Editorial

It's Time To Sound The Trumpet, Loud and Clear

I appreciate Bishop Carder's statement concerning our failure to apply the Scriptures and live them as opposed to merely arguing over them. I agree that our Methodist Holiness Doctrine teaches us that with the help (Sanctification) of the Holy Spirit we are able to practice the commandments of the Scriptures. I would however point out that he has failed to teach us where we should stand and where he and the Bishops stand on Article V of our Discipline. The argument and challenge we are facing is whether or not we should believe and practice those things commanded by the Scriptures, or go the way of the homosexual community, the abortionist, the new age theologians, the humanists, some of our seminary teachers, some of our Bishops, and many of our members , who have challenged or ignored the authority of the Scriptures to govern our actions and the actions of our Church. I would like to see a comment by Bishop Carder concerning this. I would like for him to comment on Article V under Par. 62 of the United Methodist Discipline.

If the Trumpet gives an uncertain sound, how shall the people be prepared for battle. We need a strong statement from ALL our leaders concerning the Authority of Holy Scripture as the rule and guide of our faith and actions. Bishop Carder, I ask you, and all our Bishops to "sound the trumpet" loud and clear. Let the people know if you believe "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation." (par. 62, Discipline) If you do not and cannot accept the Holy Scripture as the rule and guide of our faith and "Practice", please submit your resignation or repent. If any Bishop, District Superintendent, Elder, Deacon, Leader, or member of the United Methodist Church no longer choose to keep their Vow's of Baptism in which they promised to "Renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of their sin" (pp. 88, United Methodist Book of Worship) (Please note the the word "repent" to turn and go a different direction.); and their membership Vows, let them leave us. If they refuse to leave, let them be called to repentance and if they refuse to repent, let them be removed from our membership (par. 221, par 304. par 324, the United Methodist Discipline). The standards for this can not be opinions or arguments, but the Holy Scriptures and the Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Let there be accountability to the covenant. Let that accountability begin with the Council of Bishops as they set the example for us all. I want all people to look again with respect to all the members and leaders of the United Methodist Church.

Thank you for your concern.

Dwain Whitehurst, Pastor

¶ 62.

The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church

Article V—Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation

The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church. The names of the canonical books are:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the Greater, Twelve Prophets the Less.

All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical.

--1996 United Methodist Book of Discipline