*Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of The Messenger
Rev. Dr. Daren Flinik
Kenyon United Methodist Church
Kenyon MN 55946
Dear Reverend Flinik:
Someone once said, “Sleep on it and it will go away.” I have now slept on it for more than three weeks. Whoever said it, was wrong.
Before we talk about the Word of God, let the record show that I was confirmed at the Kenyon Methodist Church on April 3, 1960. With all the reverence that the late Rev. Roy Miller could generate, how could he have ever known that the Bibles he presented to each candidate would one day prove meaningless to the church he loved so much? It is the reason I did not come and see you beforehand. As a retired educator and researcher, I read your playbook long before you ever knew I existed.
Speaking of books, let me begin with what you referred to as The Book of Discipline. If one did not know better, they might be led to believe that it has replaced the Bible as the inerrant Word of God for all Methodists. As a matter of fact, it is here that you became so bold as to say: “The UMC affirms the sanctity of both the mother's life and the life of the unborn child. Because of their belief in the sanctity of life, they are reluctant to approve abortion, but, also recognize the need to respect the life and well-being of the mother.”
“The UMC supports access to comprehensive reproductive health information and services to prevent unplanned pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion.” Moreover, “Because we live in a complex world, the UMC acknowledges situations where the tragic conflicts of life versus life may make abortion a justifiable resolution. This could include cases where the mother's health is at risk or in cases of rape or incest. No matter what is decided, the UMC emphasizes the need for prayerful and thoughtful consideration by individuals facing unplanned pregnancies, with appropriate medical, family, and pastoral counsel.”
“In essence, the UMC's stance on abortion reflects a balance between valuing the sanctity of life and recognizing the complexities of individual circumstances, emphasizing compassionate decision-making and access to reproductive healthcare.”
Pastor, if I did not know better, I would think that you copied your Book of Discipline out of Planned Parenthood's Playbook (See Exodus 21:22 where it all begins with the Word of God). It is where you will find Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth. The penalty (v.23) is Life for Life. The Bible makes no exceptions when it comes to killing the unborn. It is called murder...and people like you are on the team.
This leads me to the next 'grave' error coming out of your pulpit. Regarding homosexuality, you say, “It is true that the United Methodist Church (UMC) has recently undergone significant changes in its stance on homosexuality and LGBTQ+ inclusion, moving towards a more welcoming and affirming position.” Pastor, you should be ashamed to use the word 'welcoming' in this context. But you are not done yet. Read on....
“Recent changes reflect a move towards greater inclusion regarding LGBTQ+ individuals. The UMC has removed language from its Book of Discipline regarding the incompatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching, now permitting clergy to officiate same-sex marriages in their churches with approval. The ban on ordaining 'self-avowed, practicing homosexuals' has also been lifted. The church's Book of Discipline supports basic human rights and civil liberties for all persons, including those of any sexual orientation or gender identity. These denominational changes took effect January 1, 2025, but, perspectives and implementation may vary within individual churches. It is the last part that becomes challenging.”
Pastor, just in case you were wondering, this is where the Word of God calls the behavior you are endorsing an abomination (See Leviticus 18: 21-22 and footnotes). You will also find it in both the Old and New Testaments. One needs to be very careful when openly promoting sin from the church pulpit (Matthew 7:15, 21-23; Revelation 20:11-15).
Finally, your letter went on to say, “I will be the first to admit that we live in a broken world, but Jesus (as our Lord and Savior) came to help us navigate our way through this fragmented world which we see every single day. He reached out to the least, the last, the lost, the lonely, the left out, and the looked over. What does Jesus tell you about reaching out to them?”
Pastor, one of the mistakes people like you continue to make is by ending your conversations with these kinds of misguided questions. It is almost like an indictment whereby you play Jesus against Himself. For some reason or another, your liberal persuasions have contributed to the argument that we have an ever changing God who is limited by times and events. It is a lie...and people who promote it are in serious, serious trouble.
And so, as I look back to a time when I had a real sense for what a Christian really was, I now know that the Methodist Church's definition (there are others like you) is no longer our Lord's definition. On the other hand, I remain convinced because the God I love is a God who has given me hope (Hebrews 11:1) without cutting deals or making concessions. Just recently, I turned to my Confirmation Bible, the one given to me by a God loving Methodist pastor 65 years go, and found that the only thing that has not changed since my Confirmation Day is my Lord (Malachi 3: 6a). AMEN and AMEN!
So what is the bottom line when it comes to promoting abortion and homosexuality? I find it twofold. First, they are both against the infallible Word of God. And second, you cannot be an evangelical Christian and support this kind of behavior no matter what your cleverly worded questions are. How do I know? Because God's Holy Bible tells us so.
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Pastor, I hope you find the Truth before it is too late for you and your followers.
