Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Methodist Bishop On Terrorism and "Jesus Will NOT Come Again" (It's hard to go to Church...)
Michael's Sword ^ | a little old, but some updates, 2001 and 2003 | Michael L. Gonzalez

Posted on 04/21/2003 9:01:51 AM PDT by rface

C. Joseph Sprague, currently in the position of bishop in the UMC Northern Illinois Conference, spoke as a self-professed representative of protestant Christianity at a public panel discussion on war and peace on Sunday evening, October 28, 2001. The Panelists, which included representatives of other world religions, as well as many people in the audience found Mr. Sprague's extreme pacifism as a laughing matter, as he was the only panelist who expressed non-support of the U.S. military action against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. When an audience participant pressed Mr. Sprague to explain how he would stop terrorists from further murders in America and throughout the world, he couldn't propose a solution, but rather could only criticize the United States for a foreign policy that has resulted in deaths of Muslims in past years. In a feeble attempt to imply that there is a better way to deal with world terrorism, Mr. Sprague gave lip service to the United Nations with a vague reference to an international world court.

Mr. Sprague's pacifist position was not "breaking news" at the panel discussion, as he had previously publicized his criticism of America's war on terrorism. However, the unexpected news item from the event was Mr. Sprague's complete break from United Methodist doctrine concerning the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior. During the extremely brief question and answer period, Mr. Sprague responded to the question "When will Jesus come?" In his response -- in what is believed to be his first such public declaration on this matter -- Mr. Sprague said clearly and concisely that Jesus walked the earth about 2000 years ago and that he will NOT come again, as there will be no Second Coming!

The panel discussion titled "An Interfaith Dialogue On War and Peace" was held before at packed Sanctuary estimated at almost 600 people at the First United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The audience represented the diversity of the American populace with as many people of Arab descent present in the building as those of European descent. The event was organized by UMC Reverend Diana M. Facemyer of Glen Ellyn's St. Thomas UMC, who acted as the host of the event......

There's more if you want it....HERE

also:

Bishop C. Joseph Sprague (click to learn some more...)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: antiamerica; antichrist; bummed; christian; methodist; religiousleft
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: toddst
"I believe Bishop Sprague is in deep trouble with the Methodist Church and may be forced to resign. There is a movement under way to get this done....."

Perhaps the safest thing for him to do would be to declare himself gay. This would almost guarantee him a job.

21 posted on 04/21/2003 12:40:13 PM PDT by AlGone2001 (If liberals must lie to advance their agenda, why is liberalism good for me?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants
Don't forget "liberation theology" funding all sorts of left-wing communist gangs and dictators, and attempting to ban "militant" hymns (Onward Christian Soldiers). Also, the latest Methodist hymnal is a joke, as its "hymns" equate Christianity with earth-worship and even include songs in other tongues than English. The Methodist bishops and higher church councils have been promulgating blasphemy for YEARS.
22 posted on 04/21/2003 12:41:08 PM PDT by =Intervention= (so freaking sick of the lies...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: =Intervention=
I can't even sit through an entire service at the Methodist Churches anymore. I want to vomit....I get angry - and they make me sing stupid songs that haven't an ounce of inspiration. I might as well be going to a Universalist Unitarian service.

What's the difference between a Unitarian and a United Methodist Church service?

23 posted on 04/21/2003 12:45:53 PM PDT by rface (Ashland, Missouri)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Lysander
It has been long taught at Emory university that the second coming was the resurection.

Is that Methodist? My husband just joined a Methodist church, and I know nothing about Methodism. Can anyone help me out?

24 posted on 04/21/2003 12:52:04 PM PDT by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: toddst
I'm saving this thread while I look for an article from a conference where a female (I think she was a Methodist minsiter but will wait until I find the article)said "we should do away with the story of redemption because who wants to look at a bloody cross"!
25 posted on 04/21/2003 12:56:06 PM PDT by Krodg (We have the ability because the leader in command knows who's in control....God Bless America.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
Gosh, he sounds like OUR homegrown loonybird, Bishop Spong of Newark.

I got confused. I was thinking that (Spong) was this guy.

26 posted on 04/21/2003 12:56:07 PM PDT by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: rface
So in the hereafter, C. Joseph Sprague will be in the "smoking" section.
27 posted on 04/21/2003 12:59:11 PM PDT by N. Theknow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Krodg
"we should do away with the story of redemption because who wants to look at a bloody cross"!

It's a shame these people don't have the guts to just leave the Church...go join some new-age Earth-mother religion if you don't like Christianity.

