I’ve long been a fan of Bishop Will Willimon. He’s a terrific writer and preacher who has spent his career calling the mainline church and its members back to its primary mission of worshiping God, proclaiming the gospel, and living lives of sacrificial discipleship. I guess it’s my previous admiration for his work that makes me wonder just how bad a day Willimon was having when he wrote on the blog of the North Alabama Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church:
Knee deep in the church’s response to the crisis in Haiti, overwhelmed by the determination of United Methodists to respond to the suffering there, I received an unsolicited email from the folks at the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) complaining about the President’s health care plan. (Victims of Obamacare, By Mark Tooley, 1.28.10)
I’m not sure why he would have received this particular item from the IRD just now–it was from a January column in the American Spectator. Anyway….
Thousands of you are on the IRD’s unsolicited email list. From time to time I hear from you, upset about something that the IRD is upset about. They tend never to be concerned about anything that concerns the church – like the suffering of sisters and brothers in Haiti, the content of our preaching, the quality of our discipleship, the orthodoxy of our theology.
This is where it starts getting bizarre. If Willimon thinks that the IRD is not concerned about “the orthodoxy of our theology,” then he knows next to nothing about what they’ve been doing for the last couple of decades, which has been far more focused on combating the growing heresy and politicized theology within the mainline churches than anything else. As for the alleged lack of concern for the suffering of Christians, I don’t know how involved, if at all, IRD has been with Haiti, but it certainly has been doing all it can to bring the plight of persecuted Christians in places such as Sudan to the world’s attention for many years.
The email tirade was fairly typical for the IRD – snide, caustic, right wing conservative, devoid of any reference to the Bible or Jesus. Mr. Tooley is a good enough writer but he is utterly innocent of any theological interests. And so is the IRD. Note their title: Religion and Democracy. They never talk about Christ and they seem to think that politics and government is the answer to everything.
Actually, it’s their left-wing opponents in the mainline churches who tend to think that “politics and government is the answer to everything.” It’s exactly that mindset that the IRD was founded to combat. And again, if Bishop Willimon thinks that the IRD is “utterly innocent of any theological interests,” he clearly has not been paying attention.
The IRD seems to be a group of people who worship “religion” and “democracy” whereas the United Methodist Church is trying to worship and to obey Jesus.
Uh, “snide” and “caustic,” Bishop? And where exactly is the worship and obedience to Jesus in the UMC’s support of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights or the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation or the hyper-politicized National and World Councils of Churches?
Emails from the IRD could as easily be released by Mormon Glen Beck or some Islamic Society as by any Christian church. Though their main function is to attack mainline churches, “church” is not in their name. Right wing politics appears to be their church.
“Church” is not in the name of Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Habitat for Humanity, Bread for the World, Campus Crusade, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, or Duke Divinity School, either. I guess that means that something other than Christian faith is what they’re all about, too.
Of course, I’ve been critical when left wing politics plays a greater role in our conversation as a church than scripture or Jesus. But standing there, trying to get those water purification systems out of Alabama and into Haiti, wading through the hundreds of health kits that Alabama Methodists produced in one week, with our Conference website jammed with Methodists attempting to give money to Haiti, I was once again reminded of the irrelevancy of the IRD. They may have generous funding from a few right wing fanatics, they may have some interesting things to say about politics, and Mr. Tooley may be (in certain moments) a good satirist, but they don’t have much to do with being the church. Jesus Christ ought to control the church’s imagination – not politics left or right.
I don’t agree with everything that comes from the IRD, but I don’t have to. I’ve had more than enough contact with its employees to know that they are Christians of deep convictions, whose motivations stem from their love of Christ and His church, and who are seeking to bring the mainline churches of which they are members back to some semblance of theological orthodoxy. Before Bishop Willimon fires off another snide, caustic, uninformed, and frankly embarrassing screed about a fellow Methodist (Mark Tooley) and his colleagues, he ought to take a few minutes to get past his own political prejudices and learn something about them.
(Via IRD, but the opinions are all my own.)
November 24, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I heard Willimon speak a number of years ago – just after Resident Aliens. And I agreed with much of what he said.
But I came to realize that the language he used (things like story, narrative, etc.) was vague enough to allow for multiple interpretations.
It is unsurprising, I think, that he uses his view on communion (for example) to in essence baptize a political agenda. Whether he intended it or not, his concepts have clearly been used to do so. In his own case, his criticisms of the religious left were significant, but he tended to be more concerned with excesses of religious conservatives.
Those excesses are certainly present – and a mis-identification of Christianity with the “American Way” does occur to some degree. But he tended to overemphasize them in comparison to the excesses of religious left.
Equally, he was very critical of disunity … which, being interpreted, means ordinary Christians objecting to the things the denominations/corporations actually do AND teach.
The point is, having voiced some very real concerns and given them thoughtful attention, he manages (or his concepts have been used to manage) to equate actually following Jesus with left-leaning agendas.
November 24, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Good post.
November 24, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I wonder if Willimon has lost his mind as I read this. I too had a good impression of the man until reading about this “temper tantrum” as you describe it.
