Church.
In his message to me, he wanted to know how Hazlehurst Methodists felt about disaffiliation. I didn’t give him much of an answer because, quite frankly, I haven’t spent much time talking to other members to get a good understanding of the preferences of my fellow church members.
My friend said his fellow Methodists in McRae are split about 50-50.
The rift, in a nutshell, centers around Christian sexuality and what the Bible teaches us about that, as compared to what worldwide church leaders have determined is the proper path to follow.
I don’t know enough about the sexuality issue to make an informed decision. But I know this: I have a number of friends whose sexuality choices do not align with mine. And I also have a lot of friends whose conduct in other areas don’t align with mine.
But I believe all those friends whose ideas and sexuality choices are in conflict with mine are souls of great worth in God’s mind. And I think they are people of great value. People I like – love – despite what I consider are their flaws.
“Hate the sin but love the sinner” is a simplistic, yet demonstrative old saying.
I have people in my life who love me despite my sometimes sinful ways. In a way, that humbles me into believing that I, too, should love others despite what I consider their sinful ways. In my opinion, forgiveness is a God-given Christian value.
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