28 posted on 04/21/2003 1:00:11 PM PDT by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: AxelPaulsenJr
Here is the address of the organization that publishes the newsletter I received:

http://www.ird-renew.org/

This is the Institute on Religion and Democracy. There is a sub-section for Methodists. This is a good place to begin work on removing people like Bishop Sprague from the Methodist Church.

29 posted on 04/21/2003 1:04:39 PM PDT by toddst
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: stands2reason
Basically, the United Methodist Church is a moderate protestant church that is being split between a liberal leadership and remaining conservative elements. For a while, I'd been considering myself "ex-Methodist" until I found a fairly conservative congregation locally, which I have been attending. For the moment, I've decided to wade in rather than give up. A change in pastor may change my mind again, though.

Ask your husband whether they use the "old fasioned" Doxology (#95) or the new-fangled gender-free Doxology (#94). The latter, or a female minister, seem to be the harbingers of liberalism, in my experience. If there is a conservative female minister in the Methodist Church, I've never heard of them.

30 posted on 04/21/2003 1:35:27 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: stands2reason
I've never understood that, either. Of course a lot of the conservatives have left (including myself, for quite a few years). It was (A) finding a fairly conservative congregation and (B) finding out that there are conservatives within the United Methodist Church putting up a fight that has led me to give it a second chance. I'll have to see how it works out.
31 posted on 04/21/2003 1:38:45 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: stands2reason
You can find a good overview of the United Methodist Church here.
32 posted on 04/21/2003 1:45:49 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: altura
I'm thinking about starting a campaign of some kind to cut off funding from my parish that goes to the national leadership unless Griswold leaves or recants his apostasy.
33 posted on 04/21/2003 1:52:10 PM PDT by johnb838 (Understand the root causes of American Anger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: stands2reason
"we should do away with the story of redemption because who wants to look at a bloody cross"!

It's a shame these people don't have the guts to just leave the Church...go join some new-age Earth-mother religion if you don't like Christianity


If only someone would tell that to the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Or is that the Chief Druid of Canterbury?
34 posted on 04/21/2003 1:54:23 PM PDT by johnb838 (Understand the root causes of American Anger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: CFIIIMEIATP737
None of those you mentioned were liars ... the deception and lies are coming form those who teach contrary to these most fundamental principles of truth.

You ask how can those folks pick and choose like this?

IMHO, it is because the Truth is not them.

35 posted on 04/21/2003 2:40:23 PM PDT by Jeff Head
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Question_Assumptions
The latter, or a female minister, seem to be the harbingers of liberalism, in my experience.

If his minster was female I'd have a cow. He's new to Christianity for the most part, but even he knows better than that. The Minister is male...but he's divorced....his wife was a raging alcoholic and he tried to live with her, but couldn't. I'm not sure that a divorce in that circumstance would be acceptable according to a conservative interpretation of scripture---the only acceptable reason for divorce IIRC, is adultery. I think separation would have been more acceptable. Of course, there are legalities and tax issues that may become a problem.

Myself I agree with Dr. Laura (a Jew) in that divorce is only acceptable in case of adultery, addiction, and abuse. ( BTW I was raised unaffiliated Church of Christ (totally fundamentalist) but no longer practice the faith.) Thanks for your help!

36 posted on 04/21/2003 6:08:44 PM PDT by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: stands2reason
My husband just joined a Methodist church, and I know nothing about Methodism. Can anyone help me out?

Shoot him before it's too late. Better for him to die now while his innocence remains. ;^)

37 posted on 04/23/2003 8:17:08 PM PDT by Sangamon Kid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Sangamon Kid
Shoot him before it's too late. Better for him to die now while his innocence remains. ;^)

Oh, now you're scaring me.

Apropos of nothing, would you happen to know what percentage of serial killers were Church-going Methodists?

38 posted on 04/24/2003 1:18:48 PM PDT by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: rface
He is the reason I left the Methodist Church here in Illinois. He is a piece of trash and I swear to this day if I see him I will spit in his face.

Leaving the Methodist Church was the best thing I have ever done since I found a church that preaches the Bible not liberalism.

39 posted on 04/24/2003 1:20:58 PM PDT by Dengar01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sharktrager
You cannot be a Christian and deny the resurrection according to Scripture:

..."if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

As for the "Second Coming" being the resurrection, Hebrews 9:27-28 puts that to rest:

"And as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly awaiting for Him."

The "will appear" is important, because Hebrews would have been written after Christ's death and resurrection.

40 posted on 04/24/2003 1:32:21 PM PDT by scott7278 (Four more years! Four more years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson