{"id":2239904,"date":"2024-05-08T09:21:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T13:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/united-methodist-church-caves-and-embraces-lgbt-ideology\/"},"modified":"2024-05-08T09:23:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T13:23:14","slug":"united-methodist-church-caves-and-embraces-lgbt-ideology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/united-methodist-church-caves-and-embraces-lgbt-ideology\/","title":{"rendered":"United Methodist Church now embraces LGBT ideology"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Funited-methodist-church-caves-and-embraces-lgbt-ideology%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2239904&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The commentary \u2064by Sarah Holliday reflects on the \u200dchallenges of being \u200ba Christian and going \u200dagainst the current of worldly values. It discusses the recent embrace of LGBT\u2064 ideology by the United Methodist Church, highlighting the \u2063shift\u200c in \u2064its \u2064teachings and\u2063 the importance \u2063of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/perino-breaks-down-over-bail-reform-tragedy-dont-think-ive-ever-cried-on-tv\/\" title=\"Perino Breaks Down Over \u2018Bail Reform\u2019 Tragedy: \u2018Don\u2019t Think I\u2019ve Ever Cried On TV\u2019\">standing firm<\/a> in biblical truth amid cultural changes. Sarah \u200cHolliday&#8217;s commentary addresses the \u200dstruggles faced by Christians in upholding their beliefs against societal norms. The piece delves into the United Methodist Church&#8217;s acceptance \u200bof LGBT ideology, emphasizing the significance of unwavering\u200b commitment\u2063 to\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disappointing-capitulation-evangelical-leaders-condemn-largest-protestant-adoption-agency-for-opening-adoptions-to-lgbt-couples\/\" title=\"\u2018Disappointing Capitulation\u2019: Evangelical Leaders Condemn Largest Protestant Adoption Agency For Opening Adoptions To LGBT Couples\">biblical principles<\/a> despite shifting cultural landscapes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/washingtonstand\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/washingtonstand\/%20\"><span>Sarah Holliday, The Washington Stand<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 8, 2024 at 4:30am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Dwight L. Moody, an 1800s American evangelist, once said, \u201cI thought when I became a Christian I had nothing to do but just to lay my oars in the bottom of the boat and float along. But I soon found out I would have to go against the current.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s true, isn\u2019t it? To be a Christian is to <a href=\"https:\/\/bibleapologetics.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-evangelist-dwight-l-moody-part-iii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deny oneself<\/a>. Daily, we pick up our cross and choose to obey what Scripture commands. This isn\u2019t merely done out of obligation, but out of affection for our Lord and Savior, the only way to truth and life everlasting.<\/p>\n<p>To be a Christian\u00a0is\u00a0to go against the current, swimming up the stream of worldliness. And as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/poll-reveals-highest-rate-scripture-disengaged-americans-time-take-discipleship-seriously\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">disciples of Christ<\/a>, living according to biblical truth, we\u2019re the ones classified as intolerant, bigoted, hateful, and narrow-minded.<\/p>\n<p>But as the famous author <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/quotes\/3189180-when-the-whole-world-is-running-towards-a-cliff-he\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C.S. Lewis<\/a> stated, \u201cWhen the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.\u201d And we are, indeed, watching as the whole world seems to be running toward this cliff, guised under the headings of \u201cinclusion\u201d and \u201cacceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s plain to see how LGBT ideology has infiltrated schools, hospitals, government, and other aspects of everyday life. But most tragically, it\u2019s infiltrated many churches, too.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, among the slew of churches departing from biblical truth, the United Methodist Church made a decision that turns biblical teaching on its head. Although the topic of homosexuality has been debated within the denomination for some time, the UMC publicly embraced LGBT ideology as a church last week.<\/p>\n<p>Since the 1970s, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christiancentury.org\/news\/umc-ends-52-year-old-anti-gay-stance#:~:text=That's%20when%20the%201972%20delegates,it%20incompatible%20with%20Christian%20teaching.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UMC claimed<\/a>, \u201cWe do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider it incompatible with Christian teaching.\u201d A 1984 version of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wkrg.com\/national\/ap-a-milestone-reached-in-mainline-protestant-churches-decades-old-disputes-over-lgbtq-inclusion\/#:~:text=May%201984%20United%20Methodist%20General,%2C%20or%20appointed%20to%20serve.