UMC Gospel Debate

I recently enjoyed Scot McKnight's book "The King Jesus Gospel." While I can quibble with a few thoughts here and there I do believe there are some important key issues raised in it that might be helpful in UMC conversations. Though it doesn't appear that many of the UMC conversations in preparation for GC2012 are theological in nature, but driven more by "practical" issues of funding or fear, I wonder what might happen if we talked about the Gospel we believe and the Gospel we desire to share with the world.

McKnight offers a blog today in the3 J's in the Gospel Debate that may facilitate new UMC discussions.

Blogs of the Week-- Theology Edition

Nothing but challenge and trouble today!

United Methodist Theology

The Problem of Beth Moore

How interesting that after some of my recent blogging I found similar thoughts at Biblical Mission Strategy

Discipleship

Discipleship 2

Charles Wesley on Mission

See how great a flame aspires, Kindled by a spark of grace!
Jesus's love the nations fires, Sets the kingdoms on a blaze;
To bring fire on earth he came, Kindled in some hearts it is,
O that all might catch the flame, All partake the glorious bliss!

When he first the work begun, Small and feeble was his day;
Now the word doth swiftly run, Now it wins its widening way;
More and more it spreads and grows, Ever mighty to prevail,
Sin's strong-holds it now o'erthrows, Shakes the trembling gates of hell.

Sons of God, your Saviour praise! He the door hath opened wide;
He hath given the word of grace, Jesu's word is glorified;
Jesus, mighty to redeem, He alone the work hath wrought;
Worthy is the work of him, Him who spake a world from nought.

Saw ye not the cloud arise, Little as a human hand
Now it spreads along the skies, Hangs o'er all the thirsty land;
Lo! the promise of a shower Drops already from above;
But the Lord will shortly pour All the Spirit of his love!

Charles Wesley Hymn on Church

Have you ever experienced church as a foretaste of heaven? Ever experienced a community of followers of Christ that sacrifices for the group, encourages one another in faith, and this depth of faith that is so far beyond the individualism of our times? Don't sing this one thinking it's some unattainable ideal, but look to an expression of church at its best that we are called to build.

All praise to our redeeming Lord,
Who joins us by his grace,
And bids us, each to each restored,
Together seek his face.

He bids us build each other up;
And, gathered into one,
To our high calling's glorious hope
We hand in hand go on.

The gift which he on one bestows,
We all delight to prove;
The grace through every vessel flows,
In purest streams of love.

Even now we think and speak the same,
And cordially agree;
Concentrated all, through Jesus' name,
In perfect harmony.

We all partake the joy of one,
The common peace we feel,
A peace to sensual minds unknown,
A joy unspeakable.

And if our fellowship below
In Jesus be so sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know,
When round his throne we meet!

Charles Wesley on Holy Communion

While I know that Methodism has a strong emphasis on a sacramental theology I was still surprised by the numbers of Holy Communion hymns. It takes a number of songs to even begin to tackle all the images, perspectives, and power of the Eucharist. This Sunday we'll gather at the table again and be drawn into our own experience of the past, present, and future of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. The following Charles Wesley hymn stood out for me in my preparations.

Sinners, obey the gospel-word!
Haste to the supper of my Lord!
Be wise to know your gracious day;
All things are ready, come away!

Ready the Father is to own
And kiss his late-returning son;
Ready your loving Saviour stands,
And spreads for you his bleeding hands.

Ready the Spirit of his love
Just now the stony to remove,
To apply, and witness with the blood,
And wash and seal the sons of God.

Ready for you the angels wait,
To triumph in your blest estate;
Tuning their harps, they long to praise
The wonders of redeeming grace.

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Is ready, with their shining host:
All heaven is ready to resound,
"The dead's alive! the lost is found!"

Come then, ye sinners, to your Lord,
In Christ to paradise restored;
His proffered benefits embrace,
The plenitude of gospel grace:

A pardon written with his blood,
The favour and the peace of God;
The seeing eye, the feeling sense,
The mystic joys of penitence;

The godly grief, the pleasing smart,
The meltings of a broken heart,
The tears that tell your sins forgiven,
The sighs that waft your souls to heaven;

The guiltless shame, the sweet distress,
The unutterable tenderness,
The genuine, meek humility,
The wonder, "Why such love to me"

The o'erwhelming power of saving grace,
The sight that veils the seraph's face;
The speechless awe that dares not move,
And all the silent heaven of love.

A Pentecost Hymn John Wesley Liked

John Wesley edited a Henry More verse for his publications as early as 1739. I like the strong Pentecost words and imagery.

On all the earth Thy Spirit shower;
The earth in righteousness renew;
Thy kingdom come, and hell’s o’erpower,
And to Thy scepter all subdue.

Like mighty winds, or torrents fierce,
Let it opposers all o’errun;
And every law of sin reverse,
That faith and love may make all one.

Yea, let Thy Spirit in every place
Its richer energy declare;
While lovely tempers, fruits of grace,
The kingdom of Thy Christ prepare.

Grant this, O holy God and true!
The ancient seers Thou didst inspire;
To us perform the promise due;
Descend, and crown us now with fire!

