I Give Up

Over the past 2 weeks I have followed the General Conference of the United Methodist Church very closely as they have been in session in my adopted hometown of Tampa.  There have been long hours of meetings, contentious discussions, wild accusations and some really ugly ties.  There have been hundreds of petitions and thousands of proposed amendments to those petitions.  For 2 weeks Robert's Rules of Order and the UMC Book of Discipline controlled this gathering of God's people.  I sat frustrated as rules, dogma and political posturing put a stranglehold on the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I listened as Jesus was figuratively told to go sit in the corner- they would come get him if they needed him.  And all of this has accomplished...next to nothing!  As the Reverend Jorge Acevedo tweeted yesterday, "Eleven days, ten million dollars, hours and hours of meetings...for what?"  It's enough to make you want to give up.  And I am not sure that is a bad thing...


If we are to truly be the "Body of Christ" the church is called to be in this place (USAmerica) and this time (2012), then we are all going to need to give up.  We need to give up our power and our security and trust in God.  We need to give up our preferences (such as musical and sermon styles) so that the church can better reach the lost and the hurting.  We must give up our fears and prejudices and realize that the love and grace of God are for everyone, not just people like us.  It seemed most of the decisions at the General Conference were made by old white men.  I happen to be an old white man, and I can tell you that this traditional power-base of the USAmerican church is going to have to let go if we are to move forward.  We may need to give up building fancy new sanctuaries and instead take Jesus to where the people are already gathered (for instance, there is a movement called Theology on Tap that meets in bars).  And most importantly, we MUST give up the "stinkin' thinking" that says church is all about ME.  Only when that happens will we give up what we are called to give up- our lives.  Church was never meant to about power or preferences.  Following Jesus is all about surrender.  We do not follow the Christ best when we are strong and powerful.  We follow him best when we are on our knees...


So my question to us all today is this: What are you (and I) willing to give up so that our communities will know the amazing grace of our loving God?  A few years ago a religion professor at a major university was having trouble getting students to sign up for his Introduction to Christianity class.  It seemed that the students were simply not interested in discussing organized religion.  So the teacher changed the name of the class to Introduction to Jesus.  It's been full ever since.  Jesus is always relevant. People who are seeking him don't care about our theology, our polity or our denominational titles. They are not locked in to a worship style or a particular translation of the Bible.  They are hurt, and they are lost, and they need a Savior.  As Tony Campolo once said, "People keep coming to us looking for Jesus, and we keep giving them church."  The time is now, my friends, for us to "Let go and let God!"  It is time to give up.  Are you with me?


Because of Jesus,