On this Good Friday I like many Christians all over the world look forward to the day of resurrection and the assurance of life everlasting, the rekindling of our faith because he lives! The empty tomb says it all and hope abides in all who call him Lord. Stay strong in the faith and accept no compromise in the truth of his word. This is my Good Friday message to friends and all who read this. There is nothing remarkable about what I have written here. What is remarkable is that in an ever changing world, I could be arrested, put to death without trial, convicted for my faith. What is remarkable is I am free to say and write, “He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and all praise is to Him, my God, my Savior and our Hope. Our strength lives in our hope and hope lives where strength resides.
jkcarpenter

Last blog I shared with you our struggle over same- gender relationships which have progressed to the point of possibly creating a split in the United Methodist Church. I wrote of a book “Finding Our Way: Love and Law in The United Methodist Church” which I am now reading. The following is taken from that book and was written by Rueben P Job.

Or after forty- two years of trying to find our way on our own, does it really matter how we got where we are? Because we all know we are at an unhealthy place and a place we do not want to be. Today we are deeply pained to find ourselves in a church we dearly love that is severely wounded, divided, politicized, and draining energy and resources in our struggle over same- gender relationships to the neglect of our witness for Jesus Christ.”

Amen! Brother Job, well said and to the point! I too grow weary of this continuing debate, topic, discussion; I am at a loss as to exactly what to call it. It is indeed sapping the resources and time of clergy and laity that are needed to do the work of the Lord, the work that we as Christians have been called to do. I think the book seeks to address a subject that is long overdue and is casting a large shadow within our denomination. Whether it is a change of mind, procedure, rule or statement of position, change never comes easy. It is my view and a number of other folks in the pew that this change comes with too great a cost. This is from the Book of Discipline page 54.

“But even as they were fully committed to the principles of religious toleration and theological diversity, they were equally confident that there is a marrow of Christian truth that can be identified and that must be conserved.”

One of the definitions for marrow is, the inmost, best, or essential part. You see I believe our church has been high jacked as a means of legitimizing a social issue that clearly the church, as witnessed by God’s word should not be an arbitrator of, as God spoke to this from creation on. This issue has been decided. We, Christians, will never see a Godly resolution of this issue within the church as long as the debate is influenced by secular world norms and under the banner of civil rights. I submit to you that the essential part of this issue is God’s word.. To that I add this word . What was God’s intent as to man and woman and to marriage? I would not for a moment pretend to know God’s mind but I do feel I am reasonably educated enough to discern his intent. In this particular moment I believe it was very clear.

Genesis 1
26 And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God said, not a committee, study group or highly educated theologians; male and female he created them and for what purpose? Verse 28 answers that. From Genesis on marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe that to be God’s intent. Now the other issue from which this issue of same sex marriage came out of.

Leviticus 18 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

None of these words are from any other source than God. What was God’s intent? Could it have been I am the Lord your God, I am holy, so shall you be holy. This is what God expected from his people and does to this very day. I find that which you are asking the church to accept in the name of inclusiveness are things that God said to be an abomination in his sight have somehow become alright by today’s norms.Can you show me any other intent God may have envisioned? I believe this is about Holy Living, seeking to be in God’s presence. Next week I will share what our responsibilities are to God’s people. I will be waiting here in the pew.

I have struggled with this particular blog because the last thing I want to do is sow discord. The two previous blogs were gentle attempts to broach this subject. I believe that in the pew this is not a subject that is routinely discussed, like the old “elephant in the room,” we know it’s there but look the other way. Experience has taught me that the act of avoidance is akin to blissful ignorance. Wake up! This elephant is not going to go away. There is a debate that encompasses the whole of the United Methodist Church, is divisive at its very utterance and is quietly destroying the faith. It is particularly disturbing because the leadership of our denomination is itself spinning in the wind in hopes that enough dust will cover a subject that draws lines quicker than a room full of architects with pencils and drawing tables.

