A recent announcement was no big shock to anyone following the story of the United Methodist Church in America. The church denomination (the second-largest Protestant denomination in the US) recently announced that it is planning to split, with some churches leaving to form a “traditional Methodist” denomination, with the remainder of the churches carrying on the name of the United Methodist Church. What are they splitting over?
Well, again, it’s no big shock what the issue is . . . gay “marriage” and LGBT individuals. At a general conference last year that was attended by Methodists worldwide, the church voted by a narrow margin to tighten the ban on gay “marriage,” recognizing that it goes against God’s Word (this victory was largely due to churches outside of the US, which tells you something about the sad state of this denomination in the US). That was the culmination of several decades of tension. Since last year’s conference, a split in the denomination—which is not so “united” anymore—seemed inevitable.
The thinking of so many churches on the issue of gay "marriage" is just a symptom of a more significant issue—the foundational issue.
It is correct for this denomination to divide over the gay "marriage" issue—that kind of division is biblical and necessary. But the thinking of so many churches on the issue of gay "marriage" is just a symptom of a more significant issue—the foundational issue.
The real divide needs to be over taking a stand on the absolute authority of God’s Word, beginning in Genesis! Once a church takes a stand on a literal Genesis, everything else follows from that, as all biblical doctrine is ultimately founded in Genesis chapters 1-11. And unless the church takes Scripture as it's meant to be taken (e.g., Genesis is historical narrative), there will continue to be problems over what the church stands for and teaches. The church will continue to be weak, lukewarm, and will not impact future generations and the culture as it should.
We need a generation of Christians who will stand boldly on God’s Word, beginning in Genesis, and will refuse to compromise with the ideas of our day.
This item was discussed today on Answers News. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:
Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken
This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.
Around the world, 1 in 5—or about 20%—of adults have left the faith they were raised in, according to a Pew Research Center study of adults from 36 countries.
Archaeology confirms the Bible (and has done so over and over again through the years)—including with a new set of excavations under the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.