Choice is such a powerful thing that can lead to wonderful and positive change or can bring about a negative and destructive decline. It happens in the individual life and it has happened in entire nations.
In the classic confrontation between the Prophet Elijah, the "450 prophets of Baal and other prophets that ate at Jezebel's table", Elijah introduced a powerful and confrontational choice. Elijah shouted to all who could hear, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. He gave them a choice. It was a choice between the Prophet of God and the forces of Jezebel. It was a choice between the righteousness of God and sinful passions of Jezebel. It was a choice between those who chose to follow the Word of God or the changing culture of their day. Of course, we know that the resulting challenge of Elijah to allow the one True God and the false gods of Jezebel to prove who is the true God worthy of worship and praise brought a remedy to the wickedness of the nation. The power of Almighty God is always victorious over all forms of backsliding. The people of God who always choose righteousness over wickedness will always prevail although they may suffer persecution for their choice.
I am not a Methodist but have preached in a number of Methodist Churches through the years. I was always impressed by the doctrine and legacy of the Wesley brothers. I remember preaching in one large Methodist Church where we had to have three consecutive altar calls to accommodate all the people wanting to kneel at the altar and experience a touch from God. At another series of meetings in a smaller Methodist Church in a rural area, the people were so hungry for God to touch them that they were kneeling at the beautiful old wood altar, praying, weeping and some were falling backward as God touched them. As I was ministering and watching what God was doing I thought, "this is real Methodism!" This was the way it was in the beginning when John Wesley would ride his horse and preach with such power that thousands came to "watch him burn." Wesley offered a relationship with the living, life changing God and they hungered to experience Him. They chose God over the world and a declining church of their day.
Today the United Methodist Church is ruptured. There is the old name, United Methodist, and a new name Global Methodist Church. The newer group, Global Methodist Church, the real traditionalists are having to pay a price to continue to practice and preach the original Methodist doctrine and values. Certainly, the ownership of properties, finances and retirement accounts are all involved, but the real choice that is having to be made is the same one called for by Elijah. "How long will you tarry between two opinions." There are a number of Methodist Seminaries that provide a channel to Methodist pulpits. I have always been able to identify some Methodist preachers by the depth and spirituality of their preaching. It was rich and deep and challenging as in the Methodist tradition. As I found myself around more and more Methodists, I came to realize those I felt moved me were graduates of Asbury Seminary. Well, recently the rupture of the United Methodist Church has brought about a statement that implies that Asbury graduates will no longer be accepted in the United Methodist Church. Incidentally, Asbury has produce more Methodist preaches than any other seminary. Now, apparently, they won't be welcome any longer specifically because of their stance on sin and sexual sins in particularly, causing them to be outcasts.
Well, will the poor Asbury group be left out in the cold? Will they be thrown on the heap as old fashioned and out of step with modern culture? I don't know about all that, but I do know they made a choice. To follow God, His Word and his ways. Is it just a remarkable coincidence that in the middle of all this, Revival happens at Asbury! People are flooding there by the thousands to simply worship, pray, repent and sit in the Presence of God among them. John Wesley, who was cast aside from the Church of England and assigned to the rural fields of England to preach, saw converts come to Christ by the thousands.
We have a choice today. Join me in choosing Jesus and His never ending, life changing, supernatural power.
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