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Letters to the Editor

Can these bones live?

As I was recently preparing a sermon on Ezekiel and the dry bones, something came to my spirit. This is a message for our church today.

God directed Ezekiel to preach to a valley of dry bones. These were not just dead bones, they were long dead and very dry. These men had not been buried, they had been left for the birds and animals to scavenge. As a result they were scattered and even if you wanted to assemble the skeletons, there was no way to know which bones went together.

This was a situation of utter hopelessness. It was a parallel to the state of the Hebrew people. They had strayed from God and suffered defeat at the hands of their enemies. They were captives in Babylon, far from home, and living in slavery. But they had hope of returning to Jerusalem and the Temple…until Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. Now there was no home to return to. It is any wonder that they said, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” (Ezekiel 37:11).

Ezekiel prophesied to the bones just as God commanded. And just as God had promised, the bones came together, and flesh and sinews came upon the bones. But they were not alive. God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind, (“ruah” which also means Spirit), and when Ezekiel did, the breath came. God put his Spirit into those dead bodies just as he had into the man he made out of the clay. And they stood on their feet, a mighty army.

In many ways, our church is like those dry dead bones. We look and it is hard to see any hope for revival in the United Methodist Church. Liberal theology and a bureaucracy that is far detached from the person in the pew, has decimated our numbers. Those who speak up are chastised for being negative or not being collegial. Pastors have largely been silent out of concern over their appointments. We seem to have reached that place Wesley warned us about, “a dead sect having the form of religion, but not the power thereof…”

But Ezekiel shows us that there is good news. God can raise up a mighty army out of only dead bones. This Scripture also tells us clearly what is required. First, the Word of God must be proclaimed to the dead bones. Philosophy and modern psychology will not bring new life. Neither will a softened-up gospel that doesn’t include blood atonement or repentance for sin. Preaching to dead bones doesn’t make sense to the world. Neither does the cross. But the Word of God is truth and power to change situations and lives.

Second, after the bones became bodies, Ezekiel had to call on the power of God’s Holy Spirit to bring those dead bodies to life. We need to humble ourselves before God and pray for his Spirit to breathe on us. Programs and mission statements will not revive our church. Only receiving God’s Spirit will bring the Word to life in and through us. We ask, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel’s answer, “O Lord God, You know.”

Doug Stutz
Local Pastor
Bethelridge, Kentucky

 

Bring it to the light

I have been interested in the last several issues because of my interest in different perspectives on issues such as General Conference. As I was skimming through articles in the July/August issue, I found a line that was shocking and disturbing. In an article, “Being a global church in word and deed,” there was this point: “There were intimidating notes and pictures left on the desks of African delegates by General Conference delegates or from spectators on the floor.”

I had already been thrown a bit by a previous statement about snide inferences made to African delegates. This line more than threw me, it blew me right out of my chair. What conference was this? As United Methodists, I thought we were a group who generally, no matter which end of the perspective, believed in God’s love for all. This was a gathering of those lambasted for being so liberal as to even discuss sexuality/faith issues. Yet, this hateful, dare I say “red-neck” activity occurs. I am basically proud of my church and this conference. Something like this among those chosen as leaders sickens me.

I am surprised that there has been no mention of such revolting activity that I have seen anywhere else. I know it is shameful, but how is the darkness ever removed if not brought into the light. I would hope that Good News magazine, supposedly a voice for renewal, would find such activity doesn’t fit into their picture of a renewed and vital church of Jesus Christ. Maybe they will bring this more into the light. This surely isn’t Wesleyan. I can’t see how it could fit into those General Rules of not doing harm, but doing good.

Kevin P. Treptow
First United Methodist Church
Mt. Pulaski, Illinois

 

Just to clarify, Good News most certainly does not believe that blatant or subtle anti-African sentiment remotely fits into a picture of a renewed and vital church of Jesus Christ. That is the reason that we published the article pointing out many of the struggles experienced by our African brothers and sisters such as not receiving pre-General Conference printed material in their language, ill-suited translators, and intimidating comments made by Americans. If we are to be a truly global church, let’s determine we will be in both word and deed. It’s just a matter of plain justice, fairness, and equality.

—The Editors



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