What happens when a church is infiltrated by a homosexual agenda?
The Methodist Church, the largest mainline Protestant denomination in the United States, is headed toward a divorce because of homosexual sin.
In early January, mediators from across the United Methodist Church proposed a separation plan to split the church into two separate denominations, with one that will allow non-biblical sinful homosexual marriages and “practicing” LGBTQ clergy. The pro-homosexual denomination would now be apostate according to scripture.
Members of the General Conference, the church’s legislative body, are expected to pass the proposal in May. If a split occurs, it will be the result of homosexual ideology seeping into Biblically illiterate Christians.
The origin of the debate
The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 by the union of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church.
At that time in the United States, the civil rights movement and the immoral homosexual liberation movement were both underways. The new United Methodist Church, like many institutions in American society, grappled with the changing American culture, particularly with respect to homosexuality.
By the 1970s LGBTQ Americans made themselves visible both in public spaces and in the church, asserting their non-biblical rights and dignity and scaring churches with threats of Court injunctions.
In 1972, the United Methodist Church adopted into its “Book of Discipline,” or established laws and doctrine, a clause which recognized homosexuals as “persons of sacred worth…entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured.” But there was a caveat: The church did not “condone the practice of homosexuality” and considers it “incompatible with Christian teaching.” This foolish sit on the fence decision was an attempt to please those who supported the sin of homosexuality. It failed and will always fail.
Embracing civil rights for LGBTQ Americans without condoning homosexuality in the church was an attempt at compromise. It failed as it is unbiblical. It's like endorsing fortification rights and getting the church to agree it is not a sin. Epic failure.
In 1972, liberals in the church introduced a statement in favor of civil rights for the LGBTQ community. Their aim was to officially support the civil rights of persecuted gay and lesbian people. What civil rights? Do fornicators and liars have civil rights? Since when do sinners have civil rights before God?
The church’s very first Book of Discipline opposed slavery, stating it to be “contrary to the golden law of God,” although this was never enforced in the American South. Likewise, Methodists have been critical of aggressive foreign policy. The church referred to the war in Vietnam as a “crime against humanity” in 1972. The church moved away from scripture and got involved in politics.
Still, conservatives, who in 1972 represented a slim majority of the church’s membership, defended their position on sexuality. They agreed to the civil rights statement only on the condition that homosexuality is declared incompatible with Christianity. Totally correct.
The path to schism continued into the next decade - because liberals take their lead not from scripture but culture
1980 the delegates voted down a measure to ban gay clergy and called on the government to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in federal agencies and the military. Immoral culture rules again.
Then, in 1984 the church banned homosexual acts among the clergy, essentially forcing LGBTQ ministers to either become celibate or quit. Good idea!
At their next meeting, in 1988, the United Methodists nevertheless adopted a policy of welcoming “all persons regardless of sexual orientation.” Idiots!
The church accepted that the 1992 pro-homosexual report was the product of a valid and fair study - even though it disagreed with scripture.
Non-Biblical liberal believe anything Americans may have drifted toward full inclusion for LGBTQ people, yet since the 1960s fewer have attended mainline churches. For the United Methodist Church this trend really accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s. This church failed scripture and is now paying the price - dead - even God agrees it is no longer a church as defined by scripture.
Methodists are very diverse, with members from across the political spectrum and the world, particularly in Africa. Today, nearly half of nearly 13 million Methodists live outside the United States.
In May 2020, when church leaders meet to approve their split, 56% of delegates to the General Conference will be from the United States, 32% from Africa, 6% from the Philippines and about 5% from Europe.
International delegates to the General Conference disproportionately oppose LGBTQ inclusion in the church and have demonstrated “overwhelming support” for maintaining the church’s traditional ban on same sex marriages.
