The Death of the United Methodist Church: Part 3 - The Gnostic Connection
Introduction
I am wrestling with how to present this next analysis. What I am about to write has contributed significantly to the United Methodist Church's demise. It is perhaps the real reason the UMC is dying.
In my first blog post, I identified Corporate Pluralism as a significant contributor. In my second blog post, I link this concept with the Wesleyan Quadrilateral where Tradition, Reason, and Experience slay Scripture as United Methodist "do" theology.
Background
Anyone involved in the United Methodist Church knows the tension, even hostility, between the theological left and the conservative right. I saw this as a young man when I attended the Bakerville United Methodist Church in New Hartford, Connecticut. I had the honor of knowing Pastor George Smith as a teenager and was blessed to serve as an assistant pastor for several years.
I remember talking with Pastor George at length about the direction of the UMC and what can be done about it. I was familiar with the Good News Movement and personally knew men like Rev. Riley Case, who worked relentlessly to bring truth to the UMC. There was a great divide back then, with a long ugly history. This hostility continues to this day, and the fruit is the "traditionalist" (an interesting characterization, to say the least) are being politely but forcefully told to leave.
For years I couldn't understand what was happening in the UMC. At times, I experienced anger and outright hostility toward those of us who held to the truth of Biblical Christianity. I think I understand now what was going on.
The Clergy/Laity Divide
There is, and always has been, a great divide between clergy and laity in the United Methodist Church. You cannot find this distinction in the Bible. The Scripture indeed reveals that the role of elder/pastor/overseer is God's will. However, there is no elitism associated with ordination in the Bible, especially the kind you see played out in the UMC.
The term "clergy" comes from old French words that mean those with "learning, knowledge, and erudition." "Laity" comes from the Greek word "λαϊκός, laikos," which means people. In essence, the UMC has adopted more of an Anglican and Roman Catholic understanding of church leadership than the Reformed pastoral view. There is a great chasm between those who are ordained in the UMC and those who are not. This divide is where, I believe, Gnosticism has entered the UMC.
The Development of Gnostic Clergy
Gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge. It is the belief that knowledge, particularly esoteric knowledge will bring about spiritual enlightenment and salvation. This knowledge is given to the initiated, not just anyone. Many of our institutions of higher “education” are becoming more and more gnostic in orientation, this includes colleges, universities, and seminaries.
Much of the theology that United Methodist clergy learn and study in UMC seminaries is so esoteric that it is almost impossible to understand. I challenge my readers to pick up a book by Karl Barth, Jürgen Moltmann, Emil Brunner, Rudolf Bultmann, and Friedrich Schleiermacher, to name a few. These theologians are routinely taught in United Methodist seminaries. Try and understand the intricacies of Process Theology, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, and Neo-Orthodox Theology. Those theologies are just the tip of the Gnostic iceberg.
Paul writes in I Timothy 6:20-21:
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and vain babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. (emphasis mine)
I have an undergraduate in Philosophy and a Master's degree in Divinity. I have been studying theology much of my life, and I still have difficulty understanding these various theologies. These theologians and theologies are examples of true Theological Pluralism, i.e. Gnostic Theology. I have, of late, undertaken a study of Karl Barth. Because of my Philosophy background, I can understand some of what he wrote. My knowledge of existentialism and Kantian philosophy helps, but to be honest, I am often lost. I guess I am not bright enough to receive enlightenment.
These theologians and theologies have one thing in common; they are all based upon esoteric knowledge*. The hideousness of Gnostic belief is that it uses familiar terms. The meaning of these terms to the uninitiated is vastly different than what we would expect.
We see this same manifestation of Gnosticism in Freemasonry, for example. Only as you rise higher in the ranks, are you granted more light on the true meaning of the various words and concepts. It is no different for the seminarian as he or she advances through the ranks of United Methodism. As you advance, you are taught the “true” meaning of the Bible.
Another way to explain the new religion behind the UMC, many mainline denominations, even those in government is Perennial Philosophy or Perennial Wisdom. Essential, it is the belief that all religions are One. We may have different expressions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and so on. Understand this, and you will understand much of what is happening in the Church and in our Government.
While there are clergy men and women in the UMC who consciously espouse the gnosticism behind Theological Pluralism, many are unaware that they have replaced the true faith in exchange for a lie. (Romans 1:25) Many new seminarians and pastors blindly swallow the poison their mentors and professors feed them. These leaders disparage and mock Biblical Christianity by labeling it fundamentalist, traditionalist, and narrow-minded. Unless a new candidate understands the manipulation, they ingest the poison.
The Uninitiated Laity
The problem is, the poor unsuspecting, and uninitiated person in the pew is duped into thinking their Gnostic clergy-person is a Christian in the Biblical sense of the word. Nothing can be further than the truth. Most United Methodist pastors are Gnostics and are adept at teaching the Gnostic religion.
Gnostics can use Biblical terminology while meaning something significantly different. For example, the Gnostic catechism question on Gnosis.org asks:
7. Is God a Holy Trinity?
Yes. The Gnostic tradition has always affirmed the existence of God as the Holy Trinity consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I assure you what a Gnostic means by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is vastly different than what the True Trinitarian God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. Would you be surprised to learn that what most UMC pastor’s mean by the Trinty is significantly different as well? Remember this next time your pastor calls God Mother.
