I don't want to talk. . .

While listening to an interview on the radio, I heard that the new way of being one church for the not so United Methodists may well be a loose confederation of independent jurisdictions who work together but who make decisions like who can be a minister separately (aka, LGBTQ+).  The elected leader of the UMC was gushing over this idea because it would allow them better to talk and listen to each other.  At that point, I almost lost my breakfast.  So, dividing enables a richer conversation.  Wow, who knew???

At this point I should admit that I don't want to talk and I don't want to listen anymore.  In fact, I am over it.  Talking and listening is code for changing doctrine and practice.  It is not a help to maintaining the faith once delivered to the saints, that is for sure.  The American Methodists are impatient.  It has taken too long and they are weary of the opposition to fully adopting the same sex and gender identity agenda of the radical left.  They would have preferred to vote to approve the full incorporation into the life of the church and the ministry for all kinds of LGBTQ+ folks but that was not forthcoming as long as Africans had any say so.  America has the money but Africa has the people.  So because they could not succeed at the ballot box in changing doctrine and practice, they will become independent and can act without having to either appease or face the rejection of those who do not wish to change.  Frankly, that is exactly what we face in Lutheranism.  Listening and talking are code words for changing doctrine and practice.

If you do not like residential seminary training as the preferred route to ordination, let us talk and listen to one another so that you can be persuaded to change your mind.  If you do not like an ordained ministry but want to keep the function and allow freedom and flexibility with who administers the functions, let us talk and listen to one another so that you can be persuaded to change your mind. If you do not like close(d) communion, let us talk and listen to one another so that you can be persuaded to change your mind.  If you do not like the minimal restrictions placed upon the service of women in the church, let us talk and listen to one another so that you can be persuaded to change your mind.  If you do not like liturgy or formal worship and prefer evangelical style worship, let us talk and listen to one another so that you can be persuaded to change your mind.  I could go on.  In the end, talking and listening are generally code words for the liberal or progressive side doing the talking and the traditional or conservative side doing the listening so that a change in doctrine and/or practice can be effected.  

I like talking and sometimes I even like listening but not if the whole purpose of it is to effect a disconnect between us and our confessions or our fathers in the faith and our future.  That is a lie.  Give me one example where the liberals or progressives have walked back their position on anything (except a strategic delay tactic).  In culture, society, education, and religion the direction is always toward a more liberal or progressive ideal and the talking and listening are simply tools to get there.  Sadly, in politics and religion the most the conservatives have gained is to slow down the pace of the liberalization of things.  And if you do not believe me, take a look at Pope Francis and those whom he has appointed and the things he has said and done.  He talks so that Roman Catholics might listen and change their doctrine and practice.  If he keeps talking same sex couples will marry, they will bless any and every desire and identity, and they will embrace abortion and birth control so that everyone may do what is right in their own minds.  But they will not be alone.  Protestants will already be there waiting for them and with them a ton of Lutherans, too.  But not me.  And I hope not you, either.