Proud to Be UMC? A Video Series of What it Means to Be United Methodists.

Have you ever had a moment when words you've heard countless times suddenly take on new meaning? When a familiar song, story, or message unexpectedly pierces your heart and transforms your perspective? This phenomenon – the sudden impact of words we thought we knew – reveals a profound truth about the power of language and the nature of spiritual awakening. Consider the classic Broadway musical "South Pacific." Hidden within its catchy tunes and romantic plot is a powerful anti-racist message, encapsulated in the song "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught." The lyrics explain that hatred and prejudice are not innate but learned: "You've got to be taught Before it's too late Before you are six or seven or eight To hate all the people your relatives hate You've got to be carefully taught" For many who grew up with this music, these words planted seeds of equality and acceptance long before they fully understood the concept of racism. The song's message, though wrapped in entertainment, carried real weight – shaping worldviews and challenging societal norms. But how does this relate to our spiritual lives? Just as we can hear a song many times before its message truly resonates, we often encounter spiritual truths repeatedly before they fundamentally change us. This is the essence of what we might call "the weight of the word" – the idea that words, especially those conveying divine truths, have a gravity and power that can profoundly impact our lives when we're finally ready to receive them. Take, for example, the story of Neil Diamond's song "Morningside" from his album "Hot August Night." The song tells of an old man who dies alone, leaving behind a handcrafted table as a gift for his children. Tragically, none of his children claim this labor of love, and the words he carved become his epitaph: "For my children." For many listeners, this poignant tale might simply be a sad song. But for others, at the right moment, it becomes a heart-wrenching allegory for the way we often overlook or reject the most precious gifts in our lives – including the spiritual truths offered to us. This brings us to the core of our reflection: How often do we hear the message of faith without truly listening? How many times have we sat through sermons, read scriptures, or encountered spiritual wisdom without allowing it to penetrate our hearts and change our lives? The Gospels provide a striking parallel. Jesus often found himself surrounded by crowds eager to see miracles or receive physical blessings. They followed him from town to town, amazed by his teachings and impressed by his actions. Yet how many truly understood and embraced the deeper spiritual truths he was offering? In John 6:26, Jesus addresses this directly, saying, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." The people were focused on the immediate, tangible benefits of following Jesus rather than the transformative spiritual message he was sharing. This challenge – to move beyond surface-level engagement with spiritual truths – is one we all face. We might attend religious services regularly, participate in rituals, or even enjoy the community aspects of faith. But are we truly open to the weight of the word? Are we allowing the message of divine love and salvation to penetrate our hearts and change our lives? The journey from hearing to truly listening, from knowing about faith to experiencing it, is often gradual. Like a hammer striking a rock repeatedly before it finally cracks, our hearts may need multiple encounters with truth before we're ready to receive it fully. This is why consistent exposure to spiritual teachings is so important – we never know when that pivotal moment of understanding will come. For some, this moment of spiritual awakening comes unexpectedly. Imagine sitting in a familiar place of worship, hearing words you've heard countless times before, when suddenly – as if scales have fallen from your eyes – you see the truth with new clarity. The love of God, the sacrifice of Christ, the offer of salvation – concepts you've known intellectually suddenly become viscerally real. This experience of spiritual awakening reminds us that faith is not just about intellectual assent to certain truths. It's about a transformative encounter with divine love that changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. It's about realizing that the creator of the universe offers us a love far greater and more profound than even the deepest human affection we've experienced. But here's the crucial point: while spiritual leaders and teachers play an important role in sharing these truths, the real power lies in how we, as individuals, internalize and share these messages in our daily lives. When a friend, family member, or neighbor shares how a particular scripture touched their heart or how they experienced God's love in a difficult situation, it often resonates more deeply than a formal sermon. This is the beautiful paradox of spiritual truth – it's both universally applicable and intensely personal. The same message that has been preached for centuries can suddenly become new and transformative when received with an open heart. And when we experience this transformation, we're called to share it with others, not through grand gestures or eloquent speeches, but through authentic living and genuine relationships. As we reflect on the weight of the word in our own lives, let's challenge ourselves to approach familiar spiritual truths with fresh eyes and open hearts. Let's be willing to let go of our preconceptions and truly listen for the voice of divine love speaking to us through scripture, through others, and through the quiet moments of our lives. Remember, the message of faith – that we are loved beyond measure by a God who offers us salvation and purpose – is not just a set of ideas to be intellectually understood. It's a transformative truth that, when fully embraced, has the power to change everything. May we all experience moments where the familiar suddenly becomes profound, where the words we've heard a thousand times suddenly take on new life, and where the weight of divine truth settles deeply into our hearts, changing us forever.