Charles Wesley Hymn on Prayer

Jesus, my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
On whom I cast my every care,
On whom for all things I depend,
Inspire, and then accept, my prayer.

If I have tasted of thy grace,
The grace that sure salvation brings,
If with me now thy Spirit stays,
And hovering hides me in his wings.

Still let him with my weakness stay,
Nor for a moment's space depart,
Evil and danger turn away,
And keep till he renews my heart.

When to the right or left I stray,
His voice behind me may I hear,
"Return, and walk in Christ thy way,
Fly back to Christ, for sin is near."

His sacred unction from above
Be still my comforter and guide;
Till all the hardness he remove,
And in my loving heart reside.

Jesus, I fain would walk in thee,
From nature's every path retreat;
Thou art my Way, my leader be,
And set upon the rock my feet.

Uphold me, Savior, or I fall,
O reach me out thy gracious hand
Only on thee for help I call,
Only by faith in thee I stand.

A Charles Wesley For Service

FORTH in thy name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labour to pursue,
Thee, only thee, resolved to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.

The task thy wisdom hath assigned
O let me cheerfully fulfil,
In all my works thy presence find,
And prove thy acceptable will!

Thee may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes my inmost substance see;
And labour on at thy command,
And offer all my works to thee.

Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray,
And still to things eternal look,
And hasten to thy glorious day.

For thee delightfully employ
Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given;
And run my course with even joy,
And closely walk with thee to heaven.

Another Charles Wesley Hymn I/We Need Today

"God of all power, and truth, and grace"

God of all power, and truth, and grace,
Which shall from age to age endure,
Whose Word, when Heaven and earth shall pass,
Remains and stands for ever sure;

That I Thy mercy may proclaim,
That all mankind Thy truth may see,
Hallow Thy great and glorious Name,
And perfect holiness in me.

Thy sanctifying Spirit pour,
To quench my thirst, and make me clean;
Now, Father, let the gracious shower
Descend, and make me pure from sin.

Purge me from every sinful blot;
My idols all be cast aside;
Cleanse me from every sinful thought,
From all the filth of self and pride.

Give me a new, a perfect heart,
From doubt, and fear, and sorrow free;
The mind which was in Christ impart,
And let my spirit cleave to Thee.

O take this heart of stone away!
Thy sway it doth not, cannot own;
In me no longer let it stay,
O take away this heart of stone!

O that I now, from sin released,
Thy Word may to the utmost prove,
Enter into the promised rest,
The Canaan of Thy perfect love!

John Piper vs. Rob Bell

Have you heard the news?

No, I'm not talking about Charlie Sheen.

During the last week there have been a variety of intriguing news items. An old, now new, theological war has erupted with Rob Bell's soon to be released book "Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived." See the video which starts with a story about whether Ghandi is in heaven or hell at Love Wins promo I find the video true to Bell standards- catchy, edgy, hip, and offering an intriguing sound bite.

But, for some, the video opens up quick, easy answers based on their doctrinal view about God, heaven, and hell. Let the battle of doctrines on the blogosphere and Tweetworld begin as old evangelicals take on the new evangelical upstart! And, again, all of this before they've read the book. :)

Enter, John Piper (a Calvinist), who tweets: "Farewell, Rob Bell." That's all he writes.

Here's a recap of the larger issue if you missed it this week:
main stream news and
news with more theological background

Some of this is sad to me. I hate when Christians turn on each other, and clergy leaders at that, and make it appear we'll certainly turn on each other quibbling over ideas. Of course, thoughts, ideas, and words are important, as that leads us toward certain ways of life and action. After all, the reason that there are different religions and even subgroups within a religion is based on what you think is most important in thought and action.

At the least Bell will sell more books. Maybe there will be discussion about some theological concepts. How does an evangelical (wait, does Piper or Bell best espouse that thought?!) differ from a Baptist, or a Methodist, or a Catholic, or a Mormon, or a Hindu or Sikh? I'm curious what the average person (that is, not a pastor or academic or bookseller) thinks or questions about heaven, hell, and the nature of God.

Piper vs. Bell- I wonder who will win?

Shameless Society and Sin?

I'm reading an interesting book by a professor who is comparing early Methodism with life today. Actually his writing is more of a critique and corrective to Methodism today than anything else. While that might bore you to tears, he does get into a subject that could create some discussion.

The prof gets into some broader issues about society, and how that tends to shape religious folk more than anything. Said another way, Methodists (and any other group for that matter) replaced our earliest historic peculiarities which made us different with a "bland acceptable almost civil religion." So the focus becomes upon us, people like us, and the national or cultural status quo in our religious thinking and practice.

Now this is where the argument gets interesting. The challenge is how a religious group conceptualizes and practices their need of God, and then how this is revealed as the group defines their theology/doctrine, e.g. say their understanding of sin. Notice how various groups define sin in different ways that matches their position in the nation and world. If we are so enmeshed in our society, culture, or subculture that we can't take a step or two away from it for a realistic view we may totally abandon a way of thinking or living, even if it is a historical and primary tenet of our religious heritage.

