tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10760709.post1722775546221717053..comments2023-10-31T10:28:50.158-04:00Comments on The Zeray Gazette: A Six-Word Motto for the UMCJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04854543617806427302noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10760709.post-58576406769854520312008-04-14T17:13:00.000-04:002008-04-14T17:13:00.000-04:00Based on how many people are reportedly leaving th...Based on how many people are reportedly leaving the UMC, I'm not sure it's an apt motto.Dale Tedderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13415830327038660144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10760709.post-27454720790585612182008-04-14T12:12:00.000-04:002008-04-14T12:12:00.000-04:00Nice synopsis of the issues facing not only the UM...Nice synopsis of the issues facing not only the UMC, but all Christians in a <I>"morally relative"</I> world. Christ is king, creator, shepherd, priest, redeemer, and, most often overlooked, judge. Ultimately, we will be accountable for our inability to affect cultural change while arguing the inner workings of our faith from a political position. We focus on the rules, try to throw in a little social consciousness, and call it faith. God is never changing, and while we attempt to adjust the Discipline to make us feel good about our faith, God may see it very differently.<BR/><BR/>At times, the UMC a great deal like the Israelites, wandering in the desert, not completely trusting God, and afraid to give up the sins of the past. Amos says it well, very similar to Jesus, but with less couth:<BR/><BR/><I>“‘I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. <B>But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.’</B>”</I> Amos 5:21-24<BR/><BR/>All God wants is faith and with fatih comes justice. Faithful Christians are just Christians in all things: from fighting non-Christian behavior in the world to fighting non-Christian behavior in our church. Being just means not giving in to moral relativism, making rules for the sake of placating a group, or turning a blind eye to the destructive behavior of dictators. Being just means doing good, and sometimes in doing good, we let our brothers and sisters in Christ and the rest of the world know of their sin. Jesus was just. He did not mince words when it came to sin, but what He did do was present a message of hope and redemption. As we discuss these issues within our church, we need to confront sin, but also offer the hope for repentance and forgiveness in Christ.<BR/><BR/>PAX<BR/>JDJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09369664921706836400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10760709.post-89893918682001022692008-04-14T11:27:00.000-04:002008-04-14T11:27:00.000-04:00Well, sure, the worst critics prefer to stay in th...Well, sure, the worst critics prefer to stay in the church and in the country... in the world of adults, disagreement is not grounds for walking out. I wish that wasn't such a weird concept.Ken Loweryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13582094936838936011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10760709.post-58881104089326320502008-04-14T11:25:00.000-04:002008-04-14T11:25:00.000-04:00The problem is that with the UMC, the worst critic...The problem is that with the UMC, the worst critics may be staying, but lots of other people aren't.Jeff the Baptisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978930508610389584noreply@blogger.com