Some are under the assumption that the United Methodist Church in the deep south still clings to a biblical worldview. You may want to rethink that hypothesis after reading a resolution from the North Alabama Conference adopted yesterday.
"One of the worst things you can do when your child comes out as gay is to say, 'You're wrong,' or 'You're just confused,'" Rev. Dave Barnhart who authored the resolution said. Yet in an interview Barnhart added "I would love for clergy to talk to teachers who are part of a safe zone," seeming to indicate that pastors do an end-run around parents by going to teachers about their sexually confused children. Barnhart said he hopes the statement passed Tuesday, titled "Resolution Supporting Harm Reduction for LGBTQ Teens," will encourage churches to work with schools to support understanding for gay youth.
The United Methodist Church in North Alabama is bullying Christian parents into understanding and affirming homosexuality in children who think they might be homosexual. Here we have the church directing Christian parents to affirm homosexuality in youth by creating an atmosphere of understanding and a positive social environment when they come out as gay. In other words, if young people think they are homosexual then they should be accepted and affirmed as such. The irony is that the North Alabama Conference is bullying its own members whose children are struggling with their sexuality by calling the resolution an anti-bullying resolution!
So, I have questions for the United Methodist Church of the North Alabama Conference. Have you lost your Bible or is it your nerve to teach the Bible? Do you not know or have you forgotten the biblical teaching about sin and redemption? Whatever happened to a biblical worldview? Can the church no longer speak for God for fear of offending someone or discriminating against someone’s own opinions about his or her sexuality? Does anyone in the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church speak for God? Explain what is wrong with instructing Christian parents to discourage teens from self-identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and teaching them a biblical view of human sexuality.
God says in His holy word that homosexual behavior is sinful and wrong but that His plan for human sexuality is clearly set forth in the creation story and order. God warns that Satan is a master deceiver, the author of confusion and will lead us away from God’s plan. The Church of Jesus Christ and Christian parents have the mandate from Holy Scripture to teach, model, disciple and discipline their children in the teachings and life of Christ. May God grant the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church the eyes to see and the conviction to stand with what is so plainly revealed in His word concerning human sexuality which is so clearly at odds with their recently adopted resolution.
The precious souls of our children and grandchildren are at stake.
