Can You Help?

If we know anything about human beings and our history, it’s how often we repeat our mistakes and forget the things which allow us to live in harmony with God, one another and our planet.

Equally, every generation has its so called movers and shakers, people with the desire to change the status quo.

Some have made significant positive contributions and others have not.

So too, when it comes to exercising our authority as interpreters and teachers of the Bible, we find in every generation those who work to change the status quo.

Some have made positive contributions; names like Luther, Wesley, Mbete, and Gutierrez are some that come to mind.

So, in terms of Methodism in Southern Africa (MCSA), the current move by a small minority of theologians to sanction same-sex relationships should not surprise us at all.

That being said, do same-sex relationships deserve to be considered as moral and acceptable within the MCSA, and by implication, broader Christianity?

Because we have been given authority by Christ to bind & loose, (interpret and teach), they do if we chose to say they are.

So, as a person who gets to say what is morally acceptable, I need to understand some things, which have not been raised by DEWCOM, I think mainly because they simply see two sides: for and against.

- Are all the laws in the Old Testament to be considered redundant or just some of them?

If it’s some of them, how do I know which ones are in and which ones are out?

You see, if same-sex relationships are in because men today don’t need to worry about growing their beards or clipping the sides of their hair and a whole lot of other laws which we no longer adhere to, then I have some friends and know of some people who will be overjoyed by this news because we now have permission to decide what constitutes a moral life.

We no longer have any need to conform to those parts of the Bible which we struggle with or, better still, we just take out those parts which suit us and ditch the rest.

Whilst this is not new, we have done this many times in our history. But it’s amazing that cutting hair, eating food and ploughing fields, things previously considered ceremonial, are now used to motivate a change in moral laws.

In other words, does a same-sex relationship violate a ceremonial or a moral law?

- On the issue of same-sex relationships being loving and nurturing:

If these unions primary subscription is to be loving and nurturing, (l & n), then I have met some people who will thank me for making it morally acceptable to marry their mothers (as long as it’s l & n)

Others still will happily marry their sisters (as long as it’s l & n) and some will now be able to marry a dog, sheep or goat, (as long as it’s l & n.)

I personally know a farmer who would readily invite me to officiate in his union!

- On the question of Biblical interpretation:

I recently discovered that the words ceremonial, (related to the way we do church), and moral, (related to standards of conduct), can easily be replaced or confused with my own personal convictions about which laws to leave in and which to leave out.

I am really grateful for this because I really would like to just take the Sunday collection instead allowing it to be banked. This really shouldn’t be a moral problem for me because the Lord knows I need the money.

Also I have a very attractive daughter who I know will help me pay for a new motorbike.

All I have to do is to sell her into prostitution.

This also wouldn’t be much of a moral dilemma for me, because like same-sex relationships, now made legal by the government, there is also a lobby to legalise prostitution.

Hopefully it will happen soon because I have my eye on a BMW 1200!

- On the question of the practice of the MCSA regarding homosexuals.

I was completely astounded at Synod, (Central District), because a ‘father’ of the church, informed us as he spoke on the floor, that it has been our practice to allow homosexual people into membership, leadership and ministry.

I rarely speak at Synod but I felt it necessary to say to the floor that I have been in the MCSA twelve years, ten as a minister, and up until this point, understood us to welcome homosexuals as members. They can be leaders and ministers if they abstain from the practice of same-sex relationships.

Somehow, I had it wrong.

What I believe, I don’t have wrong, is to love them as fellow creations!

I know all of this sounds silly of me, but I need help with these questions because I feel I can’t trust the Bible anymore.

And neither can I trust nearly two thousand years of theological development and Christian doctrine.

They clearly had it wrong on these issues.

Some would argue that it is a very long time to be wrong.

So, anyway, what I really need is the ability to decide for myself which parts of the Bible I can throw out and which I can leave in.

After all, I desperately want to be a visionary.

Is there anyone who can help me?


Rev Dr John Bailie
June 2010

A Fork In The Road

On Sunday we shared around the cost of following Jesus ( Luke 9:57-62).

Every Christian will at some stage face a fork-in-the-road choice.

Do I follow Jesus with all my heart?

The thing that makes it such a tough choice is that the Kingdom is demanding.

It demands that we put God first, ahead of:

- home

- custom & culture

- family

Hard yes, but His promise is that He will take care of everything when we follow Him.

I don't know of any people who have followed and come to grief.

My prayer is that you will make the choice!

The Law

On Sunday we shared around the Law in Matthew 5:17-20.

Two kinds of Law emerged:

- Ceremonial Law

They have to do with spiritual practices

- Moral Law

They have to do with codes of conduct

So, our spiritual practices have changed over the years but our standards of conduct have not.

And neither should they!

Awesome!

A Struggle

On Sunday we spoke about the need for us to take seriously our faith journey (Acts 12:1-11).

A couple of things emerged:

- Despite our insecurities, God has a plan.

- Peter was released from prison as part of His plan.

- God desires to release us from our prisons in order to fulfil His plan.

Awesome!

How much more...

On Sunday we shared from Matthew 5:1-12: Jesus's Sermon on the Mount.







These beatitudes are given for the purpose of allowing us live as blessed life:

- Be poor in spirit

We need God


- Mourn for your soul:


We need forgiveness


- Practice Meekness


It's a sign of submission to God


- Hunger for faithfulness


It's a sign of passion for God


- Be Merciful


It's a sign of looking at the world through Jesus' eyes


- Be Pure in heart


Only way is to repent and receive forgiveness


- Be a Peacemaker


It's a sign that we are in line with God and ourselves


- Know you will be Persecuted


A visible sign that we are doing what God requires of us



Awesome!

Miracles

Last Sunday, the 2nd May was a watershed day for us as far as the new church building is concerned.

The leadership approached the congregation at 10h15 for 2,5 mil rand to finish the building and at 10h45 to we had it!

God is good so imagine if He does that for bricks and mortar, how much more will He do for flesh and blood?

Yep, that means yo and me!

So now, I'm convinced that buildings are visible signs of God's miracle in our lives.

Awesome!

End Times

As part of our Fastrack, we shared around End Times from Matthew 24:3-14.

A couple of things emerged as signs of the end times:
- Deception is only possible when we are ignorant.
- Falling away - there is a vast amount of information available today which can make us to fall away from our faith.
- Wars are prevalent today as they have been throughout history but they are different. People kill by pushing a button.
The violence and deception in our world is escalating so perhaps these are the signs of birth that Jesus speaks about.
We need to stand firm, learn the Word and preach the Gospel so none are deceived.

Awesome!