The average person in the pew could ask his pastor if he or she believes in the Scripture's infallibility, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, whether there is any other way of salvation outside of Jesus's death on the cross, and so on. I guarantee the Gnostic pastor will affirm every one of these doctrines and more. However, because the meaning of the words and theology is vastly different than sound Biblical theology, the person asking the question will never suspect. And unless you are aware of Gnosticism and how to bring it to the light, the Gnostic pastor will have you convinced they are just as Christian as you are. I assure you, they are not.
Signs of a Gnostic Clergy
These Gnostic clergy will occasionally slip or purposely push their uninitiated congregants toward Gnosticism with various "buzz words." Some of the signs of a Gnostic pastor are those who pray to Mother God, push for tolerance for same-sex marriage, insist on inclusive language when it comes to God, and much more. Once confronted, they will feign contrition, but it is only an act. They are taught to be patient because uninitiated laity have a long way to go to achieve enlightenment.
The Remnant
The truth is that there are very few Pastors like George Smith once was. What few are left are being driven out. I see many dedicated, trusting, and unsuspecting “laity” in the UMC. Many of this remnant have been in the UMC most, if not all of their lives. They are men and women who sincerely love Jesus Christ and were taught to respect their Elders and submit to their authority. Because of this, Gnostic pastors have walked unconfronted in most local churches. These faithful servants in the pew have given thousands of hours of service and tens of thousands of tithe money to their local church. Their money pays the salaries of Gnostic pastors to go on to further heights of enlightenment by paying for their “education.” These faithful people have been worshipping together for years in their local churches and they don’t want to lose their church. For these reasons, the sin perpetrated against these loyal members is all the more troubling.
Gnosticism - An Ancient Heresy
The early church had to combat Gnosticism in many forms. The epistles of John, for example, are masterpieces that fight against this age-old heresy. For instance, Gnosticism believes there is a little bit of good in evil and a little bit of evil in good. Sound like the Force of Starwars and Darth Vader? Perhaps you are thinking of the Ying and Yang symbol of eastern religions. Can anyone say Carl Jung? The idea that the Bible is both the infallible word of God but contains error is another form of this mixture of light and darkness.
The apostle John speaks against this ancient heresy in 1 John 1:5-7:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Words of Encouragement to UMC Members
If you are a United Methodist Church member, I have a few words of encouragement to give you.
First, you are not crazy. Your heart has been telling you for many years that something is significantly amiss in the UMC's pastoral leadership. Most pastors, district superintendents, and bishops are steeped in Gnosticism. But remember, the nature of Gnosticism is to hide in the darkness.
Second, the decline of your local church is not your fault. There has been a systematic Gnostic infiltration into the ranks of the clergy for decades. This infiltration is by design. The ultimate goal is not propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ, but the advancement of pseudo-Christian and pro-Gnostic values. This is not the first time Gnosticism has infiltrated the Church and, until Christ comes again, it is not the last.
Third, you are stronger than you think. God always calls us to be humble, but He never calls us to compromise. If you are in a United Methodist Church and recognize Gnosticism either in your pastor, district superintendent, or bishop, you are not out of line to speak out and confront the darkness. You should educate yourself more on this heresy, otherwise, you will be tricked or bullied into submission.
Forth, pray for your Gnostic pastor and witness to him or her. If they don't repent, demand a pastor who is thoroughly Christian. Educate yourself on the subtleties of Gnostic expressions amongst the clergy. Part of the beauty of Protestantism is our belief that we have a right to question the clergy and have a duty to do so. Members of the local church have been systematically trained to be passive, to not question authority. This time is over.
Fifth, realize that if and when the United Methodist Church splits, your local church has a once in a lifetime opportunity to leave the apostate denomination with your buildings and land in tact. I doubt this opportunity will happen again. I would encourage all United Methodist local churches to pray and think long and hard about this opportunity. I will write more about this in the near future.
Sixth, be faithful to Jesus Christ and not a denomination. If the time comes to leave, wipe the dust off your feet, and don't look back. The judgment does indeed begin in the house of God. If the United Methodist Church's clergy do not repent and leave Gnosticism behind, God will judge them severly.
Seventh, trust in the sovereignty of God. The Church is His Bride, and He will bring about His holiness and righteousness in Her. You are that Bride. Do all you can to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and His holy Word.
*I am well aware that there are true Christian theologians that may sound esoteric. I think of men such as Dr. Cornelius Van Til, Dr. Greg Bahnsen, and Dr. Peter Jones, for example. There is a significant difference, however. God gifts these types of theologians not only to understand esoteric Gnostic Theology, but they are blessed to refute them as well.
Note:
If any of my readers, especially those who are part of the United Methodist Church, would like to verify what I am saying or know more, I suggest reading or listening to Dr. Peter Jones. Dr. Jones holds an M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Th. M. from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He taught New Testament at Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA) until December 2002. He now directs truthXchange (www.truthxchange.com), a non-profit which emphasizes reaching college and university students who often encounter the "new spirituality" on their campuses.
A few quick resources may be beneficial such as, Gnosticism in the Mainline, Neopaganism Inside the Church, and A Gnostic Gospel should be enough to point you in the right direction.