The subject of discussion is Homosexuality, Same Sex Marriage and what the church believes to be the correct path forward. Like the Israelites we too have been wandering in the wilderness, for at least forty years, and having our faith questioned. For us there seems to be no Mosses and the Promised Land is hidden from view behind trees of words. These twelve words have given birth to well over several million words over the last forty years.

Leviticus 18 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

I alluded to a path the church is traveling and it is troubling that so few of those of us from the pew are walking it with the leadership of our denomination. I purchased a book last week that has opened my eyes and contains enough red flags that one would think it was May Day in China. Here is the title, “Finding Our Way: Love And Law In The Methodist Church” This book has several authors, all respected clergy and ordained elders of the church. I recommend you start your journey down the path by reading this book. This book was used at a recent clergy meeting in Pigeon Forge TN as a guide in small discussion groups.

Next week’s blog will go into some detail about this subject and where this layman is at this point. This is my thought and it could be wrong. I believe that most pastors don’t like divided or unhappy folks in the pews. That makes for an unhappy church which the DS surely does not like and the conference likes it even less. Point is this issue is being discussed among the clergy and some Lay-Leadership but we, the folks in the pew aren’t at the table yet. Remember Leviticus 18:22….well folks this debate is not about a verse of twelve words. It goes to the very core of the faith. Come back next week, buy the book, ask questions, get informed. I’ll be waiting here in the pew.

I remember when Webster said marriage was between a man and a woman but like all books there is a revised or newer version today. Here then is the current definition of marriage according to Webster, which points out that this is the “Full Definition”.

Full Definition of MARRIAGE
1
a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage
b : the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock
c : the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2
: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3
: an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry — J. T.

Well the explanation, “like that of a traditional marriage ”, helps me understand to some degree the state of confusion in the Methodist church about this marriage issue that for the last 40 years has been the subject of many debates and written word in our church. To be fair the issue for most of those years was homosexuality and only recently has the debate included marriage, same-sex marriage. Now it is coming together for me. Marriage requires two people, a contract by law that is between persons of the opposite sex, or two people of the same sex who chose to be united in a manner like that of a traditional marriage. This relationship then becomes defined as wedlock, an institution whereby the individuals are joined in marriage.

I am trying hard to be rational about this and I believe Webster’s has given me a path to follow. This debate we Methodists are having has been wrongly labeled. This is about a traditional socially approved practice that meets the legal and social norm of our day.

Full Definition of TRADITION
1
a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2
: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3
: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4
: characteristic manner, method, or style

When you look at marriage as defined above it is really not that big a deal….socially speaking. From a faith perspective, living a holy life and obeying God’s law, it is a big deal. Two things and then I will wrap this up.

– Not only did Jesus choose not to marry, he encouraged his disciples to abandon household and domestic concerns in order to follow him (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:28-30; Luke 9:57-62). He even refers to those “who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:10-13). Whatever that means, it’s certainly not an endorsement of marriage. Paul likewise encourages male believers: “Do not seek a wife” (1 Corinthians 7:27, my translation) — advice Paul took for himself. http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f018.html

-What Jesus Taught
“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’“
—Matthew 19:4 (NKJV)
“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’”
—Mark 10:6 (NKJV)
When Jesus was asked questions about marriage he went straight back to the defining passages in Genesis that say that marriage is between male and female and is meant to be life-long. He saw the Creation accounts in Genesis as authoritative in His day. And what is authoritative for Jesus is authoritative for Christians also. While Jesus did not specifically teach on homosexuality, His establishment of the Genesis passages as the fundamental passages on marriage (even more fundamental than the Law) leaves no doubt as to the outcome. http://www.openbible.info/topics/marriage

To those of us that consider God’s word and law to be a standard of holy living that we as Christians consider to be the calling we have been given it is asking much of us, too much, that we be expected to violate our God’s commandants to us in order to satisfy the ever changing socially acceptable norms. The Methodists in the pews, the ones I sit with welcome all into God’s house and to his table. We will not however condone or support a church or leadership that asks us to accept that which our God has found to be an abomination in his eye. If we must violate our faith to accept your demands, in what way is that of God?

