The Methodist denomination of English preacher John Wesley and his hymnist brother Charles was spread far and wide in the American colonies by Methodism’s first bishop, Francis Asbury, and other “circuit-riding” preachers who penetrated not just the populous cities of England’s American colonies, but also the outlying frontiers, with their message of a disciplined life of prayer and worship, temperance, and the sharing of the gospel with all classes of society. Methodism's Biblical and social conservatism strongly influenced our American Founding. Until the latter part of the 20th century, Methodism remained one of the largest denominations in the United States, sponsoring not only churches, but universities, hospitals and many foreign missionaries. UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Methodist upbringing was acknowledged as part of her admirable Conservative governance by the Anglican priest at her national funeral in 2013.
Then came the Sixties’ “youth rebellion”, a movement that saw many “mainstream” denominations depart from the scriptures and traditional morality. In response, millions left those old-time churches (myself included) to seek churches with traditional Biblical teaching—because times change and technology changes, but human passions remain the same, and the Word of God endures forever.
Later this month, February 23-26, the present-day United Methodist Church has called a Special General Conference, assembling delegates from all over the world, to consider whether or how to incorporate the past several decades of continual pressure by LGBTQ lobbies to radically change the traditional Wesleyan theology of marriage, or to split the UMC, which has already suffered great losses in membership.
Faithful Christians remaining within the UMC are praying especially for visa approvals for the many Methodist bishops and delegates from Africa, who do not want Methodism to enshrine gay marriage. The recent shutdown has slowed down the visa process.
I appeal to our intercessors to pray on these matters, especially since the leftward drift of that denomination completely violated the selflessness espoused by the founding Wesleys, as the prayer below illustrates
Thank you.
Covenant Prayer, 1755
Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee,
exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am Thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
