“You do what you do. And I will do what I do. And we will be alright together.”
These are the words of a charismatic Methodist pastor in the USA shared with a British Methodist colleague, who was uncomfortable with giving revivalistic altar calls. The two ministers had developed a friendship and deep respect for the other. They sensed a common place in the heart, but they expressed faith in quite different ways. The Brit said to the American when he was asked to preach in an American pulpit, “I am not sure what folks will think, as I am more reserved in how I express myself.” The American’s response was brilliant. I should add that this story is from twenty years ago when the United Methodist Church was still holding together with a greater sense of forbearance than we have seen in 2023. Times and sentiments have changed. Yet after all the disaffiliation of churches and clergy in the UMC, there yet remains significant diversity. There is wisdom in giving one another space to make decisions and to follow through on convictions where we will not agree. “You do what you do. And I’ll do what I do. And we will be alright together.”
The words bring to mind a much older sound byte from John Wesley: “If your heart is as my heart, lend me your hand.” This is not to say if your theology is as mine, nor to say if your views on sexual orientation are as mine, and certainly not if your preferred liturgical style is as mine. The heart transcends all that.
Jesus sent 70 disciples two by two into villages to minister without curriculum or formal agenda except to heal folks and hang out and see what happened. This is how they were to discover that the Kingdom was coming near to them. There was no mandate to debate, to convince or to storm out when agreement eluded them. They were looking simply for “persons of peace,” who would welcome them into a village or into a home. So that together, they could discover the ways that their hearts beat in sync.
Jesus' vision for us is not to agree on everything but to give each other a bit of gracious space to be who we are. And to do what we authentically do, in Christ.
I believe that 99 percent of the time, if we can give this a chance, and we discern our heart alignments, we will be more than alright. Together.
Happy Advent!
PS: I learned today that a new church in South Carolina, arising from the disaffiliation disaster (and growing like a weed), has named itself Open Hearts UMC. A perfect name!
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