The World or The Word - My Choice

John Kavanaugh

I write this not in anger, but sadness. So, sad of what we have become as Wesleyans and from the movement we once were...
Top Ten Common Arguments for Homosexual Relationships
10. Ignore the Scriptures general witness, especially about ‘original sin,’ for the last almost 2,000 years… because it’s about being a ‘good person!’
9. Ignore the faith & practice of the saints who have gone before you…because you know better!
8. Ignore all reason that shows that God made a man & woman for procreation & to be image of God’s image in the world (Gen.2:23-25; 1:28; Eph. 5:22-33).
7. Ignore experience. Say that you know many “good people” who were born that way, yet ignore those who experience deliverance from the lifestyle instantaneously or gradually.
6. Just redefine Biblical terms like most “cults” do such as “sin,” “faith,” and “love” to fit your needs. So, you parade around talking about “being more loving” yet ignore Jesus’ command that “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15). Shucks, you know repentance is not that big of a deal either…we just short of “become Christians” by osmosis!
5. When you can’t win on traditional grounds…change subjects! “Don’t we need to be feeding poor people in Africa!”
4. Bring the argument up every year for over four decades, forming committees, using media, creating “illegal” movements within the church, protesting, and after realizing that your issue is not going to pass…break covenant anyway and do what you want!
3. After the opposing side, calls you back to Biblical repentance and to obey the covenant that you ordained …and you will not turn or repent they realize that their really can be no unity. Note, you also promote many “third way options” that only speed up the split, because you ignore the history recently within the Anglican & Episcopal Churches. Noting Jesus’ teaching (Mark 3:25), the other side makes a plan to move on fearing the end is near and let you go your way. You slander and call them “prideful” & “schismatics!”
2. After your movement has pressed the argument for decades, then claim that we are wasting time arguing and that, “IT’S REALLY TIME TO MAKE DISCIPLES!” & “IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING DISCIPLES!” You ignore though that your ideology has led the UMC, and other mainline denominations, in perpetual decline, you are continually shrinking budgets, closing churches, your missionary presence has shrank, Cokesbury stores are closing because the average lay person “gave up” on it in the 1980’s, there are many books about the church being lost theologically for decades, and the average age in your church is 57…but if we just came together we could “make disciples” when that theological foundation that you have derived your “world view” from has brought death for generations!
1. Drum roll, PLEASE!!!!...If all else fails…call those you disagree with “bigots!