What are you “stewing in”?

 What are you “stewing in”?   The presence of Jesus or political anger and anxiety?

I love the fact that the Free Methodist Denomination holds to what I call “the biblical in-between” (what John Wesley called “the middle way”)**. This biblical in-between results in a theological tent that includes many, many opinions. In our tent, these opinions must be in line with the Scripture and our basic theological framework, but we understand that both scripture and life are complex. We know that as we seek to untangle that complexity, we will sometimes come to different conclusions on a variety of issues. In our highly divided society, this biblical in-between can sometimes be a difficult & exhausting (but important) place to stand. 

One of the things I have been growingly concerned about, as we stand in this biblical in-between, is that we pay attention to how our character is being formed. I am concerned that too often our character, rather than being formed by the presence of Christ, is being formed by the anger of our politics. When Jesus shapes and forms us, the results are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control (Galatians 5:22-23). When politics shapes us, the result seems to be anxiety and anger (at least in this day and age). This anger and anxiety can lead us into other dangerous places of pride (certain that we are right and others are wrong; James 4:6), judging / shaming others (Luke 6:37) and noting the speck in others eyes, while missing the log in our own (Matt 7). 

Is your political involvement – whether that be more towards the right or towards the left – resulting in you being more like Jesus? Is it resulting in you being a person who carries the presence of Christ with you? Is it resulting in you being someone who in both word and presence brings “peace be with you”? Do you bring peace? Joy? Patience? Kindness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control? (In a way summed up by the phrase a non-anxious presence). Or has the anger and anxiety of our time seeped into your soul?

The world around us is becoming more and more spiritually hungry. My own experience is that this spiritual hunger is not just for theological answers, but it is for the very presence of God among us. Anger and anxiety drive that presence away, actually allowing in evil (Eph 4:26-27; Phil 4;6-7). Yes, sometimes seeing injustice results in anger. Yes, Jesus was sometimes angry for a moment. But we are told to not let the sun go down on our anger; don’t dwell there.

It is good to speak up for things that are right and good and biblical. But friends, in doing so, guard your hearts. Because at the end of the day, if you say the right things, but the presence of God is not evident – whether that be in your person or in your social media – we have failed in our mission, with its good-news shoes of peace (Eph 6:15).

**in this place of the biblical in between, Free Methodists value all life - including both the unborn and the elderly (Ps 139), the immigrant and the native (Ex 22 & 23), the sick and the whole (John 9). We ordain women, seeing them at every level of leadership… and we see men and women as different (part of why it’s important to have both men and women leading). We believe that the Lord is all-powerful and sovereign… and that He truly gives us choice and empowers us to participate in His work in our own lives and the world around us. We seek to love all, while teaching that not all lifestyles and life choices are in line with God’s best for us and so therefore, out of love, we call people to live life in line with the wholeness of the Scriptures.

Special Sitting of General Conference

This post is for Free Methodists, wondering about the upcoming special seating of General Conference. If you don’t want to read the whole post (it’s long), know that I believe that it is imperative for our denominational health to allow an extra two years before the next General Conference.

Last night, I popped back on social media to ask a question and discovered that there was more debate about the upcoming General Conference special sitting (and the resolution we are voting on) than I was expecting. My conference delegation already knows my opinion, but I will also make it known here.

A bit of history. I’ve been a superintendent now for nine years. In those nine years, I’ve learned a few things. I’ve learned that a document that has been cobbled together, amended, and changed, over a 160 year history, can be quite inconsistent. It can also no longer fit the needs of the current organization. I’m not talking about our theology or doctrine. I’m talking about things like the roles of the bishop, the superintendent, the world ministry center, the conference. I’ve learned that Bishops often do not have the time to do what is most strategic, because of the many things that the Book of Discipline requires them to do. I’ve also learned that my job as the Superintendent of Genesis is vastly different than most of my peers. Because of the size and resourcing in Genesis, I’m blessed with a staff that can help manage many of the details. Without a staff, too much of my time would be spent on putting out fires, meeting with committees, selling property, staying up-to-date with changes in the law. I simply would not have the necessary time to think or lead this region of churches strategically to fulfill the mission of Jesus together. During a time of significant decline in the Church, it’s imperative that we allow more leaders the freedom and time to think and lead strategically into the future.

