The Wheels are Turning

When you serve in ministry you have the privilege of being with people in some of the most important times of their lives: births, baptisms, weddings, and when they face their own mortality.  When I am invited into some of the holy moments, I take it with reverence and with humility.  Occasionally, I come across more than one of these moments on the same day.  Those times always get me thinking.  

 One day recently, I saw a young family who has just moved into the area.  They are a picture of potential and possibility.  A new community and new job and new friends are just within arms’ reach.  Their beautiful young children are friendly and polite.  What a joy to see.  As their mother pushed them away in the stroller, I thought about the wheels that were taking these young ones to new adventures.  They thought nothing of the means to get there, but only the adventures before them.

 My next stop was to see a former colleague.  He has moved into an assisted living facility.  His health is failing and he can no longer take care of himself.  He gets around with a motorized scooter because he now lacks the energy to walk the halls that his nurses cover in just a few purposeful steps.  I thought about the dichotomy of those wheels of his scooter and the wheels of the baby’s stroller.  It is almost as if we could say: “From your wheels as a child you came and to your wheels you will return.”  

 However, let us not necessarily linger on these “bookend” moments.  What matters is the middle.  I wonder if we are living as if to make our days in the middle count for something?  Are they days where we would sit in that motorized scooter, near the end of our time here, and be glad for the choices we made and the people with whom we associated?  Would we wish we had taken more chances?  Would we wish we had tried some things that seemed too crazy at the time?  Will we be full of regrets of the choices we had made or the ones opportunities we passed by?  From my observations of those moments, it is when we ignore the call of God in our lives that while we live on this earth, we mourn our death in other ways.

 Sarah Corson writes: “...the realization came to me that there is more than one way to die. We will all die physically.  But if we are afraid to follow God, if we are afraid to step out into the unknown when He calls us, then we can die mentally and spiritually while sill existing physically...If we had been afraid to do what we knew we should do, if we had stayed in our comfortable situation at home...we would have dried up and died in another way.  I knew in that moment that God was reminding me that it is far better to die physically than spiritually. (Sarah Corson.  Risking Everything.  SIFAT Publications, Lineville, AL, 2010.)"

What is God calling you to do with your days in the middle?  Are you living or are you drying up and dying?  We will all come to an end of our days on this earth, but we can live these days and countless more.

 “Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”  John 11:25-26

So Begins a New Journey

Some years ago, I came across this statement: “Theological study is worship with the Mind.”  That truth has resonated with me even since I laid eyes upon it.  We can worship our Lord not only in our hearts and souls, but also in our thinking and reasoning.  This desire has continued to grow in me.
Simultaneously, many of you have participated in missional service with me.  Together we have held little children who--until they felt your arms--felt as though they had no hope.  We have built homes so that others may live in peace and security.  We have treated God’s people who suffer from all sorts of diseases and illnesses.  We have removed trees from the homes of our brothers and sisters after storms.  We have sat and cried together as a stranger went through the shambles of her home.
When returning from a mission journey people will often say, “I got more from those people than I gave them.”  No doubt, serving others is a great blessing.  We may all be poor in different ways--financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc.  By serving someone else, we often see our own poverty and those we serve minster to us with their abundance.  I have seen it in many of you, many times over.
Now all of these experiences and desires are coming together.  I have been accepted to study for a PhD in Theology at Durham University in Durham, England (www.durham.ac.uk).  My family and I will move to England in August and study there for one year.  For the two remaining years of the Doctoral Programme, I will study how missional service is working in the people of The United Methodist Church in the United States, while returning to England regularly for follow-up study.  If the Lord provides, I will continue to study full-time.  Or if He leads us to do so, we will serve a church in our Annual Conference while completing my studies part-time.  My dissertation’s working topic is: "The Long-Term Effect of Short-Term Mission: The Relationship Between Holistic Missional Service as an Act of Mercy Upon the Recipients and a Means of Grace for Missioners."  God is moving in the Church around the world.  It is my desire to study how cross-cultural service is growing the Church at home and abroad.  The world is getting smaller, and the Church needs to be prepared to minister to the increasing numbers of people who are within our reach.  It is my desire to use my research findings to make a lasting and positive impact churches in the US and abroad.
I will continue to serve through the end of June.  Bishop Leeland has appointed Rev. Laura Parker as the new Associate Pastor.  She will begin in July.  I look forward to all that God will do through Laura in the coming years.
Beth, Joshua, Meg, and I have been very blessed by our nine plus years at Fairhope United Methodist Church.  You have been wonderful to us.  I am not sure how we could ever express our gratitude.  We look forward to how we might continue to partner together for the Kingdom in years to come.  You will always have a special place in our hearts--and a place to stay in England!

