Things to be treasured!
<General Conference 2020>
The
United Methodist Church has been holding its quadrennial General Conference
from April 23 to May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. At this General Conference, fewer delegates were registered due to visa
issues and disaffiliation of the delegates. As of noon on April 23, only 751
delegates out of 862 allotted were registered and present, adding that
registrations are still ongoing. That total includes 273 delegates out of 370
from central conferences — church regions in Africa, Europe, and the
Philippines. Delegates speak nine languages including American Sign Language. The General
Conference is the body that makes decisions on behalf of the denomination and
updates the Book
of Discipline.
They
reduced the budget 40 % Due to the disaffiliation
reality, a proposed denomination-wide budget was the United Methodist Church’s
lowest in 40 years. The plenary session on Day 3 of the General Conference produced two historic moments: Eurasia's
departure and Regionalization. First, General Conference delegates approved the exit of churches in
one of its regions. By a vote of 672 to 67, the delegates approved the
departure of four Eurasian annual conferences, encompassing churches in Russia,
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Together, the four plan to form the
autonomous Christian Methodist Church. Second, the General Conference has now passed much of the legislation that
aims to give The United Methodist Church’s different geographic regions equal
standing in decision-making.
The UMC is at a crossroads. What can we do? We just pray,
pray, and pray. We have been meeting every day at 8:30-9:00 am at Houlton to pray for the General Conference. One of the members said, “I don’t know how to pray.
We just pray for all of us to have an agreement in the presence of God, Alignment
through Jesus Christ, and Assignment through the Holy Spirit for God’s kingdom.
<Treasure that we can’t lose>
The other day, Esther and I
talked about her dreams, job, and future. She said, “Mom, I don’t want to be
rich.” I asked, “Why?” She responded, “Because robbers might come after me if I
am rich.” She is afraid of being robbed, and becoming prey to others if she is
wealthy. How about us? Are we afraid of losing something we love and value the
most? If there is a chance for us to acquire treasure that makes us rich in money,
relationships, or wisdom, would you seize the opportunity? Are you ready to
have that treasure? One more piece of good news about this treasure is that it
has a strong security system; no robber can steal it, and nothing can destroy
it. May God grant us this treasure through today’s service. May God allow us to
have this precious treasure, fix our eyes on this treasure for our lives, and pass it on to the next generations.
<Where treasure is, my heart
is>
Today's
scripture, Matthew 6:19-21, also found in Luke 12:33-34
9 “Do not
store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy,
and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
The contrast between
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth"
(Matthew 6:19) and "Do store up for yourselves treasures
in heaven" (Matthew 6:20) highlights the importance of investing in
eternal, spiritual riches rather than temporary material wealth. This heavenly
treasure is the most valuable investment we can make, as it remains secure and
untainted.
What is treasure? The New Bible
Dictionary defines it as valuables, typically including silver or gold. [i] When we think of treasure, we often conjure
images of adventure and wealth, such as Jim Hawkins in "Treasure
Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, who embarked on a thrilling quest after
discovering a treasure map. This association with material riches is common,
yet treasure in the Bible extends beyond mere wealth.
In biblical contexts, a treasury
or treasure house often refers to a storage place for valuables, usually
connected to a sanctuary or temple, sometimes designated for Temple
reconstruction. However, treasure also encompasses intangible riches like
cherished memories, relationships, and experiences. Paul illustrates this in
Colossians 2:3, where he speaks of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden
in Christ. As vessels of clay, we carry this invaluable treasure within us,
allowing us to radiate Jesus' light (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Matthew 6:21
emphasizes the intimate connection between our treasures and our hearts. The
Message Bible says “The place where your treasure is, is the place you will
most want to be, and end up being” [ii] The New Bible Dictionary says “A man’s heart
is where his treasure is, his interests are determined by what he values most.” [iii] This sentiment echoes the notion that our
deepest interests and desires are shaped by what we value most. Reflecting on
our treasures prompts introspection—what do we hold dear, and how does it guide
our lives and decisions, including those of our families?
<Mother of UMC heritage>
I would like to introduce a
remarkable family that exemplifies treasuring heavenly riches above earthly
possessions. At the heart of this family stands a remarkable woman. She was
born into a large family herself as the youngest of 25 children. Her journey
was marked by challenges and hardships from an early age.
At just 12 years old, she made
the decision to stop attending her father's church and instead joined another
congregation. She married a clergyman at the young age of 19, and together they
experienced the joy of bringing 19 children into the world. However, their joy
was tempered by tragedy as 9 of their children passed away in their early
years.
Her husband faced financial
struggles that led to his imprisonment on two occasions, and their home was
ravaged by fire not once, but twice. Despite these adversities, She remained
steadfast in her faith and committed to nurturing her family spiritually.
She dedicated six hours daily
to homeschooling her children, ensuring they received a solid education
grounded in Christian principles. Amidst the chaos of daily life, she found
solace in daily devotions, often retreating to her kitchen where she would pull
her apron over her head to signal her time of prayer and meditation.
She also recognized the
importance of individual attention and spiritual guidance for each of her
children. She instituted "Mother's Hour," setting aside dedicated
time each day to spend with each child individually, discussing matters of
faith, character development, and personal concerns.
