The Dark Continent Shines

The United Methodist Church met for its General Conference last week in Fort Worth, TX. One of the hot-button issues that was addressed - as is happening in many "mainline denominations" - was the issue of homosexuality. Many leaders in the UMC - following the moral decline of many of their ecumenical brothers - have been pushing for the General Conference to revise its current stance on homosexuality in the church which states, "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Many of the leaders are pushing for such a statement to either be removed entirely or adjusted to "refrain from judgment" on the issue.

Thankfully, the General Conference voted to keep it's stance on homosexuality in tact. That it is indeed "incompatible with Christian teaching." The margin was narrow, but nonetheless, decisive. The very telling factor though through all of this was that many of the American UMC leaders who desire for the UMC to change its stance on homosexuality, begrudgingly blame the fact that it didn't change on the ever-incresing presence of UMC representatives from Africa at the General Conference. Christianity in general is exploding in Africa, and the denomination of Methodism is no exception. As such, the African UMC sends more and more leaders to the General Conference each time, and such leaders are usually more conservative, dare I say more Biblically committed than many in the American arena. Their voice being heard in this important vote demonstrates this.

This fact only confirms the reality we as American Christians are progressively coming to terms with...we no longer set the spiritual tone. The Church around the world is surpassing us in its devotion, conviction and zeal. A place like the "Dark Continent" is being seen as a misnomer. The West may still be more technologically advanced but in the economy of Grace, a place like the Dark Continent is a beacon of light to the American church; calling her to a higher standard.

This fact only confirms that the next Great Awakening; the next great Gospel movement; the next Reformation of any kind will probably not originate on American soil where we shed blood in the Worship Wars (contemporary or traditional?) but in the lands around the globe where the soil is rich with the blood of the martyrs and yet the Gospel pushes on.

American Christianity...how much longer till this term is seen as contradictory around the world?