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book of Discipline<\/a> added that \u201cself-avowed, practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve\u201d in the United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n<p>But at the <a href=\"https:\/\/wng.org\/sift\/umc-says-homosexuality-does-not-conflict-with-christianity-redefines-marriage-1714762487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2024 UMC General Conference<\/a>, the church, in effect, decided<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/african-church-elder-stands-firm-denominations-rewrite-marriage-holds-bible-high-declares-word-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> homosexuality is no longer immoral<\/a>, nor incompatible with Scripture. This, theologically, is patently false. No matter what the UMC claims, Scripture still condemns the practice of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/furious-government-equality-minister-calls-prosecution-priest-said-homosexuality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">homosexuality<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Really, when it comes to this topic, there never should have been a debate. As Pastor R.C. Sproul urged, \u201cWhen God says something, the argument is over.\u201d That\u2019s because God, and God alone, establishes truth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Will more churches follow UMC\u2019s lead?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But as guest host and former Congressman Jody Hice said on Friday\u2019s episode of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2M2uE8afupU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washington Watch<\/a>,\u201d \u201c[H]ow can we stand for truth if we\u2019re not immersed in it?\u201d Furthermore, how should Christians respond to churches that don\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-gaetz-to-hold-rally-in-wyo-to-call-for-ousting-of-rep-cheney\/\" title=\"Rep. Gaetz to hold rally in Wyo. to call for ousting of Rep. Cheney\">stand firm<\/a>? I think there are three points to discuss here.<\/p>\n<h3>1. How Did the UMC Get Here?<\/h3>\n<p>The UMC \u201cis the nation\u2019s second largest Protestant denomination, and they reversed their teachings on marriage, sexuality, and even the ordination of LGBTQ clergy,\u201d Hice said. As such, \u201cIt\u2019s pretty stunning for many of us to think about where the United Methodist Church has come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But as Joseph Backholm, FRC\u2019s senior fellow for Strategic Engagement and Biblical Worldview, added, even though \u201cit seems like a revolutionary position \u2026 in some ways, this outcome was kind of a foregone conclusion.\u201d Particularly when considering how long this debate has been going on within the UMC.<\/p>\n<p>Backholm explained how this longstanding debate resulted in more than 7,000 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/thousands-churches-across-us-disaffiliating-major-denomination-heartland-states-seeing-hundreds-go\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">churches leaving the UMC<\/a> over the LGBT issue. And the thousands that left the UMC were the more conservative churches of the denomination, which means the ones who stayed and voted to change the LGBT policies were the progressives.<\/p>\n<p>Backholm gave the example, \u201cIf you have an America where all of the Democrats have left and then the Republicans hold an election, then you\u2019re not going to be surprised what the outcome of that election is.\u201d The UMC vote was 692 to 51 \u2014 \u201can overwhelming supermajority of people to abandon the biblical position on the issue,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n<h3>2. What Was the UMC\u2019s Justification?<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s important to dissect some of the reasoning they gave for the change. For instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/abc11.com\/united-methodists-remove-anti-gay-language-teachings-societal-issues\/14759813\/#:~:text=But%20the%20Rev.%20James%20Howell,care%20about%2C%22%20Howell%20said.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reverand James Howell<\/a> claimed, \u201c[C]ynics and young adults will not listen to us talk about Jesus if we say we do not condone people they love and care about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In response, Backholm pointed out that it\u2019s true many people \u201cwon\u2019t listen to us talk about Jesus.\u201d However, he added, that makes it even more \u201cimportant that if somebody does listen to us talking about Jesus, that we are talking to them about the actual Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Backholm continued, \u201cI would argue what the remaining United Methodists are arguing for is creating a fictional Jesus that doesn\u2019t really exist and presenting that Jesus in the hope that their audience likes that Jesus better.\u201d But this isn\u2019t the way to salvation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Galatians+1%3A8&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galatians 1:8<\/a> made clear, \u201cBut even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.\u201d The same applies to the Jesus we proclaim. Any depiction of Him other than who He is in sacred Scripture is a path to destruction.