The very criticisms he launches against the IRD have characterized the UMC for over a generation!
November 24, 2010 at 7:25 pm
If you’re in a liberal denomination, you can’t avoid being corrupted. Best to stay out; or if you’re in one, get out.
November 25, 2010 at 12:03 pm
“If you’re in a liberal denomination, you can’t avoid being corrupted. Best to stay out; or if you’re in one, get out.”
I agree.
I’d even say that to IRD members who are remaining in liberal denominations that are in the grip of the Enemy and well-nigh irreformable.
November 25, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Yes, just like all the prophets in Israel were corrupted.
Everyone needs a witness, even those who are perishing.
November 25, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I’ve heard the “everyone needs a witness” argument before. How is it working out? Is the UMC leaving the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice? Affirming the infallibility of the Bible? Pointing people to Jesus as Savior and Lord:
The OT prophets had a specific calling from the Lord for a specific purpose. If Bishop Willimon or anyone else can point to that, then I’m fine with them…however, I’ve yet to hear that from anyone.
November 26, 2010 at 5:40 am
Just like Israel as a whole didn’t turn, I don’t expect my entire denomination (or any other) to make a U-turn. However, for the individuals who do turn, the change is significant indeed, don’t you think?
I do expect some of us to eventually either get thrown out or otherwise called out, don’t get me wrong. But many of us are called to lead specific churches within denominations. At least that’s how I feel in my current situation.
November 26, 2010 at 6:35 am
Ok – but what will happen to your congregation when you leave? Pastors don’t stay around for ever. How likely is it that they will get someone who preaches the gospel?
November 26, 2010 at 8:56 am
[...] One blogger seems to think that ‘Bishop Willimon fire(d) off a snide, caustic, uninformed, and frankly embarrassing screed’, but to be honest, anyone who supports the IRD I automatically question. [...]
November 26, 2010 at 10:20 am
Have thought about your example of the OT prophets overnight. Are you following the example of Elijah in 1 Kings 18:20-40? If so, then I’ll retract my comment.
If not, then your example is fatally flawed. Try again.
“At least that’s how I feel” is somewhat different from “The word of the Lord cam to Hosea” or “Yet 40 days and Nineveh is destroyed,” etc. These are valid messages to a people worshiping false gods.
November 26, 2010 at 10:33 am
Two answers…
First to Kate…granted, pastors don’t stick around forever, though there is far more likelihood of doing so in the PC(USA) than there is in the UM, Episcopal, or other denominations that assign and reassign pastors every few years. In a denomination like this one, where the congregation chooses its pastor, the goal is to make the Word of God so clear and so centrally important that the congregation will not accept anyone who is not on the same page. We still have plenty of evangelicals within the denomination for this to happen. Let’s also remember that this is not “my” congregation; it’s God’s congregation, and ultimately He is responsible for it beyond my own (hopefully faithful) witness.
Tom, I want to clarify my comments. While I grew up in this denomination, I had no plans to serve in it and went to a school outside the denomination. God very clearly led me back into it to be a witness, much to my own chagrin. I have stood up at Presbytery meetings and made the biblical viewpoint heard. I preach to my own congregation the word of God. What I “feel” is that God is calling many of us to do this, but I cannot speak for others, nor has God revealed that to me in some way. I do believe that the denominations are a mission field. I do believe that eventually we will get kicked out in one way or another, but until then (or God says otherwise), I will serve where I’ve been planted.
November 26, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Jason, I also grew up in a liberal denomination–openly preached salvation by works. But the Lord blessed me with His word (Rom. 3:20-21, etc.)
My wife and I never had to sit our children down after church on Sunday afternoon and say, “I know this is what the Sunday school teacher and the pastor said; but they’re wrong.” Why would we? In what other field of life would we do this? Why go to a doctor who you know is a quack? Or an attorney who has been disbarred? Or a fiancial advisor who has been convicted of embezzlement? Etc.
So do you say things (and take actions) like 1 Kings 18:20-40 in pesbytery?
November 26, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Ah, but Tom, when you are the pastor and your church is conservative — and your wife teaches the Sunday school — you don’t have to sit down with the kids either. And here’s the point — neither do any of the other families that attend this church. They are protected by the Word. If I wasn’t here, would they be? Who knows?
If you’re asking if I called fire down from heaven on presbytery, then no. But obviously many other prophets didn’t either. They spoke what God said to say. I think you’re prooftexting 1 Kings 18 to be the only way a prophet is motivated to speak. If you demand that every prophet work in the same way, I think you’re limiting the way God works within His own Word.
November 26, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Jason, I’ll point out that you could do all that outside the PCUSA. And you wouldn’t have the spectacle of your tithes and offerings going to support abortion on demand (courtesy of the PCUSA’s membership in the odious Relgious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.)
And you have to use up your enefty in the PCUSA wondering if it’s OK for pastors and elders to commit adultery (via the periodic debates and voes on “fidelity and chastity.” Whay is this even an issue??? What else could you be doing if you weren’t bogged down with debating things that don’t even need to be debated?
By the way, how about a Bible quote or two? “Grow where you’re planted” isn’t anywhere in the Bible. As I say, get out while you can.
