At a recent Iowa Annual Conference I heard a Deputy Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society state, “If the homosexual issue was truly the dividing issue of the United Methodist Church, then our situation would be easily solved.” He went on to say that, the real issue affecting the UMC is the matter of spreading the Gospel. Instead of working to spread the Gospel, our church has wasted too much of its resources pursuing a political agenda. So how can we as Methodists change the course that has been set?
From our church’s earliest days, the spreading of the Good news was our main focus. In the Epistle, Paul reminds Timothy to, Fight the good fight of faith and win the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses.(1 Timothy 6:12 NJB). This was the message that the early church made its priority to bring to the people.
I would like you all to take out your Bibles, you can use the pew Bible if you like, and look at 1 Timothy chapter 6 please. Now when I began to do my research for this set of scriptures, most of those who offered starters for this sermon, suggested a stewardship message. John Wesley even used the verses to speak on the evils of being rich. However, I saw a different message in this scripture. Take a look at the first 5 verses of 1 Timothy chapter 6 as I read them.
1. All those under the yoke of slavery must have unqualified respect for their masters, so that the name of God and our teaching are not brought into disrepute. 2. Those whose masters are believers are not to respect them less because they are brothers; on the contrary, they should serve them all the better, since those who have the benefit of their services are believers and dear to God. 3. This is what you are to teach and urge. Anyone who teaches anything different and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, 4. is proud and has no understanding, but rather a weakness for questioning everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and evil mistrust; 5. and unending disputes by people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth, and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit. (1Timothy 6:1-5 NJB)
You see the real issue, as I see it, is not love of money, or what ministry or church doctrine can be tweaked so as to not offend somebody. For as Paul said basically said in verses 3 through 5, nothing is gained by fighting over the meanings of words and phrases as it only leads to distrust and anger resulting in the loss of the true message, the teaching of Jesus Christ.
In the early days of the Methodist Church, it thrived because its message was simple. The Methodist Church went west with the pioneers, the societies were often times the center of social life within the settlements, and with each group the glory of the kingdom went just a little bit further west.
Right here in our own communities to be true, in Nemaha for instance the Methodists were meeting north west of town for about fourteen years before Nemaha even existed as a town.
However, today some churches have turned its attention away from spreading the Gospel. The leadership of those churches has turned away from the mission of spreading the Gospel to the mission of social activism. It seems at times that they have become a church that does not stand on Scripture, but rather a church that uses and manipulates Scripture to promote well meaning, yet unbiblical, ethical ministries in the name of Jesus Christ.
Some churches have gone from a church that professes its faith openly, into a church that believes your practice of faith is a “private” manner to be left at home.
We are about to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the creation of the United Methodist Church. I wish I could stand here today and tell you that the United Methodist Church is harmonious and free of problems. But, that is not true and anyone who has ever been to annual conference and heard the multitude of arguments back and forth between members of the conference, know this as well. People who may be very liberal want the UMC to project one image and people who are very conservative want it to project another and then there are those who are in the middle and riding the fence. People fighting amongst themselves over what faith the church should project.
The church that Timothy was serving was facing a similar situation. We have seen glimpses of this in the Corinthian letters. We have a church that has turned to infighting over the very idea of who Christ is and what He is all about. In other words, we see a church that has become embroiled in a battle over which theology, worship, and doctrine best fits their church. A church that has placed its primary mission, the spreading of the Gospel, secondary.
Now in fighting and loss of way and purpose is not relegated to only us United Methodists, this spans the whole colorful array of Christian denominations. In fact, this very factor is what gave birth to all the denominations that exist as it is. If you were in the South you might see seven Baptists Churches in one town many that are splinters of the first one because somebody’s feelings got hurt, or because they did not like something the pastor said during a course of sermons. The examples are endless, and this exactly why Paul reminds Timothy to “fight the good fight”.
For us here in our local church community we are so capable of doing so much for our local communities. It comes with letting the Holy Spirit lead the way. It comes with holding fast to the teachings of Jesus Christ, so that we can keep from falling victim to those teachings that are more of this world, rather than of the other.
Speaking of practices, one of the biggest misconceptions and traps that churches fall into deal with stewardship and finances of the church. What is the first thing you think of when I mentioned the word “stewardship”? Probably money, right? Now how many know of people or churches that try to run their finances like a secular business? Guess what, it doesn’t work does it? How can you run an effective ministry if your main focus is money?
Do you realize that money is only a part of stewardship? Service is a part, ministry and mission are parts, our ability and want to spread the Gospel makes up a huge part of stewardship. So what does this say of our role? If spreading the Gospel is THE major part of Stewardship, then why do we do we think of stewardship in only monetary terms? Mainly, because we only see the funds and not the purpose behind the funds.
As I said before, a church cannot be a good steward if it tries to run itself like a secular business. Why? What’s the bottom line in business? How much money is in the coffers after the bills are paid, right? How can we make a profit? What is more important the propane bill, or people down the street who are searching to find answers about God in their lives? Copy paper and toner or people who are barely surviving and are in need of a mission church to teach their children to love God, and provide them with the ability to become self-sufficient.
Paul reminds us that religion can bring big profits. However, it’s not the kind of profits that can necessarily be added up with dollars and cents. It is the kind of profit that will bring fortune to the whole Kingdom, not just a few of its subjects.
Jesus last week and Paul this week remind us that we can only serve one master. Money is a tool given to us by our true master. However, when it becomes our master or the master of the congregation then all sorts of problems can erupt. Just like that church where Timothy was serving. A congregation can lose sight to whom they owe their allegiance. We can become to busy fighting each other instead of the “Good Fight.”
Fighting the Good fight, requires practice what is it that Paul tells Timothy? “But, as someone dedicated to God, avoid all that. You must aim to be upright and religious, filled with faith and love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11 NJB). In other words, we have to work at our piety. John Wesley called it working towards perfection.
For us as a congregation, I think back to the words of prayer that are offered up during communion. “In ministry to all the world until Christ comes to feast at his Heavenly banquet.” No matter if we are in rural northwest Iowa or in a metropolitan area we are all in ministry. Where ever we may be ministry needs to be done.
It is very important for us as members of the body of Christ to keep ourselves fit for duty. In order to do this I think back to Paul and his letter to the Ephesians, for much of what he had to say to Timothy resonates in those words of encouragement. Let me reread those wonderful words from Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)
In other words, be ready at all times and all places to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we speak to one another, even when we think no one is listening to us always be aware that wherever we are, we are in ministry. Remember no matter what shade of true Christianity someone professes, that somewhere deep inside is a person whose mission is the same as yours, the spreading of the Gospel for their beloved Lord and Savior.
This coming week, while you are looking for opportunities to share the Word of God, let the Holy Spirit lead the way. Think of that old “Yellow Pages” commercial, about ‘let your fingers do the walkin’. Instead of your fingers doing the walking, let the Spirit do the talking, and bring the Good News to all who will hear it. Amen.