<\/p>\n<p>The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and as Backholm made sure to emphasize, people truly do need to meet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/taylor-swift-hits-new-low-compares-directly-jesus-new-album\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus<\/a> and have an encounter with Him. He\u2019s the only way to reconciliation and eternal life, and Christians need to declare this truth. But for those who need to meet Jesus, Backholm contended, \u201cThey have to meet the real Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, \u201cJesus does not need us to amend His teachings \u2026 His doctrines, [or] His way of life,\u201d nor do we need \u201cto obscure what He said about Himself \u2026 [or] what He said about sin and our sin problem,\u201d Backholm said. It\u2019s not the Christians\u2019 responsibility to make Jesus \u201cmore palatable to people,\u201d he added. \u201c[A]s disciples, it\u2019s our job to present Him as He actually presents Himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One may be successful in their pursuit to \u201cmodify\u201d Jesus, so that the world likes Him better, Backholm highlighted, but that modification, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/can-christians-agree-gospel-live-world-antagonistic-biblical-values\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gospel<\/a>, doesn\u2019t accomplish anything.<\/p>\n<h3>3. How Do We Stand Firm Moving Forward?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201c[W]e can\u2019t avoid this cultural drift,\u201d Hice said. \u201cThis is happening. It is coming to our churches regardless of what type of church we attend. It\u2019s coming to many of our own lives and families. It\u2019s in our culture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And so, he asked, \u201c[H]ow do we as Christians deal with this in a Christ-loving, biblical manner?\u201d And in a statement of solace, Backholm\u2019s immediate response is that while \u201cthe culture is changing \u2026 God is not changing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He explained it\u2019s not a \u201cnew phenomenon\u201d that the culture is changing. However, \u201c[W]e need to come to terms with the fact that conflict with the world is part of the cost of discipleship.\u201d And Jesus is the prime example of this.<\/p>\n<p>We see in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/joe-rogan-says-need-jesus-wants-come-back-talks-scripture-aaron-rodgers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scripture<\/a> how \u201cnot everybody loved Jesus,\u201d Backholm noted. \u201cThat\u2019s why they killed Him, right?\u201d Jesus taught truth that \u201cthreatened the dominant cultural structures,\u201d and as a result, He was opposed by many who were offended by the message He proclaimed. This is also why 11 out of 12 disciples were martyred.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the one who wasn\u2019t martyred survived being boiled alive twice,\u201d Backholm added. This is all \u201cbecause the gospel has implications that people don\u2019t appreciate when they want to be in charge of themselves and other people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Backholm concluded, \u201cUniversal submission to God is a message that much of humanity does not take kindly to. And so, we just need to understand that that conflict is natural. It\u2019s to be expected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Because, if we see it coming, we\u2019re better equipped to reject having the same response the UMC had, where they felt the answer to their problem was to conform to the pattern of this world.<\/p>\n<p>But the answer is never, ever to turn away from the truth of God, but to stand firm in it \u2014 no matter the cost, scrutiny, or opposition.<\/p>\n<p><em>This article appeared originally on <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonstand.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Stand<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-45743\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/washingtonstand\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45743\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45743\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45743\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>  The Washington Stand is Family Research Council\u2019s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a commentary by Sarah Holliday of The Washington Stand on May 8, 2024, at 4:30 am, Dwight L. Moody, an 1800s American evangelist, reflected, &#8220;I thought when I became a Christian I had nothing to do but just to lay my oars in the bottom of the boat and float along. But I soon found out I would&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2239905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/United-Methodist-Church-supporting-LGBT.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2239904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/United-Methodist-Church-supporting-LGBT.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2239904"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239904\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2239905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2239904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2239904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2239904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}