Will the New Traditional Methodist Welcome LGBT Persons?

UMC Split — Traditionalist Methodist Questions and Answers - FAQ

Lubber OpinionLubber Opinion

The views and opinions expressed by this lubber do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the crew. Reader discretion be advised. – Staff

 

Question: Will the new Traditional welcome LGBT persons?

Answer: Great question. Many Methodist have asked if members of the LGBT community will be welcomed in the new Traditionalist Methodist denomination. Before answering, I thought it might be helpful to look at what the Apostle Paul said regarding the standing of every individual before God.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romance 3:23-24 There is no one righteous, not even one. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12. In writing to the Romans Paul quoted from Ecclesiastes. 7:20: “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” and Psalms 14:3: “There is no one who does good, not even one.”

If God only accepted into church those who were without sin there would be no church. We are all sinners before God. In many ways the worst sinner is the one who thinks they are more righteous than someone else — that their sins are not “as bad.” Jesus himself made it clear that those who hold this attitude are in danger of missing his grace and mercy.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'” Luke 18:9-14

Yes, members of the LGBT community will be welcomed to worship with Traditionalist Methodist. At least I pray so. Those who consider themselves “Traditionalist Methodist” have family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, who are gay. We love, like, and interact with LGBT persons every day. A person’s sexual orientation does not exclude them from God’s love and grace, nor should it exclude them from worshipping in God’s house. The key point to remember and acknowledge is that we are all sinners in need of a savior from sin: namely Jesus Christ. He alone can free us from the bondage of sin. His Spirit can and will defeat the flesh — if not in our lifetime then in the age to come. We are only asked to acknowledge our sin (confess), agree to turn from sin (repent) and ask Christ to fight for us. He will. He came for this very reason: to die and save you from sin and the eternal death it brings.