While her
husband was absent, she initiated a worship service on Sunday afternoons, and
at one point, over 200 people attended. She also authored commentaries on the
Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments[iv]. Can you guess who she was? Yes, she is Susanna Wesley, the
mother of John and Charles Wesley.
Amid life's trials,
Susanna Wesley's systematic and methodical approach to family life, grounded in
faith and devotion, left an indelible legacy. Her influence extended far beyond
her own family, shaping the lives of her famous sons, John and Charles Wesley,
who would go on to impact countless lives through their ministry and hymnody.
Susanna Wesley stands as a testament to the enduring power of treasuring
heavenly riches and investing in the spiritual formation of future generations.
<John & Charles
Wesley>
Who are John
and Charles Wesley? They are the roots of Methodism. Charles Wesley wrote more than
6,000 hymns, among them “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Christ the Lord is
Risen Today.” John Wesley was the one who was almost killed when their house
burned down[v]. He was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of
England known as Methodism. John Wesley
treasured his mother’s daily devotion and wrote many journals, sermons, and
principles. [vi] Later there were two Methodist churches (the Evangelical United
Brethren Church) and the Methodist Church. They merged together in 1968 under
the name of the United Methodist Church, represented by the two flames in our
logo. .[vii]
All Methodists
treasure Wesleyan theology, including the three aspects of Grace, the General
rules, and the Financial rules. We have treasured these three life lessons in
our lives at UMC. What are the three aspects of Grace? Prevenient grace (God’s
grace that is operative before we are aware of it), Justifying grace (God’s
grace that restores us to God as we become aware of God’s love for us), and
Sanctifying grace (the grace that brings us closer to God’s way throughout our
lives). What are the General rules? Do no harm, Do good, and stay in love with
God. What are the financial rules? Earn all you can, save all you can, and give
all you can.
Susanna stored
up treasure in heaven and passed on her faith to her children, and John and
Charles Wesley stored up treasure in heaven and passed on their faith to the
United Methodist Church. As Christians and members of the UMC, what do we store
up and pass on as treasures in heaven for our children and grandchildren?
<Today’s
UMC>
We studied the book "Unbinding Gospel" for our Bible study in our
churches. The author, Martha Grace Reese, and her Mainline Evangelism Project
team conducted interviews with 1200 people, 400 churches, and 5 denominations
over 4 years. Their findings revealed that mainline denominations[viii] had lost almost 20% of their members, with a
decline of 50% in membership as a percentage of the population over 40 years
(from 1960 to 2000) [ix].
They identified several reasons for this decline. First, America is becoming
less religious overall. Additionally, evangelism has become a taboo topic,
often avoided even by pastors who confess their fear of sharing their faith
despite their active involvement in community work. This reluctance to engage
in evangelism is a reality in many mainline churches.
When interviewing new members
about why they joined a church, various reasons emerged. Some had been
contemplating religion for a while, others were motivated by family, personal
spiritual growth, significant life events such as births or deaths, or simply a
desire to be part of a church community. However, the most common response,
given by 36% of new Christians without any prior church background and 27% with
a church background, was "Something was missing in my life."
In our current age, both
nationally and within mainline church culture, it is challenging to store up
treasures in heaven and pass them on to the next generation. However,
paradoxically, it is also a time when many people are searching for something
to fill the void in their lives. French philosopher Blaise Pascal famously
said, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it
can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made
known through Jesus Christ." As believers, we are called to be the ones
who store up treasure in heaven and share it with those who are seeking to be
filled by God.
I conclude today’s sermon with my prayer. May all of us be rich storing up treasure in heaven and pass on to the next generation.
Things to be treasured! Youngeun Joyce Kang
Rather than going fast,
let me not go
astray
Rather than trying to
fill my life with success,
let me not
lose the precious things that I must treasure.
Rather than thinking
about what I accomplished today,
let me be
thankful for having an ordinary day without any events.
Rather than trying to
do many things to my parents,
let me observe
the most basic manners of their child
Rather than trying to
do many things to my children,
let me avoid
doing things that I should never do as their parent.
Rather than trying to
raise my children especially,
let me raise
them to have things to be treasured.
Rather than turning
my eyes to the things that are not in my hands,
let me be
thankful that I did not lose things I must hold on to.
I live only once.
Even if I lost other things,
let me not lose
things to be treasured.
[i] "New Bible Dictionary” no. 3
(2008): p1202
[ii] Message
p. 1437
[iii] "New Bible Dictionary” no. 3
(2008): p1202
[iv] Charles Wallace's excellent and important Susanna
Wesley, The Complete Writings
[v]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Wesley
[vi]
https://www.umc.org/en/content/the-wesleys-take-the-web-a-mobile-friendly-history-of-the-umc?fbclid=IwAR2S9ZD_OfYY5L7C2mMjF6x8CukxAnj19ODKPWNNQg8zhp2e6oMR4l-OvDw
[vii]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:History_of_American_Methodism,_Flowchart_of_Major_Methodist_Divisions_and_Mergers.gif
[viii]
Mainline
denominations refer to established, historically significant Protestant
Christian denominations that have played a prominent role in shaping religious
life in the United States and other countries. These denominations have
typically been associated with moderate to liberal theological positions
[ix]
Martha Grace Reese, Unbinding the Gospel, Real Life Evangelism.
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