Letters
Cheers and Jeers

Somewhat offended
As a youth in the United Methodist Church I am somewhat offended by “Sarah: A postmodern portrait.” I understand the purpose of the “Next Generation” column, and think that it is admirable that Good News is trying to understand young people in order to minister more effectively, but this column seemed condescending.

The way in which Duffy Robbins presented Sarah’s feelings and then presented her inconsistencies seems to imply that her feelings are less than valid. The problem is that when you invalidate somebody’s feelings, you also invalidate their humanity, and encourage a patronizing attitude. The reality is that everyone has inconsistencies. I have met very few people that believe everything they say they believe. Internal conflict between one’s universal beliefs and one’s specific experiential beliefs is an experience that occurs throughout life.

No matter how good an actor a youth minister is, he or she cannot go into ministry thinking of youth as having beliefs any less valid than their own. Youth have an excellent sense of when they are being condescended to or patronized. I have felt it before at different meetings, and I know that if I felt any condescension at my youth group I would not be attending another week.

Since what Duffy described really is an accurate picture of some of the beliefs of many youth, youth ministers need to be careful when trying to change youth’s minds. In fact, less than changing minds, the focus should be about making youth think and ask questions—ultimately changing hearts. The truth that is found in Christ is much more convincing than anything else is, and the pursuit of truth will ultimately lead to His truth.

I will promise you this: a condescending attitude will drive youth from the church much faster than any traditional songs or liturgy ever will.

Luke Wetzel
Olathe, Kansas

Doctrinal standards 
In a time of change in an age that seems unglued, it is quite natural to seek old and familiar moorings. It is human to want something to rely on in religious affairs that is more substantial, more “spelled out” than simply, “God is love.” And so it is that the people of Good News and other conservative and self-proclaimed “renewal” groups sincerely seek to nail down “God is love” into a set of doctrinal precepts that can be used for judging neatly and cleanly who’s in and who’s out.

Having things spelled out and having bishops and clergy and presidents of seminaries that would enforce doctrinal standards would be so much easier than having, in a thousand different situations, the need for a thousand different prayerful discernments of God’s will, as to the details of what to believe and not to believe and what to do and not to do. But with God, the easiest way is not necessarily the best for finding the workings of love. Simpler does not always get us closer to a God beyond the limits of our imagination.

I don’t think anyone can be clearer on this question of the search for theological purity than John Wesley himself. It would be our assumption that he would demand that all would have something approaching his own doctrinal clarity. Surely the old man of Methodism would demand clear creeds. However, his own words lead us in a direction much different than we may imagine.

In 1788, toward the end of his life, he summed up the essential qualification for the making of a Methodist as follows: “One circumstance…is quite peculiar to the people called Methodists; that is, the terms upon which any person may be admitted into their society. They do not impose, in order to their admission, any opinions whatever. Let them hold particular or general redemption, absolute or conditional decrees; let them be Churchmen or Dissenters, Presbyterians or Independents, it is no obstacle. Let them choose one mode of baptism or another, it is no bar to their admission. The Presbyterian may be a Presbyterian still; the Independent or Anabaptist use his own mode of worship. So may the Quaker; and none will contend with him about it. They think, and let think. One condition, and one only is required—a real desire to save their soul. Where this is, it is enough. They desire no more. They lay stress upon nothing else. They ask only, ‘Is thy heart herein as my heart? If it be, give me thy hand.’”

Wouldn’t such a church be wonderful! It could change the world. It already has several times over (the first century, the radical reformation, the Wesleyan revival). If such a spirituality does so again it will not spring forth from doctrinal straight jackets, but from the intense and inclusive desire for salvation among those outside our walls, and from the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit in us and others beyond the barriers of our preconceived ideas. It will come from earnest prayer and discernment in a thousand different situations. No, it is not so easy to follow in a time of historic transition. Codified dogma would give us more security perhaps. But the way of truth still takes us through that greatest claim of faith on these uncharted seas: God is love. God seeks our hands, not our prejudice. All else is heresy.

Duane Clinker
Hillsgrove UM Church
Warwick, Rhode Island

Hasn’t gotten any better
I had been browsing through my saved copies of the first four issues of Good News, Volume I, 1967-1968 and my saved copy of Charles W. Keysore’s article “Methodism’s Silent Majority,” July 14, 1966, published in The Christian Advocate and the subsequent letters of response, September 8, 1966. It seems that the theological/biblical/spiritual situation within Methodism hasn’t gotten any better; indeed it has spread to all the other mainline denominations. I was not surprised at Bishop Sprague’s assertions, for he was one of the team teachers along with the sainted Dr. Van Bogard Dunn in my class at Methesco (1998) on preaching. Often I have heard Rev. Sprague speak critically of the text that asserts of Jesus that “there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.” I am a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. So far, to my knowledge, there has not been voiced  regarding the doctrines of faith by any clergy or bishop in our denomination who is of such a liberal mind as Bishop Sprague. Keep up the good work and may the grace of God and the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit attend all you do.

Harold L. Turner
Zion AME
Delaware, Ohio

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