Re-Purpose

A year after his Heart Warming Experience at Aldersgate Street John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, made some bold moves with the people called Methodists by establishing a base for their work.  This renewal movement of the Church of England was young.  But they were people who were set on bringing the Kingdom of God to the people in their reach and in this case, London.

So in 1739, Wesley purchased the Foundry in London.  This was where the cannons and other ordnance were made for the King’s military.  Wesley transformed the building into a place of worship, of service to the poor, and a place of prayer.  I love the fact that a place that was once used to bring about war, was now used to bring about the Peace of God in the hearts of His people.  It was re-purposed for the Kingdom of God.

That one of the things I like about spring.  The ground that was cold, harsh, and lifeless a month ago, now displays the beauty of new growth in flowers, vegetables and the like.  It has been re-purposed from death into life.

So is the message of Easter.  What was once lifeless and set upon destruction, now brings about beauty and peace.  What was once without hope, is now ripe with promise of a new birth.  What was once lost to sin and death, now hears the words of forgiveness and life eternal.

This Easter season what areas of your life is God seeking to re-purpose?  What are the ways that He wants to move you from war with Him to Peace with Him?  What are the ways He wants to bring life into the lifeless areas?  My prayer is that we would all welcome the new life, and new purposes, He brings this year.

Our Distinct Theological Heritage

As United Methodists, we celebrate a distinct theological heritage.  We owe this heritage to God’s work through the early Methodist leaders like John Wesley, Thomas Coke, & Francis Asbury.  This heritage has been handed down throughout the generations to you and to me.  If someone asked, “What does a United Methodist believe?” we might start with these four basic points.

1. Everyone needs to be saved (original sin) We all have a propensity to want to satisfy our own wants and desires.  We have chosen our way over God’s way.  We do things that separate us from God, from others, and ourselves.  Nothing we do of our own work can redeem this situation. (Romans 3:23-24)
2. Everyone can be saved (universal grace) God took the initiative to restore the relationship we broke.  God sent prophets, signs, and wonders yet humanity still turned away.  At just the right time God sent His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, to Earth to live, teach, to die, and to be raised again.  In Jesus, the relationship has been restored.  God offers this restoration to EVERYONE.  (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-7)
3. Everyone can know they are saved (assurance)  We need not fear that God would love us any less.  Or that we can do anything to separate us from God’s love.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  What He says He will do, He will do. (Romans 8:38-39)
4. Everyone can be saved to the uttermost (Christian perfection)  We go on to perfection by God’s grace.  We are made perfect in love by prayer, the study of the Scriptures, the participation in the Sacraments, service to others, and worship.  These are not things we do to earn God’s love, but our response to His grace.  We grow in His grace the more we respond to it. (2 Samuel 22:31, Matthew 5:48)

A Methodist Looks at Baptism

Baptism is an essential part of the life of the Church. It is the act of initiation into The United Methodist Church.  As many people come to our denomination from other traditions or as new Christians, it is important that we clearly and lovingly communicate the Scriptural Wesleyan views of baptism.  We celebrate many commonalities with other Christian denominations.  More importantly, we seek to practice baptism in harmony with the Scriptures.

First of all, baptism is a sacrament.  The United Methodist Church recognizes two sacraments: communion and baptism.  The sacraments are defined as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”  Thus, baptism is something that we can see happening in one’s life, while knowing that God is at work in one’s life in a unique way.

Scriptural discussions of baptism often begin with Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan.  In the passage, Jesus submits to baptism “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).  There are three areas where we can examine this baptism in the context of Jesus’ time and our current church environment: John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, Jesus’ baptism was an establishment of a covenant; John’s baptism concentrated on the past things, Jesus’ baptism was an initiation of New Life; John’s baptism was repeated often, Jesus’ baptism was once and only once.

John was not the first person to baptize others seeking to live a righteous life.  Between the times of the Old and New Testaments, some devout Jews practiced ritual cleansing similar to baptism.  One such devout community was at a placed called Qumran.

 Those who wanted to join the community participated in a special rite of cleansing with water.  These baptisms were repeated often and were a means of penitence and submission to God’s will.    Female converts to Judaism were expected to undergo a ritual cleansing.  Males were circumcised and ritually cleansed.   These Jewish ceremonial washings were administered to infants as well as adults.  These acts can be seen as a forerunner to the sacrament of baptism.

