We Work Together

We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28)

There are many reasons I love the United Methodist Church (UMC), I am a UMC clergy person after all, but one of the most compelling reasons is that we believe our strength is in working together.  I hope I am not stepping out too far when I say this, I think there are a web of social and cultural structures outside the church which create division. Honestly, there are structures inside the church which by their unintentional work or by their intentional work create division.  However, when we live into our purpose as followers of God, followers of Christ, as United Methodists we live into a purpose of unity.

In times of division, our strongest characteristic as a church, if we choose to claim it, is the ability to find common ground and work together might be.  After the decisions of General Conference 2020 (in 2024) it might seem like there are winners and losers. Maybe even that there is no longer room for some. Never forget that the UMC is one of the last vestiges of a “big-tent” protestant church.  Though the UMC has a distinct doctrine and theology, it begins and ends by providing wiggle room welcoming persons with different backgrounds to the table of grace. We might come with many different voices all declaring the beauty and power of God, but we all come to the table. That is the point, we come to the table of grace ready to serve for the same purpose—so that the world may know the glory of God’s love. 

The UMC funds hospitals, schools, outreach centers, and missionaries around the world.  The spirit of the UMC is evident in the working of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) which is our strong testament to what can happen when we turn from divisiveness towards a common goal.  Regionally our churches come together to advocate for better educational systems, to undergird the social net that keeps people out of poverty, and to fight to keep families together in the midst of some of the most dire of times—like when a parent is removed due to immigration status or imprisonment.  Our church works locally.  If you want to know the power of the church it is easy to get lost in the abstract, but I am a “person-to-person” type of guy.  The power of the UMC is grand, yes, but it is most effective when we recognize the people, we meet day to day. 

The work of Christ is a people game.  One person telling another person where God’s love can be found.  One person showing another person what God’s love looks like, tastes like, and feels like.  One person helping another person feel whole amid brokenness.  We are in the people game folks.  Not the abstract, far off and far away game.  Not the proof texting or theological soap box game.  Pontification is not the goal of theology. Feeling smart is not the goal of studying biblical texts.  If our theology and biblical knowledge is strong enough to create something good in the world, then we have finally used it for its intended purpose.    

It is easy for us surrounded by such grand needs and divisions to throw up our arms and say, “Why try!”  Or, to say; “It’s just too hard, too big a problem, too complicated.”  All these things might be true.  Unity is a choice, it takes work.  Coming back to a common purpose is a decision which isn’t always easy.  Just as trusting in God isn’t always easy.  When you find someone who is hurting; what are you going to do?  Maybe we don’t find hurting people because we have resigned ourselves to feeling the problems and divisions are too big or complicated.  Maybe we have trained ourselves to not even look anymore. 

I don’t think that is true.  

Windsor UMC, I think you look; I think you find.  What are you going to do when you find pain, hurt, need, hunger, and brokenness?  Will you rest on your laurels and use your theological debates? Or, maybe just maybe, you will lift up your head and get to work in a common purpose—to show God’s love is to recognize where God is bringing the power of heaven here on earth. To be part of that work; that common purpose.  That common unity.

You do good work Windsor UMC! Keep it up!

-          Pastor Jon