There are many reasons for my wanting to be part of #BeUMC Montgomery. First, while I have always been an active church member, I have rarely been involved with a Church and Christian Community like FUMC Montgomery that has presented me with so many opportunities to grow as a disciple; I see enormous value in being a part of this 

congregation as well as a denomination that lives up to the motto, "Open hearts, open minds, open doors.” I have witnessed what my works of Christian Service multiplied by the works of others both here at FUMC Montgomery as well as in our district, jurisdiction, nation, and world can result in. While I am perfectly capable of serving others by myself and on my own, why would I not want to be part of a larger, significantly more effective Christian Community known as the United Methodist Church? 

 

I have seen more than a few posts on Facebook that have attempted to sway me in favor of forsaking the United Methodist Church for a more "Traditionalist" Methodist group. While in some ways I consider myself a "Traditionalist, " I know I never want to be such a Traditionalist that I am judged by God to be a "Pharisee.” Those legalists were frequently on 

the receiving end of Christ's wrath for valuing rules over loving and caring for others, especially the marginalized. I have no interest in any group purporting to be Christian that seeks to exclude entire groups of  marginalized people based solely on something in the Methodist Book of Discipline which was written by men. 

 

I hope "Traditionalism" on my part never matters more to me than the Bible and the people it clearly tells me to love. Some of the posts I've seen are filled with quotes from UMC clergy, at some Methodist Church somewhere in this country, mostly without context, and while I personally find their comments abhorrent, I would not ever want to risk crippling a denomination that, at least in my opinion, has done and is doing an exceptional job performing the Lord's work of spreading the Gospel, developing Disciples, and shining the light of Christ's love in a  sometimes ominously dark world. When I see, or hear, such arguments, I have and will continue to consider the source and pray fervently for my 

misguided brethren, who understandably most often do not reveal their name or make clear their affiliation. 

 

I long ago developed the habit of listening quietly to whatever some of "my Christian brethren" say, politely letting it pass unchallenged and then limiting my response to praying on their behalf for God to enlighten them before it is too late. Over the years I have heard spew forth from the mouth of folk's I know, love, and respect all sorts of aberrant comments that are in direct conflict with scripture -- very often during Sunday School class. 

 

I have thanked God on more than one occasion that he does not use lightning bolts to chastise his children for their misguided thoughts and diatribes.

 

Once again, I love First United Methodist Church, Montgomery because it has provided me with so many opportunities to practice what I have heard preached from the pulpit, studied in Sunday School, read in the Bible, and witnessed being lived by those I am completely convinced were and are Christian.

 

Growing up I was taught that having a Biblical basis for my beliefs was of utmost importance. I offer Mathew 7:1-5, on judging others; Matthew 7:12, the passage containing the "Golden Rule'; and Matthew 22:37, the passage where Jesus himself states the most important commandments for Christians to follow, as the Biblical basis for my convictions. 

 

My days are nearly full just striving to act out these passages in my daily life because, God knows, it is not easy for me to love those whom I find difficult. There are many, many other passages of scripture that are also familiar to me because of sermons, Sunday School lessons, independent Bible study, and daily devotionals, and while I aim to live by all Biblical 

Admonitions, I personally believe those enumerated in Matthew are the most important commandments as they are directly attributed to Jesus. 

 

I am comforted by the knowledge that David, described in scripture as "A man after God's own heart," was also a man that I would be hard pressed to want as my neighbor. David was referred to that way not because he was perfect, but because he demonstrated his faithfulness to the Lord, was repentant when he did wrong, and loved God with all his heart. God obviously can see things of value in people we mortals  cannot. I believe scripture makes it clear that I will be judged by the same criteria I use to judge others; therefore, I would prefer to work on loving others and to leave judgement of others to God.

 

As far as the Methodist Book of Discipline is concerned, I know that alterations have been made at various times in the past - I well remember a time when there were no ordained women. I know from secular as well as church history there was a time when alterations were made to accommodate slave owners, and later (when slavery was abolished by the government) changed again to prevent the North from being able to dictate to the South how things had to be done in the Methodist Church. 

 

As an admirer of John Wesley, I have also tried to internalize his admonition to "Do all the good, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can" into my daily life and very being.  Seeking a division in the United Methodist Church that at best will render it less effective in the short term and at worst leave the Methodist denomination a shadow of its former self is NOT the way for me to follow Christ's teachings in the book of Matthew or John Wesley's admonition to Methodists.

 

I am also more than a little concerned over the potential harm brought about by the squabbling being carried out in public that seems likely to result in many choosing to avoid any form of Methodist Church, no matter the denominational affiliation, because of the perception that while we are all members of a group prattling about Christian love while simultaneously attacking one another over things best left to God to pass judgement on.I love First United Methodist Church, Montgomery and intend to keep hoping and praying for its leadership (both lay and clerical), membership, and all its numerous missions and ministries. I also pray that I will remain alert to what is going on about me and be ready to vote to remain UMC, if and when I am called upon to do so.

 

Kevin Blanton