Daily ritual baptisms were also performed in John’s time.  Of their own initiative, people often attempted to wash away the mistakes since their last baptism (maybe just the day before).  Caught in a trap of attempting to attain self-righteousness, the people came to John asking what to do.  They came with the understanding that they were trying to wash away the sins since the last baptism (Luke 3:7-19).  He told them that Jesus was coming with a new baptism. That baptism was to establish a covenant with God and his people.  Much like we remember the covenant made of infants in circumcision in the Old Testament, as United Methodists, we remember this covenant with the baptismal right for infants.  Our liturgy reminds us that Jesus told us we are not to withhold the kingdom of God from little children; the kingdom of God belongs to them.  In remembering this covenant relationship, we also remember that the priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the Ark of the Covenant.  Many remember this as they accept the sprinkling of water on a baptismal candidate.

John’s baptism focused on past things, Jesus’ baptism initiated a New Life.   When the people came to be baptized by John in Luke 3, he reminds them that they should put away the sins they’ve committed previously.  John encourages them to practice piety in their life and work.  But Jesus’ baptism was to new life.  Romans 6:3 reminds us that Christ was raised to a new life in the resurrection, so through baptism are we given new life.  Many people see baptism by immersion as a symbol of this dying and rising to new life.  Many United Methodists remember this as we recognize baptism by immersion as another acceptable form of baptism.  

At the baptism of Jesus and the baptism of the Ephesian believers in Acts 19:1-7 we see that the Holy Spirit is poured out upon those receiving the sacrament.  Many remembering this instance among others, as United Methodists recognize the pouring of water as an acceptable form of baptism.

John’s baptism was repeated, Jesus baptism was a one time event.  We’ve mentioned about that people came to John regularly for baptism for forgiveness.  However, baptism in Jesus is a one time event.  Paul reminds the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 4:4-5 that there is only one baptism.  Baptism is a one time event.

Often times, pastors are asked to “re-baptism” someone.  The person may say they don’t remember their baptism, or they didn’t “feel anything” or they were baptized in a different denomination.  To answer these issues, we must remember the first principle listed above: baptism is a sacrament.  That means that God is the initiator and the who one does the action in the baptism.  We may bring ourselves to baptism, but He is the initiator of the covenant and the one who performs the spiritual grace.  Therefore, if we were to “re-baptism” someone, we’d be saying that God isn’t true to His Word and didn’t do what He said He would do.  It isn’t necessary to try to “re-do” what God has already done.  

As United Methodists, we recognize that God acts in the lives of children as well as adults.  In Old Testament times, boys were presented to the priest for circumcision at eight days old.  This was as a recognition of the Covenant God initiated in the life of the child.   Even Jesus underwent this ceremony.  Now, all God’s children, boys and girls, can receive the initiation of the Covenant of Baptism.  

The Book of Worship reminds us that:

Our Lord has expressly given to little children
     a place among the people of God,
     which holy privilege must not be denied them.

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he said,
     "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them;
     for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

In the early church, entire households were baptized when a leader in the home responded to the Word of God.   The baptisms in Acts 10:47 and Acts 16:15, 33 describe three different occasions when large groups of people and/or entire households were baptized.  It can only hold that people of all ages, including children, would be included in these baptisms.  

Parents who present children for baptism are not just dedicating them to God.  They are, in fact, celebrating their one baptism .  This is an important life event--better said, the MOST important.  Parents should present their children in the congregation where they intend to raise their children.  After all, the entire church is promising to live and serve as examples for the family.  During the baptismal covenant, the parents are committing to live a life true to the Gospel.  They are promising to accept the guidance of the church.  They are committing to be faithful to God in their own commitment and to be faithful to the church through their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.  This is much more than “getting the baby done.”  This is making a Spiritual promise before God and His Church.  Nor should baptism in the United Methodist understanding should not be confused with Christening.  The act of Christening is the public naming of the child.  While this is a part of baptismal service, is not the end of it.  The baptismal service is all three: a public promise to raise the child in the Scriptures, the giving of a Christian name, and most importantly the child’s one baptism.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, reminded the Methodists that no matter when we were baptized, do not to “lean on the broken reed” of our baptism.  This means that making a public profession of faith in Christ is necessary for one to be saved from sin and death.  True faith in Christ requires a broken and contrite heart and a confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.  This can be made a different ages and may be made at the time of baptism or by affirming the covenant made at our baptism through a confession of faith.  For those baptized as children, United Methodist congregations offer Confirmation.  Through Confirmation we learn WHAT we believe as Christians and WHY we believe it.  One does not have to complete the Confirmation course just to be a Christian.  But when completing Confirmation one should certainly have a firm understanding of the faith before making such confession before God and the congregation.  Remember, baptism is a mark of Christian discipleship.  The one receiving baptism may affirm that covenant immediately at the time of the baptism.  In the instance of an infant baptism, the person is expected to affirm the baptismal covenant at an appropriate age.  Maybe that is through Confirmation.  Maybe that is through another public profession of faith.

