Context
may not be everything: However, it is something...or it should be, shouldn't
it?
This week, I was told by my Pastor that I cannot teach in
my Methodist Church of 5 years because my spirituality is not consistent with
the core believes of Christianity.
To supplement this narrative, I will say that the class
in question that I wanted to facilitate
was a Bible
Journaling class.
Citing 2nd Timothy and saying "as we are led in
scripture" she had discussed it with her District Supervisor, and that it
had been brought up in committees among the elders of the church.
The truth be
known, I've scowered 2nd Timothy and can't find what she may have been alluding
to.
The verse I thought
she might have been alluding to, is actually in Matthew:
15 “If
your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did
wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them
back. 16 But what if they won’t listen
to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter
must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’ (Deuteronomy 19:15) 17 But what if they also refuse to listen to the
witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if they refuse to listen even
to the church? Then don’t treat them as a brother or sister.Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector."
Well, maybe that's what I think it might have been. I could be wrong.
I was very defensive. Honestly, not the first time I've had this kind of battle on my hands. I did not handle it well. But the spirit was with me, and I did not succumb to most of what was in my mind to say.
What I , typically" am assailed with is leviticus 19:31
31 “ ‘Do not look for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Do not go to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. If you do, they will make you “unclean.” I am the Lord your God."
Even I have to say that is me, dead to rights (so-to-speak). But higher in the scripture is tells us not to mix different kinds of seeds and plant them in your field (Lev. 19:19) So no flower and vegetable gardens, no herbs and vegetable gardens, no vegetables and flax together.
"Do not let different animals mate together" (again, Leviticus 19:19) Wondering if that means we should not be producing Shar-Bra cattle or Black Angus Cattle (no black angus steaks) which leads me to Leviticus 19:26 "Do not eat any meat with blood in it" (no rare steaks).
27 “ ‘Do not cut the hair on the sides of your head. Do not clip off the edges of your beard." I doubt my (former) Pastor does this, as she is a woman.
One of my personal favorites: Leviticus 19:19 “ ‘Do not wear clothes that are made out of two kinds of cloth.
No Poly cotton blends (hard in the heat of Florida--or sure in the dessert).
Other quotes seem to me to be very reasonable. Honor your parents, don't cheat your neighbor, don't practice evil magic...all good guidance I think, really.
Choosing one scripture out of context to condemn a person's behavior or spirituality...that's called "cherry picking". I know some people might think I was cherry picking , but actually, I was putting the one piece of scripture in context with the other admonitions.
I'm sure that a Bible teacher might say "How important do you think this scripture is, in modern times about not wearing two blends of fabric? Maybe not so important. Some are more applicable to modern society then others." But then we have the subjective slippery slope that cannon is happy to offer us. "We (the Methodist church, or the Catholic church or any other denomination) can decide (for you, the masses) which passages are significant FOR you.
Moving back to the first scripture I cited...if it is the one intended---even if it isn't. We are given conduct for addressing people whom we believed have sinned.
1) 15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them back.
2) But what if they won’t listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’
3) 17 But what if they also refuse to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if they refuse to listen even to the church? Then don’t treat them as a brother or sister. Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector."
So, I suppose a conversation on the phone could be construed as being in private, as far as I know, it was just the two of us on the phone.
On point # 2, I did not receive any visits or calls from other members of the church with the Pastor to address said issue.
On point #3 "tell it to the church", well here there are many rankles coming up (for me). It was (according to Pastor) discussed "in committees" (unnamed to me) and with Pastor by "other people" (also unnamed) and the District Supervisor (I know who he is) or , as characterized by Pastor-an elder of the church.
All of this discussion without my knowledge or my ability to stand for myself.
And, of course, lastly, "Then, don't treat them as a brother or sister. Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a Tax collector"
The "distancing language" that Pastor used in saying "You are welcome to worship with us and pray with us but you cannot teach here" Certainly gave me the impression that I was no longer being regarded as one of "us" any longer.
I, certainly, got the impression that I was being regarded as ungodly.
A friend of mine said that she saw no love in the incident, and I must confess, neither do I. The strident tone to Pastor's voice as she informed me. My desperate attempts to make response.
The finishing salvos of warning and foreboding. Do I wish it had happened differently? No. I wish it hadn't happened at all. I recall a character in a film saying "Most things end badly...otherwise, they probably wouldn't end at all." Maybe that's true.
For now, I nurse my broken heart as best I can, and place it all in God's hands.
Til next time, eat something wonderful
and live a life worth loving.
