Thanks, Jeffrey - you've echoed my thoughts as a recently retired GMC pastor (who spent many years in the UMC, but also in the Free Methodist Church and Evangelical Covenant Church). We (pastors) have to see our roles as 1) creating a hunger for a deeper walk with Christ, and then 2) training our members for spiritual growth/battle to stay planted in the deep soil of "abiding in Christ" so that they truly experience sanctification. And we have to teach them what holiness/sanctification is: it is Christlikeness: it is when the Body of Christ accurately and faithfully does what the Head wants, and "bears much fruit". When we do this, our witness will be so compelling and powerful ("bold" like the church in the book of Acts) that we won't need an evangelism program; our DAILY LIVES IN CHRIST will be the evangelism program. So, yes - I agree with your point that what we do in worship alone won't make that happen; it takes daily discipline and a consistent spiritual diet. P.S. We (the GMC) need to take seriously teaching our people what Wesley understood 1 John 4, Matthew 5 and other passages to mean when they mention being "perfect" or being "perfected in love." The apostles' understanding was that this was attainable in this life: Jesus would not give us a command ("Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mt. 5:48) that he would not also equip and empower us to accomplish. 1 John 4:9 says the love of God was "made manifest" among us; God's agape love was made real - was experienced as a reality - among us, and "God sent his only Son into the world so that WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM". Also note that when it says we are perfected in love, it uses that same Greek word, "agape" when speaking about us that it uses to describe the love of God the Father. I'll quit now, but you've touched on something I feel strongly about - and have preached about in two GMC churches since retiring. This distinctive (a very biblical and important one) is not getting the attention it should in many GMC churches.
Although I disagree with your stance on fleeing to the GMC, I agree with this very heavily. We need to truly be seeking God everyday and trying to disciple our families and those in our lives while also having a traditional high-church Methodist liturgy.
I agree with your powerful statement. Yes, we need a change of heart. I tried the high liturgical churches of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The words are beautiful, but the people only change through daily disciplines. As Methodists we are called to follow the General Rules "Do no harm, to do good, to attend the ordinances of God." But these can only be life-changing with accountability with the Holy Spirit and others (social holiness). I think the GMC needs a revival of Wesley's bands and classes!
For a true Orthodox or Catholic believer, the liturgy might be the centre of their spiritual life, (as it was by the way for the Wesleys), it is merely the beginning. As a Catholic/Orthodox, did you pray and read your Bible regularly? Did you undertake a nightly examination of conscience? Did you undertake the corporal works of mercy ito help those in need Did you seek out a spiritual director and avail yourself of the sacrament of confession? Attending a beautiful and awe inspiring liturgy does not make you a good Catholic/Orthodox any mire than turning up for a Sunday service makes you a good Methodist. Unfortunately, many churches - both Catholic and Protestant no longer teach the need for spiritual discipline and a growth in holiness.
Great video! I think you're right, there is a far too lax and lazy attitude towards Scripture and spiritual discipline in the UMC which will transfer over to the GMC if steps are not taken to correct it. You will never have a perfect church community, there will always be tares among the wheat, but leadership must make sanctification and spiritual growth a priority. And not just of the individual's inner life, but the public life of the individual and the church. Creeds, liturgy and I would add theologically dense (singable) music are a good start for weekly worship. But understanding the Bible, having biblical literacy is no small task, what can leaders do to spark the hunger for God's word? For me it started I think being part of a weekly small group, but really sharply turned up to 11 after reading Michael Heiser's Unseen Realm. It was that spark of connectedness with other believers and the accountability of other believers that really was the initiating factor.
Imho: They are necessary but insufficient. They must be accompanied by daily meditations and regular Bible studies. After all that's why Wesley's fellow Anglicans began calling his followers "Methodists".
This was powerful brother. Thank you for sharing your heart. It was undoubtedly a welcome distraction in the midst of my work day.
Thanks, Jeffrey - you've echoed my thoughts as a recently retired GMC pastor (who spent many years in the UMC, but also in the Free Methodist Church and Evangelical Covenant Church). We (pastors) have to see our roles as 1) creating a hunger for a deeper walk with Christ, and then 2) training our members for spiritual growth/battle to stay planted in the deep soil of "abiding in Christ" so that they truly experience sanctification. And we have to teach them what holiness/sanctification is: it is Christlikeness: it is when the Body of Christ accurately and faithfully does what the Head wants, and "bears much fruit".
When we do this, our witness will be so compelling and powerful ("bold" like the church in the book of Acts) that we won't need an evangelism program; our DAILY LIVES IN CHRIST will be the evangelism program. So, yes - I agree with your point that what we do in worship alone won't make that happen; it takes daily discipline and a consistent spiritual diet.
P.S. We (the GMC) need to take seriously teaching our people what Wesley understood 1 John 4, Matthew 5 and other passages to mean when they mention being "perfect" or being "perfected in love." The apostles' understanding was that this was attainable in this life: Jesus would not give us a command ("Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mt. 5:48) that he would not also equip and empower us to accomplish.
1 John 4:9 says the love of God was "made manifest" among us; God's agape love was made real - was experienced as a reality - among us, and "God sent his only Son into the world so that WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM". Also note that when it says we are perfected in love, it uses that same Greek word, "agape" when speaking about us that it uses to describe the love of God the Father.
I'll quit now, but you've touched on something I feel strongly about - and have preached about in two GMC churches since retiring. This distinctive (a very biblical and important one) is not getting the attention it should in many GMC churches.
❤
Although I disagree with your stance on fleeing to the GMC, I agree with this very heavily. We need to truly be seeking God everyday and trying to disciple our families and those in our lives while also having a traditional high-church Methodist liturgy.
I agree with your powerful statement. Yes, we need a change of heart. I tried the high liturgical churches of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The words are beautiful, but the people only change through daily disciplines. As Methodists we are called to follow the General Rules "Do no harm, to do good, to attend the ordinances of God." But these can only be life-changing with accountability with the Holy Spirit and others (social holiness). I think the GMC needs a revival of Wesley's bands and classes!
For a true Orthodox or Catholic believer, the liturgy might be the centre of their spiritual life, (as it was by the way for the Wesleys), it is merely the beginning. As a Catholic/Orthodox, did you pray and read your Bible regularly? Did you undertake a nightly examination of conscience? Did you undertake the corporal works of mercy ito help those in need Did you seek out a spiritual director and avail yourself of the sacrament of confession? Attending a beautiful and awe inspiring liturgy does not make you a good Catholic/Orthodox any mire than turning up for a Sunday service makes you a good Methodist. Unfortunately, many churches - both Catholic and Protestant no longer teach the need for spiritual discipline and a growth in holiness.
Great video! I think you're right, there is a far too lax and lazy attitude towards Scripture and spiritual discipline in the UMC which will transfer over to the GMC if steps are not taken to correct it. You will never have a perfect church community, there will always be tares among the wheat, but leadership must make sanctification and spiritual growth a priority. And not just of the individual's inner life, but the public life of the individual and the church. Creeds, liturgy and I would add theologically dense (singable) music are a good start for weekly worship. But understanding the Bible, having biblical literacy is no small task, what can leaders do to spark the hunger for God's word? For me it started I think being part of a weekly small group, but really sharply turned up to 11 after reading Michael Heiser's Unseen Realm. It was that spark of connectedness with other believers and the accountability of other believers that really was the initiating factor.
Imho: They are necessary but insufficient. They must be accompanied by daily meditations and regular Bible studies. After all that's why Wesley's fellow Anglicans began calling his followers "Methodists".