Things I've Added
As the son of a Baptist pastor, I’m often asked with a raised eyebrow, “How in the world did you become a Methodist minister?” Because I believe that each denomination has gifts to share with the rest of Christianity, I’ll often tell folks that I don’t really feel like I “left” my Baptist roots – I continue to be shaped and inspired by their deep love for Jesus and knowledge of the Bible. Instead, I like to think about my switch to Methodism as “adding” new dimensions to my faith that I’d been searching for. Here are a few of the things that I’ve added; gifts that I’ve come to treasure in my adopted home in the United Methodist Church: The Journey of Salvation: As a kid, I can remember praying the Sinner’s Prayer so many times (especially after a scary sermon!) that I wasn’t exactly sure when I really “got saved.” Instead of viewing salvation as a single moment in time, United Methodists understand salvation as more of a journey. God saves us by his grace, ...