Here's the striking passage in one section of the book which brings this all home. Dr. Scott Kisker in "Mainline or Methodist?" writes:

"Americans will do anything, say anything, consume anything in the pursuit of the measures of worldly happiness. We are not a shameful society. We are more accurately a shameless one.

"People in societies defined primarily by consumer capitalism are not walking around wondering what they can do to win the approval of an angry God. We live in a culture of entitlement. We simply assume, no matter how we live, that God should accept us.

"Even when people recognize they are not living how they should, the offer of God's forgiveness and acceptance has very little impact. People are more likely to think, 'Why wouldn't God forgive me? My sins deserve forgiveness as much as the next persons. Of course God loves me. I'm lovable.'"

I'm curious how this strikes you. What are your thoughts on the topic/s?

"Confession"

What is it about the winter, staying inside where it is warm, and writing which speaks truth? Here's another Wendell Berry favorite as it captures what I know to be true of myself.

"Confession"
by Wendell Berry

I wish I was easy in my mind, but I ain't.
If it wasn't for anger, lust, and pride, I'd be a saint.

And a quote for the day:

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.

A Warning

Here's another Wendell Berry poem that I resemble!

"A Warning to My Readers"
by Wendell Berry

Do not think me gentle
because I speak in praise
of gentleness, or elegant
because I honor the grace
that keeps this world. I am
a man crude as any,
gross of speech, intolerant,
stubborn, angry, full
of fits and furies. That I
may have spoken well
at times, is not natural.
A wonder is what it is.

A quote for the day:
"The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."
Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.

A Journey in This Day

I've enjoyed the poetry of Wendell Berry for many years. The Kentucky farmer, professor, and poet/writer speaks to my heart and life with his rural imagery, his turn of phrase, and his keen life observations using the everyday setting and circumstances of his home which he knows so well.

"Traveling at Home"
From A Part

Even in a country you know by heart
it's hard to go the same way twice.
The life of the going changes.
The chances change and make a new way.
Any tree or stone or bird
Can be the bud of a new direction. The
natural correction is to make intent
of accident. To get back before dark
is the art of going.

Quote for the day:
"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."
Martin Luther King, Jr., speech, Detroit, Michigan, June 23, 1963.

Summer Theology: N.T. Wright on Evil in the World

N. T. Wright is an interesting character to me. He's a scholar, a bishop, and maybe a troublemaker; I admire that he confronts both conservative and liberal views with his approach. He's got an extensive scholarly and writing career easily found online or in a good library.

I'd be curious how you respond to 1) his way of reading the Bible, & 2) how that ties into his thoughts about evil and our role in the world. I tried this on some of my college student friends and they gave up on part 1 (which seemed boring to them) until I pressed them to go into the 2nd part of the interview which they did find helpful. Check it out & then discuss:
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/heavy-theological-dude-mistakenly-talks-us

Arguing With a Hymn

OK, usually I'm not such a contrarian nor nearly so argumentative over a word or two. But this has been brewing with me for a couple of months now.

I want to change one word in a hymn.

I know-- there are so many bigger issues in the day that ought to get my best time and attention. But this one small change might unleash the masses for a life of action as our theology and lives are revolutionized. This one small change would help us move from our private piety several steps closer toward a life of faith that has expression in the world today. This simple adjustment would help maximize the fact that we are all called to follow Christ, and that we all should have redemptive ministries. It would also minimize any artificial differentiation between the call of clergy or laity OR any excuses ANY of us might offer to God or the world. This proposed change better expresses the truth of Scripture and the practical needs of real life and real faith.

Do you know the old standard "Here I Am Lord?" It's one of those hymns used often at the end of a worship service.

"Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart."

What I want to do is a simple switch of a one syllable word for a better one syllable word. I don't know how to accomplish such a feat. Maybe you can help in this campaign. Does it take a petition to a hymnal publisher? Do we include it for vote somewhere at a church conference? Or do we merely scratch it out in the hymnal and have churches start replacing the word so that a grass roots movement takes place in worship? Personally, I sort of like that last subversive approach! And then, like kudzu in Georgia, maybe we overtake a denomination or two!

Here's my simple proposition that might change our individual Christian lives, and perhaps change our congregations. It's time to change the "if" to "when." "I will go Lord when you lead me." After all, this is the Saviour who said "Follow me." This is the community of faith, called Church, that is to be empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses locally, regionally, nationally, internationally, and even to the "ends of the earth. This is the body of believers where everyone is gifted for the sake of the witness in the world and the mission at hand.

This sort of theology or understanding has been around a long time. The question remains, will we all step up to the challenge of the call of God in our life. God's call is going to happen to us in some ways we can respond to. When that does happen will we be prepared to take up our responsibility in serving God. I will go Lord when you lead me has a sense of certainty about what God will do. Then it's up to us to live out a faithful obedience to what we know.

On this Pentecost Sunday I'm fairly certain we know what the answer should be. Christ leads us and empowers us to be partakers in the transformation of the world into that which God desires.

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, when you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.