I wanted to post a message I got from my dad commenting on the subject of my prior post. Perspective always helps bring clarity.
When we were inducted into Uncle Sam's Army they asked us a couple of questions for basic info that went on our dog tags. They asked and I blurted out Protestant when they asked for religion. The popular choices were protestant Catholic and Jewish, but I was scared and tired, and thought that there was some kind of politically correct answer, and of course, they don't let you change anything once you've given an answer, you are stuck with that answer until the end of time according to the Army. Immediately after getting stuck with the stupid moniker "protestant", I wanted to change it to Christian so bad, that I regretted it every day that I spent in the Army. More than a few of my prayers had to do with my guilt over that word that prevented me from being known by Jesus' name.
I always assumed that the reason they wanted to know was in case of impending death or disaster while on duty, they would go and summon the appropriate man of the cloth to come and minister to the dying soldier. Still, I regret it to this day. For someone to walk around calling themself a Baptist, a Nazarene, a Catholic, a Methodist, or an "indie" is like me, as a scared and stupid buck private on his way to war, calling myself something as inane as a protestant. Looking back, I always go with my original instinct to avoid nameplates and labels, and I'm just satisfied to be known merely by what they were called in the first century, a Christian. That is good enough for me.
I once belonged to the Methodist church, just as you did, but I never knew what it meant to be a Methodist. I think in (anytown USA), being a (dominant religious group) gets you some really good political points, at least that is what everyone knows from bitter experience who has ever lived in (anytown USA) and is not a (dominant religious group). In the end man-made religious labels are frequently used by insecure folks looking for some kind of prideful advantage through association. On the other hand, humans need to belong, and groups label themselves to help each other identify like-minded folks. Join one (or more) church(es) (there isn't a limit on membership, you know), but let your heart show what you are. I feel totally secure as a Christian no matter where I might find myself attending church or who I might be associating with outside of church.
I always assumed that the reason they wanted to know was in case of impending death or disaster while on duty, they would go and summon the appropriate man of the cloth to come and minister to the dying soldier. Still, I regret it to this day. For someone to walk around calling themself a Baptist, a Nazarene, a Catholic, a Methodist, or an "indie" is like me, as a scared and stupid buck private on his way to war, calling myself something as inane as a protestant. Looking back, I always go with my original instinct to avoid nameplates and labels, and I'm just satisfied to be known merely by what they were called in the first century, a Christian. That is good enough for me.
I once belonged to the Methodist church, just as you did, but I never knew what it meant to be a Methodist. I think in (anytown USA), being a (dominant religious group) gets you some really good political points, at least that is what everyone knows from bitter experience who has ever lived in (anytown USA) and is not a (dominant religious group). In the end man-made religious labels are frequently used by insecure folks looking for some kind of prideful advantage through association. On the other hand, humans need to belong, and groups label themselves to help each other identify like-minded folks. Join one (or more) church(es) (there isn't a limit on membership, you know), but let your heart show what you are. I feel totally secure as a Christian no matter where I might find myself attending church or who I might be associating with outside of church.
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