All of this must be practiced with the firm understanding that baptism is an act by which the baptized are received into the Body of Christ.  Baptized persons, regardless of their age, become members of the Church.  Therefore, baptism is a rite of the whole church, worshipping together.  Whenever possible, baptism should be performed in the public worship setting. If there are circumstances by which a person cannot be baptized in such a setting, the congregation should be made aware and recognized by the assembled worship community.

So, let’s review.  As United Methodists, we:

1. Recognize Immersion, Sprinkling, and Pouring all has valid Scriptural and Historical modes of baptism.
2. Remember Christ’s command to baptize and make disciples.  No matter what age someone is baptized, they (and the church) make a promise to live as Christian disciples together.
3. Understand that baptism is THE act of initiation into the Church.  It is God who takes this initiative, not the person.  Therefore, it need not be repeated.  
4. It is necessary that the baptized make a public profession of their faith in Christ.  This can be at the time of baptism, or at a later time--such as Confirmation.

If you have other questions about baptism, talk to your minister or other Christian mentor.  

Some links for further reading:

The United Methodist Church's home site for a discussion about Baptism can be found here.  (This includes several links to FAQ's about age, mode, and meaning of baptism.)

Read the full text of The United Methodist Church's understanding of baptism, "By Water and The Spirit" here.

Also consider these sources for further reading:

“By Water and Spirit,” The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2012.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2012.

Campbell, Ted A. “Conversion and Baptism in Wesleyan Spirituality,” In Conversion in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kenneth J. Collins and John H. Tyson, ed. Abingdon Press: Nashville, 2001.

Campbell, Ted A.  Methodist Doctrine.  Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.

Staples, Rob L. Outward Sign and Inward Grace: The Place of Sacraments in Wesleyan Spirituality.  Kansas City: Beacon Hill, 1991.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2012.

The United Methodist Book of Worship.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992.

UM101 Week 3--Methodist Four-Fold Message and Sacraments

In the month of January 2013, I'm leading a class on United Methodism 101.  Thank you to the Fairhope UMC Foundations Sunday School Class for hosting me.   

The majority of this week's discussion focused on the four-fold message of Methodist Theology and the Sacraments.  That four-fold message is:

1. Everyone needs to be saved (original sin)
2. Everyone can be saved (universal grace)
3. Everyone can know they are saved (assurance)
4. Everyone can be saved to the uttermost (Christian perfection)

We also discussed baptism and Holy Communion.  We gave special attention to the theological premise for baptism and that it is available to all: regardless of age or any other reason.  I have written more about this issue.  You can read my "A Methodist Looks at Baptism" post on this blog. It is just before this one.

You can find the full Prezi presentation from this week's lesson here.

Again, I look forward to your questions and comments.

United Methodism 101, Week 2

In the month of January 2013, I'm leading a class on United Methodism 101.  Thank you to the Fairhope UMC Foundations Sunday School Class for hosting me.   

We had a great week 2.  Here are the links for this week:
2. UM Theology, Part 1.  God works in us and through us.  It is God who works in and through us.  We respond to His invitations and His work in the world.  The link to this week's Prezi is here.



Here are the links I mentioned:

• More information on the threefold understanding of Grace--Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying--is here.
• More information about Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Experience can be found here.  Remember, Scripture is the central to all these.  The others can be described as ways we interact with Scripture, not superior to Scripture.
• Read the Foundational Documents of The United Methodist Church here.
• You can find the Google eBook version of Ted Campbell's Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials here.

In case you missed it, here are the links for week 1:
1. The People Called...Methodists.  This is a history of who we were, so we know who we are.  We look at the theology in our history.  You can find a link to the Prezi here.
Some other links you might find helpful:

• The United Methodist Church's links about our history arehere.  You'll find expansions on each stage.
• Learn more about our theological heritage here.

Stay tuned for more each week of the class.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday.



I welcome your questions and comments.  Keep them coming!