(As a young Bible pastor, I fought it more than a half century ago)
God Says,
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(I left the UMC because of its growing liberalism and attacks on Biblical faith, which has resulted in the election of an openly homosexual Bishop).
THE BIBLE WAS THE PROBLEM
After graduating from John Wesley Bible College and entering into pastoral ministry with the UMC, I was required to take summer classes at a United Methodist approved school, because the UMC was pushing liberal theology more than adhering to the Holy Bible. At that point I was allowed to preach the truth, but not without political consequence.
A MEETING WITH THE DEAN
I was well founded in saving faith and God's word, and had many good opportunities to talk to Duke faculty and fellow ministers in the program. Because of my open and strong stance for Jesus and His word and the blood atonement salvation, I was called to the office of the Dean of the school of ministry. The Dean asked me about my disputes with the instructors and professors. I explained to him the gospel (which he did not understand), and my mission as a preacher of the gospel. He was at a total loss. In my conversation with the Dean, one of his statements was very telling. He said that preaching the death of Christ as an atonement was a SLAUGHTERHOUSE RELIGION. This is the sick view of the liberal leadership of the United Methodist Church. It has gotten much worse since then.
A MEETING WITH THE BISHOP
Remember, this was in the early 1970's, and much of the United Methodist leadership had already turned from God and against His word. My District Superintendent was clueless concerning Biblical salvation. He did not even know what it meant to be "saved" or "born again." My liberal, unsaved District Superintendent (New Bern District, North Carolina Conference of the UMC) told me that he was not going to let me stay in the UMC because of my commitment to the Holy Bible. I had a conservative, kind and brilliant Bishop at that time. During conference that year, the Bishop called me into his office. He had heard that the DS was going to terminate my relationship with the Conference. After giving him my testimony and my doctrinal position, which was in line with historic Methodism, he said that he was the one who makes the pastoral appointments and not to be concerned. I told him thank you, but I was not concerned because God is in charge of my ministry; that I had preached before I was a Methodist preacher and I will preach when I am no longer a Methodist preacher. True to his word, the Bishop appointed me to the Kinnakeet Charge, on Hatteras Island.
THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL
I loved my people and ministry at Kinnakeet, but I also knew that as soon the Conference moved me they would send a Liberal in and he would destroy much of the work I had accomplished. No matter how committed a Bible believer may be, the UMC organization is determined to turn from God.
HOW MUCH WORSE
Recently the UMC elected a female homosexual to be Bishop. Though people have a long and rich relationship with any denomination, there comes a time when a person must come out from those who turn from God and His word and His salvation.
WE ALL MUST DECIDE
I had been brought up as a Methodist, I had been an officer in my local MYF, the president of the Sub-District MYF, vice president of the District MYF. I had preached, taught ministered, pastored and been ordained Deacon in the UMC. I had family and friends in the UMC. I had heritage and a future with the UMC. I agreed with the doctrine and the historical background of the UMC. However, as the UMC was moving from God, I had to cut my ties. This is not only true for pastors, it is true for parishioners. Remember, you, as an adult, are either leading your children and grandchildren into a fully Biblical belief system and ministry life or you are leading them against it. To stay with any religion that rejects God and His word is to mislead other people.
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(I left the UMC because of its growing liberalism and attacks on Biblical faith, which has resulted in the election of an openly homosexual Bishop).
THE BIBLE WAS THE PROBLEM
After graduating from John Wesley Bible College and entering into pastoral ministry with the UMC, I was required to take summer classes at a United Methodist approved school, because the UMC was pushing liberal theology more than adhering to the Holy Bible. At that point I was allowed to preach the truth, but not without political consequence.
A MEETING WITH THE DEAN
I was well founded in saving faith and God's word, and had many good opportunities to talk to Duke faculty and fellow ministers in the program. Because of my open and strong stance for Jesus and His word and the blood atonement salvation, I was called to the office of the Dean of the school of ministry. The Dean asked me about my disputes with the instructors and professors. I explained to him the gospel (which he did not understand), and my mission as a preacher of the gospel. He was at a total loss. In my conversation with the Dean, one of his statements was very telling. He said that preaching the death of Christ as an atonement was a SLAUGHTERHOUSE RELIGION. This is the sick view of the liberal leadership of the United Methodist Church. It has gotten much worse since then.
A MEETING WITH THE BISHOP
Remember, this was in the early 1970's, and much of the United Methodist leadership had already turned from God and against His word. My District Superintendent was clueless concerning Biblical salvation. He did not even know what it meant to be "saved" or "born again." My liberal, unsaved District Superintendent (New Bern District, North Carolina Conference of the UMC) told me that he was not going to let me stay in the UMC because of my commitment to the Holy Bible. I had a conservative, kind and brilliant Bishop at that time. During conference that year, the Bishop called me into his office. He had heard that the DS was going to terminate my relationship with the Conference. After giving him my testimony and my doctrinal position, which was in line with historic Methodism, he said that he was the one who makes the pastoral appointments and not to be concerned. I told him thank you, but I was not concerned because God is in charge of my ministry; that I had preached before I was a Methodist preacher and I will preach when I am no longer a Methodist preacher. True to his word, the Bishop appointed me to the Kinnakeet Charge, on Hatteras Island.
THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL
I loved my people and ministry at Kinnakeet, but I also knew that as soon the Conference moved me they would send a Liberal in and he would destroy much of the work I had accomplished. No matter how committed a Bible believer may be, the UMC organization is determined to turn from God.
HOW MUCH WORSE
Recently the UMC elected a female homosexual to be Bishop. Though people have a long and rich relationship with any denomination, there comes a time when a person must come out from those who turn from God and His word and His salvation.
WE ALL MUST DECIDE
I had been brought up as a Methodist, I had been an officer in my local MYF, the president of the Sub-District MYF, vice president of the District MYF. I had preached, taught ministered, pastored and been ordained Deacon in the UMC. I had family and friends in the UMC. I had heritage and a future with the UMC. I agreed with the doctrine and the historical background of the UMC. However, as the UMC was moving from God, I had to cut my ties. This is not only true for pastors, it is true for parishioners. Remember, you, as an adult, are either leading your children and grandchildren into a fully Biblical belief system and ministry life or you are leading them against it. To stay with any religion that rejects God and His word is to mislead other people.
