Tuesday’s Thoughts
“What Do You Say To a Fundamentalist?”
Harry Emerson Fosdick was a guest preacher of First Presbyterian Church in New York City. In 1923 he preached a sermon entitled, “Shall The Fundamentalists Win?” The sermon was reprinded and sent around the country and William Jennings Bryan succeeded in having the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland condemn it. He was put o
n trial and the verdict was to compell Fosdick to express his loyalty to the Westminster Confession. The result of all that led Fosdick to leave the Presbyterian Church and led to the building of Riverside Church and the installation of Fosdick as pastor.
The following is a portion of the sermon he preached that day:
“There are many opinions in the field of modern controversy concerning which I am not sure wheterh they are right or wrong, but there is one thing I am sure of: courtesy and kindness and tolerance and humility and fairness are right. Opinions may be mistaken; love never is.”
The controversy between liberals and conservatives has seemed to divide us. Sometimes the differences we have threaten to destroy us. Sometimes whole denominations threaten to split over some phase of theology or some form of liturgy. Churches have divided over the manner of baptism or the use of wine or grape juice in communion, and there is an equal amount of animosity created by different interpretaions of doctrine.
Is it possible to agree to disagree?
Is it necessary that we all must agree or are our theological differences helpful and necessary?
I am convinced that the differences between people of faith is healthy and the dialogue is important.
What do you say to a fundamentalist? There are many in our denomination who believe the United Methodist Church ought to have creed that we all agree is foundational. I don’t think that’s a good idea. What do you think? Should there be a creed for United Methodists? What should that creed be? What do we do with the people who cannot accept it? Should we throw them out of the church?
If you have ideas on this subject please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others read your response click on the ‘comments box’ below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
