We don’t need liberal-conservative
litmus test to prove discipleship

James Ryan’s “My view” column provoked some deep and disturbing questions in me (“How would bishops answer these questions about UMC?” March 24).
As a lifelong United Methodist, I find it offensive that Mr. Ryan would propose “litmus tests” for members and clergy. His list of 12 points, including the proposal to “rate” on a 10-point scale who is liberal and who is conservative, seems preposterous in the least and actually quite damaging in its effects.
As a church, we live and breathe to offer Jesus Christ to a wounded, suffering world regardless of spiritual or political leanings. Though we claim to be the church of “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors,” do we truly act like it?
How do we square that advertising slogan with taking the spiritual pulse of every congregant and clergyperson?
The Holy Spirit directs, convicts and guides each individual. Any interference with that is playing God—no matter who makes the claim or how large their number.
Using Mr. Ryan’s logic, I am not so sure that Jesus Christ himself would have passed muster. After all, he hung out with people of doubtful character, such as prostitutes, tax collectors and the like. Jesus was called a rebel, a renegade and a blasphemer.
Why? Because he set the organized religion of his day on its collective ear.
Jesus was consistently hounded by the religious authorities to uphold dogma, rather than speak of truth, equity and love. Eventually, he was crucified for it.
In the end, does it truly matter who is liberal, conservative or undecided? We exist to witness God’s love and grace to all, not just those who give the “correct” answers on some prefabricated test.
And although it may anger some, Christ himself was far more concerned with the individual than he ever was with a set of rules.
Turn the other cheek. Walk the extra mile. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Love the unlovable. Comfort the afflicted. These were Christ’s lists of rules.
So many times what we have done is to take Christ and divest the man from his message—all the while trying to one-up each other in the name of holiness.
As United Methodists, we should be proud of our tolerant, moderate voice that claims scripture, reason and interpretation as the foundational triad for spiritual growth. However, if we continue the vitriolic mudslinging between factions, we hopelessly divide ourselves. Much worse, we lose our witness to the world.
Jesus Christ is the head of our denomination and our church. Centuries ago, he said the greatest commandments were to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. All people would know that we were his in one simple way: that we love one another.
Jesus proposed no other tests as proof of discipleship. At the very least we should attempt to follow that divine example.