In Exodus 14: 9-31 we read about the Israelites, their lack of faith in God and Moses, the parting of the Red Sea and their escape from the armies of the Egyptian King. The Angel of the Lord is out front of the Israelites in a great cloud. The people look back and see on the horizon a huge cloud of dust. They know the King’s armies are coming to get them. Soon the ground is shaking beneath their feet as the chariots come closer and they fuss at Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and into this mess. He tells them, “Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today….” Like those Israelites we in times of stress cry out to God, more often in desperation and not in faith. You know the story. The Angel of the Lord and the great cloud move to the rear of the mass of people fleeing the Kings armies, blocking their way and delaying their charging in among the people; the wind begins to blow, it blows all night and the waters part exposing the sea bed. The Israelites cross over to the other side, the cloud lifts and the Kings army in its anger charges forward into the seabed…… and die.

I use the Upper Room for my morning devotional and an article submitted by Bob G. Wood from Tennessee has stayed with me for a long time. It seems there is an old joke which tells about two Israelites who were following Moses across the Red Sea just after God parted the waters. One comments to the other, “Can you imagine what this mud is doing to our sandals? They’re probably ruined.” We are a lot like those two in the story; we are so focused on the negatives and worries of our lives that we completely miss the miracles and blessings all around us. These two guys took their eyes off the horizon of hope and salvation God was providing and began to despair over the problems of this life. Those two Israelites were worried about the mud on their sandals and couldn’t see the Glory of God’s salvation waiting for them. What about the mud on our shoes, how much and from where does it come?

There is a debate going on today in the Methodist church, and believe it or not for at least the last forty years. Like the Greeks of Paul’s day we to love to debate but unlike the Greeks our debates soon lose reason and purpose; the voices are many and the words become self-serving and meaningless. We are mired in the social agendas of the day. What was once unthinkable has now become plausible? In our homes, workplace and even in the church, the place many of us go seeking refuge from the problems of everyday life and the mud clinging to our shoes, making our steps heavier and there only to discover that the Church is under attack and even within its walls we sometimes hear the rumble of the Kings chariots coming closer. For some of us it like being in a desert of despair, uncertainty, sin and a world that is increasingly attacking our Christian values? We will do well to remember Moses’ words.

“Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today….”

The distractions and evils of this world can sometimes overwhelm us as they come between us and God’s will in our lives. I am struck by the politics of our church, the lack of civility, the language and total disregard for the truth; “Pogo once said we have found the enemy and they is us.” I am growing weary of leadership that seeks to amend scripture through endless dialog, committees that spend hours of time and resources trying to rationalize the sins of this world that are now considered the new norm. A Christian has to find the dry ground, rise above the mud of this world. We must walk a different path. Shake the mud off your shoes and keep your eyes on the horizon that you might see the love, grace, and salvation that is yours through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today….”

This chapter tells of Jesus going outside of traditional Judaism among those his contemporaries considered to be their enemies, the Samaritans, the breach between them and the Jews can be traced to the Assyrian occupation of northern Palestine. I chose this topic because it speaks to our need to get out of the pews and go outside to a world that needs to hear about Jesus. I will admit that there is another reason that brought this to mind. Most of us find it easy to be nice where we are expected to be nice, like in church or around church friends or family. How do we react outside the walls of the church and away from our Christian contemporaries?

