Read Romans 14:1-12

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you” (James 4:11 NLT).

We’ve all seen the bumper magnets and bulletin signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” While well-intentioned, this phrase often misses the mark. It focuses on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge we face isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.

Part 2: Don’t Turn Non-Essentials Into Mandatories. In May 2024, the United Methodist Church made a historic shift towards LGBTQ inclusion. At their General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, 93% of delegates voted to lift long-standing bans on ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy and allowing clergy to perform same-sex weddings. This decision came after decades of debate and division within the denomination over LGBTQ issues.

The change was celebrated by many, including Rev. Andy Oliver, who had faced potential church trials for officiating same-sex weddings. However, it also highlighted how a non-essential doctrine had caused significant division within the church for years, leading to what some described as a “denominational divorce” and causing harm to LGBTQ individuals within the Methodist community.

Just three weeks later, on May 21, 2024, another powerful moment unfolded in Eastern Pennsylvania. Beth Stroud, who had been defrocked as a United Methodist Church pastor in Philadelphia in 2004 for being in a same-sex relationship, was reinstated as a full member and pastor in the UMC. The reinstatement occurred during a closed session of about 200 ordained clergy from the UMC’s Eastern Pennsylvania region, where Stroud exceeded the two-thirds vote requirement for readmission. As one of the clergy present in that session, I witnessed this historic moment firsthand. Stroud, overcome with emotion, described her experience: “I was completely disoriented. For what felt like several minutes I couldn’t tell where the front of the room was, where I was, where I needed to go. Everyone was clapping and then they started singing.” She was presented with a red clergy stole symbolizing her status as a fully ordained member of the clergy.

These events highlight a crucial issue within Christianity: the tendency to elevate non-essential doctrines to mandatory status. For decades, the UMC and many other denominations have been deeply divided over LGBTQ inclusion, treating it as a make-or-break issue of faith. But is this truly an essential doctrine of Christianity?

Jesus never spoke directly about LGBTQ issues. His message consistently emphasized love, acceptance, and the inherent worth of all people. He challenged religious leaders who used doctrine to exclude and marginalize others. Paul, in our main scripture, urges us not to “quarrel over disputable matters” (Romans 14:1 NLT).

When we turn non-essential doctrines into mandatories, we risk losing sight of Christ’s central teachings. We create division where there should be unity, exclusion where there should be welcome. The harm done to LGBTQ Christians, like Beth Stroud, who have been excluded from full participation in church life, is a stark reminder of the consequences of such actions.

As Christians, we are called to focus on the essentials of our faith: love for God and neighbor, the saving grace of Christ, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Everything else, including our interpretations of specific biblical passages or traditional church teachings, should be held more loosely.

This doesn’t mean these issues aren’t important or that we shouldn’t engage in thoughtful discussion about them. But it does mean we should approach them with humility, recognizing that faithful Christians can and do disagree on many matters.

By keeping our focus on Christ and His essential teachings, we create space for diversity within unity. We allow for growth, change, and a fuller expression of God’s love in our communities. Most importantly, we avoid the trap of legalism that Jesus so often warned against.

As we reflect on the UMC’s journey towards LGBTQ inclusion, let’s consider: What non-essential doctrines might we be elevating to mandatory status in our own lives or churches? How can we refocus on the essential teachings of Christ, creating a more inclusive and loving community of faith?

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” – possibly Marco Antonio de Dominis

PRAYER
Loving God, help us to focus on the essentials of our faith, grounded in Your love and grace. Give us the wisdom to discern between essential and non-essential doctrines, and the courage to create inclusive communities that reflect Your all-encompassing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.