I sadly can not say that I am always proud to be United Methodist but last week I was. The head of the Tea Party Nation Judson Phillips made the statement that the United Methodist Church is nothing more than the religious arm of the socialist movement. All of this because as he passed by the Methodist Building here in Washington, DC he saw a sign that read that read “I have a dream”. The sign is in support of the passage of the Dream Act. This piece of legislation is about giving those who were brought to the United States as children to be given legal status if they go to college or join the military. For many who would benefit from this legislation, living here is all they have known. We simple want to give them the opportunity to succeed. For that Mr. Phillips believes that the UMC should no longer exist. Well I am proud that as a church we would support this legislation.

In the Book of Hebrews 13:2 it states “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Now if we look at this law it is about reaching out to those who are legally strangers among us. It reaches to the core of who we are as Christians and United Methodist. We understand the calling of Christian living to be reaching out to the last, the least, the lost, and the lonely. We reach out to those on the margins and these strangers, who really are not that much of strangers.

It is our job to be love in the world, to show the light of Christ. It means we care for all of creation and lets be clear creation extends far beyond Christianity. Anytime we see people who struggle we should be there to offer a hand. When we see the person longing to be legal in the place they have lived most of their life we should support them. When Islamaphobia rears its ugly head as it has in the past decade we should be there speaking against it. When a family struggle to feed themselves and make ends meet we should be there. That is the way Jesus lived reaching out to the last, the least, the lost, and the lonely. So Mr. Phillips, I am proud of the UMC because we stand up not just for ourselves and protect our own interest but are interested in the well being of all the world.