When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, he meets someone that is a total contrast to all he has been taught. Not only are some of her beliefs different and not only is he is not speaking to a male of the Jewish religious establishment but to a female of an enemy people. One lesson to be learned here is Jesus recognized the theological necessity of offering himself to those whom social convention deemed unacceptable. The social conventions of Jesus’ time would not allow Jesus to initiate a conversation with an unknown woman and certainly a Jewish teacher did not engage in public conversation with a woman. Jews also did not invite contact with Samaritans. So how serious would this be? It was a reflection of a fear of ritual contamination and this alone discouraged any and all social intercourse. So how is that relevant to us today? We are comfortable and feel safe among those like us and our church pews reflect that. Outside these walls we run the risk of being contaminated by those who don’t think like us, act like us, dress or look like us and in some cases don’t smell like us. If there is no one to go and tell them, how are they to know?

I encourage you to read the entire 4th chapter of John. As you read this chapter perhaps you might see yourself as taking the good news to unexpected places at unexpected times.
*Reference NIB

Having been a Lay-Speaker in the Methodist Church I have had the privilege on occasion to speak at different churches in my district. Today’s blog is an excerpt from one of those times. The news is full of the persecution of Christians and the destruction of our churches with the goal of destroying the faith. Here then is an excerpt from the message “Defending the Faith”.

FAITH HAS BOTH AN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENSE IN THE BIBLE. THE FIRST RELATING TO ONE’S LOYALTY TO A PERSON OR COMMITMENT TO A PROMISE; THE OTHER BEING CONFIDENCE IN THE WORD OR ASSURANCE OF ANOTHER. FAITH IS NOT MERELY WHAT A PERSON BELIEVES, AS EXAMPLE, AN ACCURATE DOCTRINE OR CREED, BUT ALSO AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT THE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH IS VALID. THAT EMPTY TOMB VALIDATES OUR FAITH.
I BELIEVE IT TO BE A REASONABLE STATEMENT THAT WE ARE GOVERNED BY OUR THOUGHTS; WE ULTIMATELY BECOME WHAT WE DWELL MOST UPON IN OUR MINDS. THE APOSTLE PAUL GAVE THIS INSTRUCTION TO THE ROMANS: Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSAGES: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

WHAT IS VALUE OF FAITH? WE FIND SECURITY IN OUR FAITH. 2CHRONICALS: 20-20……… As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
WE ARE ESTABLISHED AS A PEOPLE THROUGH OUR FAITH. ISAIAH 7-9 …………“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

OUR FAITH IS A GIFT OF GOD LUKE 17: 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
ROMANS 12: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
HERE IS A PASSAGE WE ALL KNOW WELL……8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit ………….

THE PURPOSE OF OUR FAITH IS TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING AND TRUTH. John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
FAITH HELPS US TO GROW IN GOD’S GRACE Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

WE ARE ABLE TO REJOICE THROUGH OUR FAITH. PHILIPPIANS 2: 17-18 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

WE CAN USE OUR FAITH TO STRENGTHEN OURSELVES. ROMANS 6:13-14 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

THROUGH FAITH WE BECOME TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, A PEOPLE STRONG IN THE FAITH. EPHESIANS 3: 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
WE NEED………
-THE BOLD FAITH OF OUR LORD THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO NO LESS THAN THE FATHER’S WILL, EVEN IF IT MEANT HIS DEATH.
-THE BOLD FAITH OF PAUL HAVING BEEN STONED AND LEFT FOR DEAD, HE GOT UP, WENT BACK AND CONTINUED TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS.
-THE BOLD FAITH OF PETER RISING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PAUL AND BARNABAS’ MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES.
-THE BOLD FAITH OF JAMES WHO CHALLENGED THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM, KNOWING THAT THERE WERE THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE GENTILE.
WE NEED A BOLDNESS IN OUR FAITH THAT SAYS ….COME AS YOU ARE. THE FAITH BELONGS TO ALL WHO SEEK JESUS CHRIST.
THE CHURCH HAS LOST ITS BOLDNESS. WE MUST PUT ASIDE THE DISTRACTIONS OF THIS WORLD AND COME TOGETHER IN DEFENSE OF THE FAITH.
TO DEFEND THE FAITH IS TO DEFEND JESUS CHRIST…..”I AM THE WAY”

*References from William Barclay, Daily Bible study are included in this blog.

