The Church We Need Now
In an age of division, the United Methodist tradition of holding tension with grace offers something the world desperately needs.
Editor's note: UM News publishes various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
We live in an age that has lost its appetite for nuance. Social media rewards certainty. Cable news profits from outrage. And in the middle of it all, the church is tempted to pick a side and dig in.
But the Wesleyan tradition has always been about holding tension. Scripture and reason. Personal piety and social action. Grace freely given and discipleship that costs everything.
A Third Way
What if the church's greatest contribution to this cultural moment isn't a position statement, but a practice? The practice of sitting across the table from someone who sees the world differently and choosing to break bread anyway. That's not weakness — it's the hardest thing in the world.
UM News publishes various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
Dr. Keri Cress
Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Iliff School of Theology
