"Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and other have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept his should accept it"
My Nana and I have talked several times this week. He is a retired United Methodist Minister and wanted me to let him know as I heard of things happening at the United Methodist Church General Conference. The United Methodist Church is a global church that follows a book of discipline. Every 4 years delegates, bishops and lay people from all around the world meet to discuss what is happening in the church and to make proposals to change the current book of discipline. This year the "hot topic" is inclusion. The Book of Discipline clearly states that an openly gay person cannot be ordained in the UMC and that an Ordained Minister cannot marry a gay couple in the church.
The United Methodist church has been debating this issue for years much like the debates to end the segregation of the church and to allow women to be ordained. The UMC is known for being progressive, for being the leader in inclusion and standing up for equality and the rights of people. John Wesley started the Methodist Church based on this. He did not approve of the way that the church ignored child labor laws, healthcare and many other things. Our own founder believed in justice for all and started a movement based on this.
Where did we go wrong? At what point did the church decide that inclusion, equality, grace and love were for some and not others? I am not sure I know the answer to this but I do know that this is not the way Jesus taught us to treat each other, this is not the way in which John Wesley wanted his movement to go and this is not the way in which the majority of United Methodist believe.
As someone going into the ministry this is one of biggest struggles. My love for the UMC is out of my love and passion for fighting for social justice, their views on grace and the way in which the church responds to those in need. This is MY church. This church models the way in which Jesus preaches throughout the entire Gospel; love, grace, mercy and acceptance for all. I continue to stay in this church because I believe in it. I believe that God is calling me to stand up for what is right, to voice my opinions about inclusion and to continue to spread the Good News that Jesus brings.
Matthew 19:12. After talking with my Nana, I have read the passage over and over again. I have read commentary on various sites, looked through my study Bible and can understand the value in this passage. "Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they are born this way..."
The Bible is open to interpretation by each person that reads it, that's the point. There are times that it is not clear exactly what is being said but this passage, these words are clear to me. We are all born the way that we are, created in the image of God, created to love one another, to accept one another and to live as God's people. So why do we choose to allow this to apply to some people and not others? Out of fear? Out of shame? Out of judgment? Yes. Yes to all of those.
By allowing God to work through me, I have learned that fear, shame and judgment only hold you back. That accepting everyone for who they are is the way that Jesus taught. That allowing others to shame each other will get us nowhere and standing up for each other and the rights of the oppressed by showing them grace, mercy and love will open your heart to more possibilities than you know.
I don't know what is going to happen in the church. I don't know if the book of discipline will stay the same, if equality and inclusion will finally be adopted or if the church will not be able to reconcile it's differences and split. Nobody knows.
What I do know is that God will continue to work through each of us. To show us the way through the teaching of Christ and to allow us to open our hearts to one another without judgment or fear. I believe in the good of The United Methodist Church and I believe that the right thing will be done it is simply a matter of waiting, praying and not losing hope.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:12-14
