I was brought up in the Episcopal Church and have seen it turn away from me over the years. I am religious but not church-going as the church has lost its moral compass and its backbone. This article is the true face of the Church of England these days - from the Gateway Pundit:
London Police Arrest Black Christian and Take His Bible for Preaching “Jesus Is On the Way”; Accuse Him of Racism and Islamophobia
Video from London shows a black street preacher being arrested for breach of the peace for telling passersby that “Jesus is on the way.” The video was posted to Twitter Saturday by the London based Eye on Antisemitism which said they filmed the arrest Saturday afternoon outside Southgate station. The group noted police told him he was accused of Islamophobia, which is not seen on the video, and accused him of being racist, which is on the video.
The preacher, a black man who is reportedly Nigerian, is seen being confronted by police who order him to leave. The man, who is holding a Bible, tells the two officers he will not leave as people must know that “Jesus is on the way.” One of the officers tells the man, “nobody wants to listen to that, they want you to go away.” The preacher tells the officer, “You will listen when you’re dead.”
The officer moves to handcuff the man while the other officer rips the Bible from the preacher’s hand. When the preacher pleads, “Do not take my Bible,” the officer tells him, “You should have thought of that before being racist.”
But - there is hope yet. These words from Dr. Jerry P. Kulah, Dean of Gbarnga School of Theology, United Methodist University in Liberia - he is speaking at the Reform and Renewal Coalition Breakfast at the United Methodist Church Special General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, Saturday, 23 February 2019:
Brothers and sister of The United Methodist Church from all around the world, I humbly greet you in the strong name of Jesus Christ!
We thank God for all who have participated in observing a sacred season of fasting and prayer as we have prepared for this special General Conference session. And we praise God there are thousands upon thousands still on bended knees interceding on our behalf as we make a defining decision regarding the future of The United Methodist Church.
As Dr. Kulah warms to his subject:
As I understand it, the plans before us seek to find a lasting solution to the long debate over our church’s sexual ethics, its teachings on marriage, and it ordination standards.
This debate and the numerous acts of defiance have brought the United Methodist Church to a crossroads (Jeremiah 6:16).
One plans invites the people called United Methodists to take a road in opposition to the Bible and two thousand years of Christian teachings. Going down that road would divide the church. Those advocating for the One Church Plan would have us take that road.
Another road invites us to reaffirm Christian teachings rooted in Scripture and the church’s rich traditions.
Jeremiah is a great reference for this choice (King James Version):
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
In fact, all of Jeremiah 6 and 7 (here and here)... About reaffirming Christian teachings rooted in Scripture:
Friends, please hear me, we Africans are not afraid of our sisters and brothers who identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, questioning, or queer. We love them and we hope the best for them. But we know of no compelling arguments for forsaking our church’s understanding of Scripture and the teachings of the church universal.
And then please hear me when I say as graciously as I can: we Africans are not children in need of western enlightenment when it comes to the church’s sexual ethics. We do not need to hear a progressive U.S. bishop lecture us about our need to “grow up.”
Let me assure you, we Africans, whether we have liked it or not, have had to engage in this debate for many years now. We stand with the global church, not a culturally liberal, church elite, in the U.S.
We stand with our Filipino friends! We stand with our sisters and brothers in Europe and Russia! And yes, we stand with our allies in America.
We stand with farmers in Zambia, tech workers in Nairobi, Sunday School teachers in Nigeria, biblical scholars in Liberia, pastors in the Congo, United Methodist Women in Cote d’Ivoire, and thousands of other United Methodists all across Africa who have heard no compelling reasons for changing our sexual ethics, our teachings on marriage, and our ordination standards!
We are grounded in God’s word and the gracious and clear teachings of our church. On that we will not yield! We will not take a road that leads us from the truth! We will take the road that leads to the making of disciples of Jesus Christ for transformation of the world!
I hope and pray, for your sake, that you will walk down that road with us. We would warmly welcome you as our traveling companions, but if you choose another road, we Africans cannot go with you.
Just wow - talk about speaking truth to power. There are some of Dr. Kulah's writings on the internet - going to spend some time reading.
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