With his usual zest and animated spirit, Bishop Jonathan Keaton officially opened the West Michigan Annual Conference by encouraging the 2010 church to look a little bit more like the 1st Century church described in Acts 2.
As it says in Acts 2:46-47 (NIV): “Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people.”
“The crowds shown in Acts 2 are looked at as the ideal church by some, focused on communion, prayer, teaching, helping others and all the things that should be important,” Keaton said. “But sometimes we focus so much on things like crime, homosexuality, inhumanity, hopelessness and all the things that divide us.”
Keaton made note that nowhere in Acts 2 does it talk about denominational divide, Jews and gentiles being separate, or longtime believers distinguishing themselves from new ones.
What it does reflect though, he said, is Christian community flourishes through personal and social holiness — something that was exemplified by the late Sam Dixon (UMCOR head) and late Clint Rabb (Rev. and missionary), as well as mission worker Jim Gulley when they were trapped under the Hotel Montana following the devastating Haiti earthquake in January. Keaton talked about the faith they showed by referencing reports that they sang hymns together, repeatedly tried to lift the spirits of those around them and never gave up despite the grave circumstances.
“What happened to Sam Dixon and Clint Rabb and Jim Gulley was social and spiritual,” he said. “Underneath that rubble was the spirit of Pentecost and the spirit of holiness, even during their most trying times.”
A special offering was taken for Haiti Thursday and Keaton applauded the conference’s response to the disaster through giving and prayer.
Keaton said the modern-day United Methodist Church needs to remember the words of John Wesley more often though, when he said, “The world is my parish.”
He used the example of one Detroit Conference church to illustrate what Wesley’s quote means in a contemporary context. Keaton received a letter from a UMC pastor detailing how his church has been supporting an Estonian pastor in Europe through funding his salary, and the two regularly communicate online via Skype.
Keaton was fired up about living in that same spirit, honing in on the key principles of studying scripture, praying and holy worship.
He said it’s great that the Bible is a bestselling book, but believers need to dive in and read and study it more to make a greater difference.
“Personal Bible study is essential to change,” he said. “I still have a long way to go — but then again, so do you.”
He said the United Methodist Church should be proud of its Disciple series of Bible study products, published by Cokesbury since 1986, but it can always do better to equip people to go forth and serve by encouraging them to spend regular time in God’s word.
Keaton said a lot people experience pain because they forget to go to the Lord in prayer, but he also laughed about what type of clumsy clergy he would likely be without the grace he has experienced through intercession.
“God has always provided me with the words for preaching,” he said. “Prayer hasn’t always kept this pastor from preaching bad sermons, but I hope today isn’t one of them. But I hope I am doing the Lord’s work because it’s not about me — it’s about God.”
The final concept Keaton touched on was getting past our differences in worship style preference while remembering worship is not just for us, it’s for God. He said “worship wars” that have torn some churches apart are an example of what happens when churches forget that worship is for God, not just with Him.
“We as churches need to get past the Burger King mentality — ‘Have It Your Way,’” he said.
He said there have been significant liturgical changes the past couple of decades and a transformation of the music played in UMC churches, but that’s fine by him.
“What you gonna do if someone is preaching in a way that’s not your style?” he asked. “Focus on their message and our God.”
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