by Jay Therrell

President pro tempore

AUGUST 15, 2024

The past few years have been hard for Methodists. In many cases, churches feel like denominational leaders lied to them. Some feel extorted and as though they were held for ransom. Many pastors also felt like they were prevented from telling the truth. In some annual conferences in our former denomination, denominational leaders told pastors they would lose their appointments or be brought up on charges for sharing what was going on.

All of this has caused many laity and clergy to fall into a state of deep mistrust. Layer on top of that the hyper-divided country in which we live. We are continually pitted against one another on social media, by the news media, and in politics. We’ve forgotten the art of disagreeing without being disagreeable and that we can disagree and still love one another.

Post Traumatic Stress

This past week I’ve seen mistrust rear its ugly head in multiple ways. I’ve had members of our Cabinet and staff fussed at and taken to task over simple and benign requests. I’ve seen churches worry that we were trying to take an ownership interest in their property – which couldn’t be further from the truth. People have gotten animated with their insurance agents over insurance requirements over which the agent has no say. I’ve watched laity and pastors get sideways with each other over charge conference paperwork.

At the heart of all of this – I believe – is a dearth of trust and a heaping dose of post-traumatic stress. We have been hurt. In many cases, we’ve been hurt by people we should never have to worry about: pastors, district superintendents, and bishops. Sadly, we’re allowing those ways we’ve been hurt by others to make us distrust people in our new church family. 

The Struggle is Real

I completely understand. I’ve experienced it personally. My journey out of our former denomination is fairly public. It was rough – very rough. It affected my family and me. I’m not ashamed to say I sought counseling about it. It’s been four years, and in certain situations and meetings, I still find my chest getting tight and my breathing quickening when people – inadvertently – say and do different things that trigger me.

One of the things I learned as I did the hard work to get past it is realize I had to learn to trust again. Going through life without trust is awful. It’s a life full of hopelessness, depression, angst, and malaise. In short, it’s anything but the abundant life Jesus said He came to give us in John 10:10. 

Satan is dancing while watching all of this going on. He’s gotten people who follow Jesus to turn on one another and assume the worst of their fellow brothers and sisters. This prevents the church from being able to effectively carry out its mission of making disciples. Satan is dancing.

Trust and Submit

Some people choose a life verse. A life verse is a part of the Holy Bible that speaks to them and guides their path in following Jesus. I have one: Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” There are two active verbs in my life verse that I hope guide me every day: trust and submit.

I think those two words are the answers to our present troubles. We must learn to trust again. Yes, trust is earned. Trust can’t be earned, however, if we aren’t willing to meet the other person at least halfway. If I’m hurt and resolved not to be hurt again by not trusting or being highly suspicious of everyone, then trust will never be rebuilt. I’ll also find myself living a life of the aforementioned hopelessness, anger, angst, and despair.

Trust means that we can’t begin with suspecting the worst of someone. Because we are followers of Jesus, we’re supposed to assume the best of someone unless they show us differently. In Philippians 2:1-4, the Apostle Paul wrote

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

We must begin to love Jesus enough to risk trusting others – especially fellow Christians. If someone takes that gift and stomps on it, then it’s fine not to trust them anymore until a process of reconciliation occurs. But we can’t start there. 

Learning to Submit

We also have to submit. I think that may be harder than trusting. If we’re having a hard time learning to trust, then submitting is even more difficult. The problem is that Christians don’t get a pass on this. 

The Apostle Paul had good reason not to trust others. Ultimately he gave up his life and was beheaded because he continued to trust even after others in power made attempts on his life. Through all that, he wrote in Romans 13:1-4a

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. 

Followers of Jesus – even after being hurt – are still called to submit.

It’s Hard

I get that it’s hard, but if we’re ever going to move ahead missionally in making disciples, we must submit to authority. If authority takes that submission that is offered with honor, dignity, and humility and tramples on it, then it’s time, as Jesus taught, to shake the dust from your feet and leave. Until that happens, however, we’re called to submit and trust.

Life is hard enough without facing it from a place of distrust. When that happens, Satan is the only winner. Yes, we’ve been hurt. We’ve been hurt badly. It was wrong. It was a sin. We still have to trust and submit if we’re going to follow Jesus.

I’m willing. Are you?

All God’s love,

Jay