November 27, 2010 at 6:47 am
Jason, here’s my last post, then I’m finished. Since you don’t bring forth any Scripture to justify your position, here is some: “Do not be deceived; bad company corrupts good morals” ( Cor 15:33. Also “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons–not at all meaning the immoral of this world, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or robber.” (1 Cor 5:9-11).
The church in Corinth, like the PCUSA, had all sorts of issues. Paul is forthright on what needs to be done.
November 27, 2010 at 9:45 am
Tom, here is the problem I see with your argument. Instead of writing to the Corinthian church, you would have had Paul write off the Corinthian church as hopelessly apostate. You want prooftexting? How about Galatians 6:1? Restore the sinning brother gently while being careful not to fall into temptation yourself. You want proof that God reaches out to sinners? Try Jonah or the gospels. Hosea is told to take an unfaithful wife and she bears his unfaithful children…yet God never says, “Hosea, go abandon them.” Instead, Hosea is sent after them when they stray. Jesus came not for the healthy but the sick, to call not the righteous but sinners (Matthew 9:11-13).
Here are the straight facts: the PC(USA) has kept the fidelity/chastity amendment four separate times. The only way that the denomination will stay out of heresy and apostasy is if we continue to drive it out. Why are we abandoning our wayward brothers and sisters rather than helping them see the error of their ways? Here’s another text for you, this time from James 5:19-20…”My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
We in the conservative church have been far too interested for too long in a church that is already pure, rather than reaching out to the sinner and the impure and offering them the pure light of Christ. We have to correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2). If there is nothing false in what our churches or denominations believe, what would there be to rebuke or correct?
At any rate, one last thought…there is a big difference between being the sinner and tolerating or supporting the sinner. That’s what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians. The entire church was fine with a sexually immoral congregant. He rebukes the whole church for supporting this man, but the group is told not to associate with the sinner who bears the name of Christ. From what I see, the denomination is full of people who need this same rebuke, but not nearly so many who are in fact sinning. It’s an important distinction.
OK, I’m done…for now.
November 27, 2010 at 10:52 am
“And you wouldn’t have the spectacle of your tithes and offerings going to support abortion on demand (courtesy of the PCUSA’s membership in the odious Relgious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.)”
Overall, IMNSHO, Tom has the better Scriptural arguments.
Denominations, but moreso the apostate and heretical denominations, need the 3 B’s: Buildings, Bucks, and Bodies.
A “faithful” or “conservative” church feeds the apostate beast of a denomination by giving it a building, bucks (to feed Molech as Tom points out), and bodies for its denominational numerical health report.
The Enemy gladly and happily uses the “faithful” pastor of a “conservative” church to evangelize for the denomination’s inclusivity, tolerance, and plurality for the sake of inculcating and embedding heresy and apostasy this generation and the next.
Jason Huff, the Enemy is pleased with your continued rationalizations to justify yourself. The Enemy likes it when people don’t flee Sodom and Gomorrah.
November 27, 2010 at 1:19 pm
TUAD -
I’m not sure how my church, which has been given over $600,000 by the denomination, is giving it at least 2 of those 3 Bs.
I’m glad you know so much about my church — which doesn’t even have Presbyterian in its name. I’m glad you know so much about me to condemn me. I think you need to think carefully about condemning people you know so very little about…otherwise, I’m just looking at another Pharisee.
November 27, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Oh, one more thing…I think the enemy (who doesn’t deserve capitalization) is pleased when we act like Jonah, when God in contrast would rather have 120,000 people preached to and repent than die. Quite frankly, how dare you?
November 27, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Jason Huff has a tough row to hoe in his Presbytery and in this denomination. I expect he is attacked quite often by liberal revisionists. He does not deserve the personal attacks he has been getting here.
November 27, 2010 at 5:31 pm
His arguments are being critiqued.
Perhaps he identifies so closely with his arguments, that when his arguments are demolished, he takes it personally.
November 27, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Jason, you could do all the things you cite above without being part of the PCUSA.
I’ll help you out: The verse you want to give me is in fact 2 Peter 2:7-8. It is the only place in Scripture I’m aware of (well, maybe 2 Kings 5:18-19; but the 2 Peter passage is more explicit) where someone actually integrates into pagan society and is an active participant with them and then is exonerated. If you want to say that you are Lot in Sodom and adduce 2 Peter 2:7-8, then I have no response.
November 27, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Jason Huff: “I’m just looking at another Pharisee.”
John Erthein: “He does not deserve the personal attacks he has been getting here.”
Hi John,
Jason is delivering personal attacks. Let’s hear you and him justify and rationalize his personal attack.
November 27, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Jason,
Thank you for standing for the faith where you are. God’s blessings on your calling. I think reading all of Jude is helpful. Building ourselves up in the word of God, waiting for the coming of Jesus and pulling the wayward from the fire, what a fantastic calling as long as the Lord Jesus christ is in it. Be faithful to him-and you are!
November 27, 2010 at 10:01 pm
The denomination just spent a half a million $’s and discovered among other things that people (rightly) see the UMC as too political … so what is the Bishop thinking?