Over the years, I have been on a number of task forces focused on these issues of restructuring the things that are hampering us as an institution. There have been so many that I have a folder on my computer, entitled “too many task forces.”

Frankly, my time on all these task forces has been discouraging. Why? Because our current denominational rhythm does not allow enough time for us to dig in, answer the questions we need, get appropriate change recommendations in place and begin to test them before the next General Conference. One of my most discouraging moments regarding all of this was when someone sent me notes from a task force that had met almost 20 years ago. In the notes I discovered that this group of people were addressing the same concerns we were and coming to the same conclusions, yet little had changed.

I’ve been so discouraged about being on these task forces that when the current one (the Unleashing Missional Momentum group that brought the resolution to extend two years) was being formed, I passed. I didn’t think I could take one more task force that didn’t get anywhere.

At the moment, I have a bit of hope. This group is asking the right questions. They are seeking the Lord. They are prayerful. They are taking an enormous amount of their own time to dig in. They are coming up with good discussion for national leadership. And, bluntly, they need more time if they’re going to get it done.

Do we need the extra two years to wrestle through these questions? Absolutely. If we do not wrestle through these questions will the dysfunction in our systems hinder a movement of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely. Does that mean that the Holy Spirit will not move among us? Of course not. But I’m keenly aware that in our past history, the movement of the Holy Spirit had to separate itself when the institution would not change. This was the case with John Wesley, and this was the case with BT Roberts. I am prayerfully hoping that this time things can be different, and we can re-create a system that supports and celebrates the movement of the Holy Spirit rather than hindering it.

This is not a power grab. The next General Conference will need to discuss, debate, amend, and vote on the changes. But in my opinion those changes are necessary if we are to ever again, as a denominational system, become a Spirit-fueled movement.

Christmas Thoughts for Genesis

 


“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world… and everyone went to their own town to register.”  

There is so much undercurrent in these beginning verses of Luke 2. It’s a frightening time. The Roman Emperor is now hailed as “Augustus Caesar” - a religious title of divinity - reminding the people that it is ultimately the Emperor who rules them, not their God. And that ruler is forcing them to travel long distances, leaving homes and work, seemingly for his own vain purposes. People are impotent against the forces that control them. And so a young poor couple are forced into a four day journey, far from the support of her family and their community, while she is close to giving birth to a child. Those first verses of Luke 2 are a picture of powerlessness.

The powerlessness continues as Mary gives birth, and the place where the new family huddles is a stable. From the world’s perspective, this is a sad story of people without resources or hope. Seven verses about the might of the world, and the powerlessness of a young family. 

Of course, Mary and Joseph know that this isn’t the full story. In Mary’s song (“The Magnificat”) in Luke 1, Mary proclaims:

 “…for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name… He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” - Luke 1:49, 52 NIV

By the beginning of Luke 2, this knowledge is still a secret. In verse 8, another group of very  unlikely people join in the secret.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:8-14 NIV

The strength, the glory, the light of the Lord, the magnificence of a heavenly host (a military term for an army of angels) suddenly show that the world’s power is nothing in comparison to the power of the Lord.
Of course throughout the story of the gospels the forces of this world wage war against the might of God. King Herod causes the young family to flee Bethlehem and become immigrants in Egypt. The political strength of the Sadducees war against Jesus and His ministry. The Roman Empire condemns Jesus to death. But each time it seems that the power of the world has won, the power of God breaks in. Jesus is born. Jesus’ life demonstrates the miraculous might of God. Jesus’ death results in resurrection, with darkness being defeated for us. 

In a day when so much seems out of our control (global crises, high inflation, a broken political system, a culture moving further and further away from God) it’s easy to forget the “secret” of Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds: the story isn’t over. That same miraculous baby that  caused an army of angels to break through 2000 years ago, invites us to walk in His power today.

We wish you not only a Merry Christmas, but a Christmas filled with moments when the “secret” of God’s power breaks through, you proclaim with the angels Glory to God in the highest!, and you experience His love and peace.

With Hope,
Pam & Marshal Braman