CHAPTER 23 THE RADICAL CENTER

In the late 1950’s until about 1964 mainline churches were the dominant voice in America. They declined because There was a loss of spiritual vitality They increased focus on social gospel They no longer helped their members grow in a personal relationship with God Emphasized the intellect in worship Neglected the emotion and heart part of worship How does WMUMC measure against these aspects of decline?

Some of the major churches, like Willow Creek, have moved from a ministry focused almost exclusively on evangelism to one that recognizes the call of Christ to care for those in need. These churches have moved toward the center where they have a passionate zeal coupled with a belief that the gospel had to be lived in social ministry to a broken world.

EvangelismSocial Ministry Where do you see Warwick Memorial fitting In this scale? What percent evangelism and what percent Social Ministry?

From the 2015 WMUMC proposed budget Connect Team - $18,800 Music - $7,600 Worship Team - $4,000 Serve Team - $17,100 Evangelize Team - $2,650 Why do we spend so little on Evangelism?

Mainline churches are teetering on the brink of division over theological issues, in particular the issue of homosexuality. Some have interest in holding the churches together by acknowledging the gray area and meeting in the middle. What would you do if the Methodist church split over the issue of homosexuality? Would you be willing to move to the middle to keep the church from splitting? What do yo consider as the middle?

We need to learn to appreciate what others bring to the table. “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” ― John Wesley Can you go along with what Wesley said?

John Wesley Prayer I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Hamilton calls his members to move away from moderation in faith because it is lukewarm. He calls them to a radical faith in which they have offered themselves wholly to God and in which the should be able to take risks and live boldly and courageously for God. Would you be willing to begin moving toward a radical faith of this type?

Read Psalm 145:8 Can you move to this radical center? The radical center holds together a liberal spirit that is open minded, searching for truth, and generous with a conserving spirit that is unwilling to discard historic truths. It is willing to question.

The radical center recognizes in the scriptures both in reflections of human beings as they wrote of their faith, and the self disclosure of God to his people. The radical center recognizes God as our anchor. The radical center is unafraid to admit that the Bible has challenging passages that likely reflect the theological worldview of its authors more than the nature of God. Can you move to this radical center?

The radical center hold that God gave us both an intellect and a heart. We can experience God with our hearts. God gave us the capacity to reason and think and ask questions. God expects us to pursue the truth. Can you move to this radical center?

The radical center avoids lambasting the right or the left. The radical center is defined by a willingness what is good and true in others, and a commitment to practicing love. The radical center seeks to build bridges and not walls. Can you move to this radical center?