Ah, back in the day….Now when someone opens a conversation or begins a blog with these words, the chances are they’re a bit long in the tooth. So let me open by writing. Back in the day when I was working we used to have these motivational meetings that were designed to help us all be of one mind, you know a team thing. To help you understand this team thing I will share this with you. There were five kids a dog and a parakeet and mom and dad. My dad was career military, Air Force. There is a lot of team work that goes into being a military family. My mother’s take on team work was simple. When we gathered at the table to eat, we ate what was in the can, no substitutions. We were a team at least at the table. Now about that work thing and the meeting I have always remembered.
Authority, Accountability and Responsibility three words that I supposed were important to us as individuals and as a team. Here are the secular definitions for each.

Authority
: the power to give orders or make decisions: the power or right to direct or control someone or something
: the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people
: a quality that makes something seem true or real

Accountability
: the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions

Responsibility
the state of being the person who caused something to happen
: a duty or task that you are required or expected to do
: something that you should do because it is morally right, legally required, etc.

I have always remembered these words because of what the instructor told us about them. Authority is given or granted, Accountability is imposed and Responsibility is inherent and must be accepted by each individual.

Now comes the fun part.
The title of this blog is “From the Pew, A Layman’s View of The Gospel.” The nice thing about sitting in the pew is you can say most anything, good or bad and other than those close by, no one hears you. You can always say “gee I wish they would…” and not do a thing, because every church has a bunch of “they” that will do it. Using the NRSV, Bible Gateway counted 133 times that Authority could be found in the bible, Accountability 5 times and Responsibility 9 times all in the OT. Take the time to look them up, you may find more in other translations. It is amazing to read the Christian perspective as written in the Gospel. Take the time to look. I may have miss-counted. I will be waiting here in the pew for you.

It has been written that Jesus put a face on God. Our Sunday school class begins with prayer requests and devotion before the lesson itself. Some of the names we are able to put a face to but many are people and situations we are not familiar with. The current series we are studying is about Prayer. The lessons were written by Randy Cross and have opened our collective eyes and minds to the power of prayer as a means of establishing and strengthening our relationship with God. Much has been written and said about prayer as a part of the Christian life or the lack of it. This blog is about us, the people in the pews, “a laymen’s view of the gospel” so to speak. I have no formal education in theology therefore I will not attempt to share with you some new and astonishing stuff about prayer. Instead I will share with you a moment of revelation shared with our class by a very special lady.

It has been almost a year that our class has been praying for a lady who was diagnosed as having stage four colon cancer. This has been a powerful series for our class, taught by a wonderful and spirit led lady who brought us a gift so few see. Today we met the lady we have been praying for, some of us for the first time. She is still fighting the battle, but she is not at war. This is not a feel good story, and the end has not been written. The lady has “given over” her life to God’s will. The cancer is still there but has diminished in mass and now there is the possibility of other procedures that were never thought to be possible. She walks this road every day knowing that God walks with her and her needs will be met. It’s not about healing, it is about strengthening the bond of faith between her and her God….so that his will might be done. We added an extra week to the study and this morning Renee put a face on prayer as she joined us to share her journey so far. The road she walks is subject to the events of this life, but her destination lies with the creator of all life in who our resurrection and life everlasting is assured through the death and resurrection of his Son. She spoke openly of her fears, her hopes and most importantly about the reality of prayer in situations that overwhelm and intimidate. Renee put a face on our prayers and we were able to see the power of prayer in her face. She gave us a gift I would like to share with you.

Prayer of Relinquishment
Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You.
May Your will be my delight today.
May You have perfect sway in me.
May your love be the pattern of my living.
I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions.
Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will.
I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.
I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your Kingdom on earth.
For Jesus’ sake, Amen.`