Seeking Salvation : Christianity, Faith, Methodism

 Florida recently shifted their curriculum in order to change the perception of slavery. Slavery is physical, social, sexual, and financial violence against a person's will. Slavery existed (and still exists in the form of migrant and sexual exploitation of women) for 400 years in this country. The new curriculum indicates that children will be taught that, “slavery benefitted some Black people because they learned skills while being enslaved”. Their goal apparently is not to tinge the White children with the legacy of slavery. It is yet another movement towards a “color-blind” society. If they can soften the historical narrative, they can shift thinking in both the Black and White communities, and we can move on as a country with history, one culture and a defined race hierarchy. As a Black man, I feel erased as a human and threatened as an American. As a pastor, I teach that God asks for two things from humanity. To love God and love neighbors as ourselves. By negating who one i...

Difficult things happen to all of us. It’s part of the creation that God orders for us. Pain is part of life; you can’t avoid it. The United Methodist Church teaches that “suffering begets holiness”. The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, added a little more nuance when he argued that: · Suffering keeps the believer humble, even as a little child. [27] [1] · Suffering alters the believer’s focus, from this world and toward God. [28] [2] · Suffering teaches the believer obedience, just as it did for Christ. [29] [3] · Suffering cultivates an attitude of full submission toward God. [30] [4] · Suffering increases our earnestness for pure love. [31] [5] · Suffering prepares the believer to fight temptation. [32] [6] Ultimately, “Whatever raises the mind to God is good; whatever draws the heart from its center is evil [7] This is great to know; however, Pain, Suffering, and illness seem to contradict what many know about God’s nature that: o God is all-powerful. o God is all-kn...