Every four years United Methodist leaders from all over the world get together for a meeting called General Conference. This meeting is happening next week in Portland, Oregon. Like every other mainline denomination, our legislative body is struggling with some serious social and economic issues. Also, like every other denomination, we look to the Bible for guidance. However, the Bible is not like an instruction manual for my Camry. It's much more complex.
Several years ago writer A. J. Jacobs wrote a New York Times best selling book called The Year of Living Biblically. It's hysterically funny reading about how he tried his best to follow all the "rules" in the Bible. Turns out, it couldn't be done.
What we've really relied on, since these 77 books were put together in one volume a couple of thousand years ago, is "interpretation." But big problems occur when your expert and my expert differ on interpretation.
Last week when Dave and I had the privilege of attending my grandson, Henry's, confirmation in Atlanta, Georgia, we heard the minister say something simple but profound to Henry and the almost one hundred other 12 to 13 year olds who were committing their lives to follow Jesus.
The essence of it was, you can't possibly keep the hundreds of commandments in the Bible. But if you love God and love other people and love yourself, you will figure out the rest of it.
I think this is an excellent reminder for me and for this top legislative body of the United Methodist Church.
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