Why do we gather for worship? In a world where we can connect with God anywhere, anytime, what's the purpose of coming together in a physical space? These are questions that challenge us to reflect on the true meaning and impact of corporate worship in our lives. It's easy to fall into the mindset that God is only present in church, that our spiritual lives are compartmentalized to Sunday mornings. We may give God fleeting thoughts throughout the week, but often fail to recognize His constant presence in every moment. This limited view of worship can lead us to treat it as a duty—something we do for an hour each week before returning to our "real" lives. But what if worship is meant to be so much more? The truth is, we don't come together simply to worship God—though that's certainly part of it. We gather to be shaped by our worship, to be transformed in ways that impact how we live when we leave the building. Our time of corporate worship should change our hearts, broaden our perspectives, and equip us to live differently in the world. Consider how gathering with diverse believers challenges us to expand our view of the global church. When we worship alongside those who may not look like us, believe exactly as we do, or come from our background, we get a glimpse of what the triumphant church in heaven will look like—a multitude from every nation, tribe, and tongue. This experience breaks us out of our tendency to surround ourselves only with those who are similar to us. Our acts of worship also shape us in practical ways: Offering our tithes and gifts teaches us to live generously beyond the walls of the church. Reading Scripture together equips us to encounter God's Word on our own throughout the week. Praying for one another's joys and sorrows reminds us that God is at work in the world and that He hears our prayers. Receiving a benediction and blessing sends us out with strength for the days ahead. The blessing we receive isn't just for our own benefit. Throughout Scripture, we see that God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to others. From Abraham to the nation of Israel, God's pattern is clear: "I will bless you... so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). As we leave our time of worship, we should overflow with blessing to everyone we encounter. This leads us to a crucial question: If our lives are no different when we walk out of church than when we walked in, what was the point? If we haven't truly encountered the living God, been challenged by His Word, or been moved to live differently as His disciples, then our time together has missed the mark. As followers of Christ, we believe that our faith journey is incremental. We don't become perfect the moment we decide to follow Jesus. Instead, it's a daily process of growing in our love for God, for His people, and for His creation. Each day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to demonstrate that love more fully in our words and actions. This is the essence of discipleship—a continual journey of becoming more like Christ. While we believe it's possible to be made perfect in love during our earthly lives, it's not something we can achieve on our own or claim for ourselves. As John Wesley wisely noted, those who believed they had attained perfection in love were often the furthest from it. So why do we gather? We come together to be commissioned, to be reminded of Jesus' call to His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). This isn't about forcing our faith on others or cornering unwilling listeners. Rather, it's about being prepared to engage with those who are questioning, searching for meaning, or struggling to find hope. Despite what headlines might suggest, the world isn't dominated by militant atheists or those adamantly opposed to faith. Instead, there are countless individuals who are simply unsure, who have genuine questions about life's purpose and meaning. Our call is to live in such a way that our faith stands out—demonstrating joy, peace, and an unshakable assurance grounded in our relationship with God. Your story of faith doesn't have to be a dramatic before-and-after tale. Perhaps you've grown up in the church, gradually deepening your relationship with Christ over time. That journey is just as powerful and worth sharing. The key is to reflect on how your time in worship impacts the other 167 hours of your week. As our worship experience shapes us, it should naturally overflow into a different kind of worship outside the church walls: Giving thanks to God for His blessings Offering hope to the hopeless Praying for those who are hurting Seeking out those who are lost or questioning Our task isn't to have all the answers or to dictate what others should believe. Instead, we're called to listen, to walk alongside those who are searching, and to share how God has worked in our own lives. This is how we can see transformation and healing in our communities. Ultimately, our weekly gathering serves to recharge us spiritually. When the world beats us down and we feel our spiritual batteries draining, we come together again to pray, sing, hear God's Word, and be blessed and sent out anew. We remind each other of who we are in Christ and find the strength, hope, and courage we need for the week ahead. This is why we gather. This is why we worship. Not just as an end in itself, but as a means of becoming who God has called us to be—His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His love. As we leave our time of worship, may we go with this commission ringing in our ears: to welcome the unwanted, to love the unloved, and if they won't come to us, to go to them. Let our worship be more than a weekly ritual. Let it be the catalyst that transforms our lives and, through us, brings hope and healing to our world.