Saving Methodism

[BartBurk]

When I was leaving the Mormon Church, I strongly considered joining a United Methodist Church which I attended regularly for about a year. I’m glad I became Catholic instead. The mainline Protestants are in crisis. They need a Pope – I finally realized the Catholic Church was safe harbor. Anyway, here’s an article describing the Methodist’s struggles:

article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWU1MGMyYjNkZTYzZTQ2YjkyOWVhMjk2ZThlMTVkZWI=

 

[ALLFORHIM]

When I was leaving the Mormon Church, I strongly considered joining a United Methodist Church which I attended regularly for about a year. I’m glad I became Catholic instead. The mainline Protestants are in crisis. They need a Pope – I finally realized the Catholic Church was safe harbor. Anyway, here’s an article describing the Methodist’s struggles:

article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWU1MGMyYjNkZTYzZTQ2YjkyOWVhMjk2ZThlMTVkZWI=

They dont necessairly need a pope --they need to get back to the bible teachings from God.
More and more churches are getting away from biblical truth and letting the world infiltrate them

 

[kell0618]

When I was leaving the Mormon Church, I strongly considered joining a United Methodist Church which I attended regularly for about a year. I’m glad I became Catholic instead. The mainline Protestants are in crisis. They need a Pope – I finally realized the Catholic Church was safe harbor. Anyway, here’s an article describing the Methodist’s struggles:

article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWU1MGMyYjNkZTYzZTQ2YjkyOWVhMjk2ZThlMTVkZWI=

Thank you for linking the article. My husband (now Catholic ) comes from a Methodist background so I find the information interesting. His mother does not like to discuss faith issues so I don’t ever hear what is going on within her church (except for luncheons, men’s breakfast, swiss steak dinners, etc.). God bless you.

 

[CarrieH]

They don’t necessarily need a pope --they need to get back to the bible teachings from God.
More and more churches are getting away from biblical truth and letting the world infiltrate them

I converted from the United Methodist faith, and I agree wholeheartedly. The current watered-down feel-good approach of so many mainline Protestant churches is leading people astray, perhaps to their eternal peril.

 

[Contarini]

I converted from the United Methodist faith, and I agree wholeheartedly. The current watered-down feel-good approach of so many mainline Protestant churches is leading people astray, perhaps to their eternal peril.

I think this is an excellent example of how people read texts in line with their existing presuppositions. Doesn’t the article emphasize the fact that Methodist conservatives are revolting against the more liberal approach of their leaders? Over and over again I’ve heard liberal Methodists decry the increasingly conservative tone of their denomination.

Also, I don’t really trust the National Review–they don’t even try to provide a fair analysis of what is going on. And they keep referring irrelevantly to Jeremiah Wright. To me, the outrage against Wright is of the same piece as the liberal outrage against the Catholic Church for speaking out against abortion. The real struggle is not between liberals and conservatives, but between people whose real religion is Americanism (whether in its “conservative” or “liberal” variant) and people whose primary loyalty is to the Gospel.

Edwin

 

[kaygee]

I converted from the United Methodist faith, and I agree wholeheartedly. The current watered-down feel-good approach of so many mainline Protestant churches is leading people astray, perhaps to their eternal peril.

What is needed is an authoritative teacher of the Holy Scriptures – a magesterium. Personal interpretations all too frequently lead many astray to their eternal peril.

 

[Contarini]

When I was leaving the Mormon Church, I strongly considered joining a United Methodist Church which I attended regularly for about a year. I’m glad I became Catholic instead. The mainline Protestants are in crisis. They need a Pope – I finally realized the Catholic Church was safe harbor. Anyway, here’s an article describing the Methodist’s struggles:

article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWU1MGMyYjNkZTYzZTQ2YjkyOWVhMjk2ZThlMTVkZWI=

I question how “safe” a “harbor” the Catholic Church is (certainly most of the Catholics on this board don’t speak as if they think so–except of course when they are attacking Protestantism). But I agree wholeheartedly that Protestants need the Pope (not just “a” Pope), and the Methodist theologian Steve Long agrees with me. (It may not be a coincidence that Long no longer teaches at the fairly liberal United Methodist seminary Garrett-Evangelical, and I have heard from several reliable sources that this article was directly responsible for his not getting a job at Wheaton College.)

Edwin

 

[ibkc]

Also, I don’t really trust the National Review–they don’t even try to provide a fair analysis of what is going on.

I’m not sure what you mean by “fair.” They are a viewpoint publication, specifically a conservative viewpoint publication. That’s what they do, and to that end, the analyses they provide are fair and consistent within the framework of conservative thought. If you want the other side of any given issue, there are plenty of publications out there who are willing to present it. We do live in a free market of ideas, and the National Review isn’t the only source of information and opinion available. They are not required to present all points of view nor should they be.

 

[Contarini]

I’m not sure what you mean by “fair.” They are a viewpoint publication, specifically a conservative viewpoint publication. That’s what they do, and to that end, the analyses they provide are fair and consistent within the framework of conservative thought. If you want the other side of any given issue, there are plenty of publications out there who are willing to present it. We do live in a free market of ideas, and the National Review isn’t the only source of information and opinion available. They are not required to present all points of view nor should they be.

That’s “fair” enough! My point was rather that since the NR is a “viewpoint publication,” it’s misleading for Catholics who don’t know much about the UMC to rely on them for an account of General Conference and its implications. I agree that the NR has the right to give their spin on things. I’m simply cautioning non-Methodists not to take this as the most accurate or balanced picture. The NR is angry because there are Christians who aren’t right-wing conservatives. That’s about the gist of it.

Edwin