Final Thoughts on "Mainline or Methodist" by Scott Kisker

For my initial review of "Mainline or Methodist," by Scott Kisker read my earlier post. So here's my thought on this book. To be honest, it didn't start out well for me since he views the word, "mainline" in a negative way whereas I view it in a positive light.

For Scott, the label "mainline" as in mainline denominations like United Methodists, Presbyterians, and Lutherans, means that we have chosen an established path rather than a revolutionary path of living out our faith. For sure, mainline denominations have too often gone down that lazy status-quo path. However, for me, the label of mainline correctly identifies denominations such as the United Methodist Church as Christian communities that are willing to bring together a variety of points of views (left vs. right, democrat vs. republican, Michigan vs. Ohio State, etc.) and through scripture, reason, experience, and tradition, we can listen and help each other to discern God's voice.

But putting that aside for the moment, I have very high marks for what Scott has done through this book. He wants us to reclaim the counter-cultural movement that once marked those early 18th and 19th century Methodists.

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Scott reminds us that Wesley's true conversion was when he decided to begin preaching in the fields on April 2, 1739 rather than the date of his heart warming experience at a prayer meeting on May 24, 1738. The Methodist movement really took off once Wesley offered the good news of Christ to where the people were. Wesley preached outside to the people twice a day!

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But Scott reminds us (and this is why I really like the book a lot!) that it wasn't just about Wesley being a street preacher. Wesley was creative, disciplined, and attentive enough to make sure that Methodists were planted out in the crowd who would then notice anyone who was stirred by the message. They would then invite the people who were moved by the sermon to join their weekly Methodist class meeting and that's where many of the conversions happened. They happened in these small group meetings!

Toward the end of his book, Scott makes the point that we United Methodists today need to get back to our roots by spending more time with people in our community and find creative ways of helping people to be part of a small group where they can grow in what it means to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

The exciting part of the book is that Scott invites us to think about what this might look like in the church we attend. In what ways can we become less mainline (less status-quo) and more Methodist (revolutionary for Jesus) in our churches?

And if I may, I would add, and at the same time, how can we continue to be even more mainline in the way I define the word mainline (open to different points of view/less judgmental?)