The United Methodist Church has been in debate over changing its bylaws in the Book of Discipline in order to allow for the ordination of gay clergy and the right to officiate weddings for homosexuals since the 1972 General Conference in Atlanta. In other words, it has been a swelling issue for the past fifty years and continues to gain steam due to pressure and influence from secular society. Notably, the Global Methodist Church separated and formed in order to uphold traditional Wesleyan doctrines and announced its launch on May 1, 2022. Thus, the trajectory seems to be reaching a boiling point as some anticipate a possible resolution in the 2024 General Conference scheduled to take place April 23 – May 3 in Charlotte, NC.

At first blush it may seem like a colossal waste of time and energy to debate the sinfulness of lived-out homosexuality for so long, but there is more than meets the eye. Usually someone advocating for a change in the church’s position will suggest that people have missed the forest for the trees by becoming obsessed with one doctrine instead of working together for the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The problem is that such an assertion is misguided at best and flippant at worst.

Take for example a scenario where the same assertion is put forth regarding the movement to end racism or pursue women’s rights. If it were suggested that these issues should be disregarded for the larger mission of the church then advocates for so-called inclusion would sing a different tune. One can only be caviler in the debate if they have accepted homosexuality as a moral good. Moreover, it should be said that the Book of Discipline already has a longstanding position on the matter and thus those who believe we are wasting time are welcome to stop putting forth resolutions and pushing for change at any time.

That being said there is much more at stake than a single doctrine. What is transpiring in the United Methodist Church is merely the tip of the iceberg. To be sure, what is at stake for the denomination is how we determine the authority of God. For traditionalists, that has always been Scripture divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit which is known as a high view of Scripture (not to be confused with pejorative views of biblicism). More liberal-minded Christians tend to adopt a low view of Scripture and therefore appeal to other means of authority, namely experience and reason. The end result is virtually two opposing views on how we understand truth and morality through God’s revelation.

The concern is over more than human sexuality. While an important issue in its own right, the most concerning issue at hand is whether the church will possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven or the keys to Pandora’s Box. If the box is opened then discerning the will of God will be relegated to subjectivity and eisegetical interpretations of biblical texts. Objective and universally binding standards will no longer exist and the result will be chaos since truth and morality will no longer possess permanence or ubiquitous claims. What is good and moral today will become anathema tomorrow. Evil will become good, darkness will turn into light, and bitter will become sweet (Isa. 5:20).

Currently the debate is over human sexuality. Many people assume that if the Book of Discipline changes on this one point then everything will be behind the church and we can return to focused efforts to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Though the truth of the matter is that such a notion is merely wishful thinking. There will be another doctrinal issue that will emerge for debate without checks and balances because discerning authority will largely be predicated on feelings under the guise of the Holy Spirit. Without the Scriptures in tandem with the Holy Spirit to inform us about universally binding standards that are separate from the mores of secularism, the church will continue to lose its way and assimilate with the world instead of being the light of the world.

Thus, what is at stake is unreliable means of discernment that will usher the church into sin and even worse ensuring that the church will become an impetus for sin. Christians must open their eyes and look ahead to see where the narrow path leads. We have a responsibility to be a city on a hill that shines light upon a dark and broken world to show people the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6). If we cast away the loveliness and efficacious truths clearly delineated through God’s word… then what can we offer the world that it does not already have?