Meet the Methodists
 

The following is an excerpt of Chapter 1 from Charles L. Allen's book "Meet the Methodists". For a complete free copy of this book visit Kingswood!

The Church
  The United Methodist Church is part of a tradition that has been an activity of human beings as far back in history as can be traced. As far as we can tell, all people who have ever lived on this earth have had some form of worship of God.   Human beings have, as a part of their very nature, an instinctive belief in a higher power. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to believe in God; that is taken for granted. People use different names for God, but all instinctively believe. In every society of which history knows, some people have worshiped together the higher power in which they believed. That practice has continued to this day.

People on the earth today hold several major religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, as well as some others. The United Methodist Church is part of the stream of faith that includes Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets. We, along with Judaism, hold the Old Testament to be the Word of God. But we believe that a major new beginning on this earth took place in the coming of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the New Testament. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believed in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ is the beginning of the Christian Faith.  

"He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it'" (Matthew 16:15-18).

  The United Methodist Church is part of the Christian faith and of the church that Jesus built on the foundation of belief in him, the Son of the living God. The beginnings of the church are recorded in the Book of Acts.

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany, protesting against abuses in the Catholic Church. (Eventually his followers were called Lutherans.) Thus began what is known as the Protestant Reformation. In the same century, John Calvin broke with Catholicism, becoming the father of the Reformed tradition (including Presbyterianism); and King Henry VIII of England took over the headship of the church in his country, forming the Anglican Church (Church of England), known in its branches outside of England as the Episcopal Church. The United Methodist Church is part of the Protestant movement and traces its history back to the Anglican Church.

  
The First Methodist Society
John Wesley, the founder of The Methodist Church, who was himself and Anglican priest, wrote the following account of the first society called Methodist: "In November, 1729, four young gentlemen of Oxford - Mr. John Wesley, Fellow of the Lincoln College; Mr. Charles Wesley, Student of Christ Church; Mr. Morgan, Commoner of Christ Church; and Mr. Kirkman, of Merton College - began….reading chiefly the Greek Testament. The next year, two or three of Mr. Wesley's pupils desired the liberty of meeting with them; and afterwards one of Mr. Charles Wesley's pupils. It was in 1732 that Mr. Ingham, of Queen's College, and Mr. Broughton, of Exeter, were added to their number. To these, in April, was joined Mr. Clayton of Brazen-nose, with two or three of his pupils. About the same time Mr. James Hervey was permitted to meet with them, and afterwards Mr. Whitefield."  
This club was started by Charles Wesley during the second year of his student life at Oxford (1727). He persuaded two or three others to join with him in organizing a society. They met first every Sunday evening, then two evenings a week, and finally every evening from six until nine o'clock. Their meetings and deportment attracted the attention of both faculty and students. One of the students said, "Here is a new sect of Methodists sprung up."

John Wesley was not at Oxford when the society was first formed. When he returned, he immediately associated himself with the society and was recognized as its head. Their activities included the study of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek; the study of the classics; visits to the prison and the poor and the sick; and religious instruction of poor children. At the time the work of the society was so novel that the news of it spread beyond Oxford. They met with both praise and harsh criticism. The society was called by various names, such as Bible Moths, The Reformer's Club, The Godly Club, The Enthusiasts, and The Holy Club; but the name Methodists stuck. Though is was sometimes applied in derision, the Wesleys welcomed the term. Today millions of people in all parts of the world are happy to bear the name.
Basic Belief and Doctrines of Methodism
  The church does have very firm and clearly stated set of beliefs. The more prominent Methodist beliefs may be briefly state as follows:
  • The Bible. The Bible is the inspired and holy Word of God. The Bible is our textbook. The Bible is listed first because it is our chief source of knowledge about God and Christ and contains all the truth necessary for salvation.
  • God. God is infinite in wisdom, power, and love - the creator and sustainer of the universe. Ever person on earth is God's child. God will hear the prayer of any and every person. One does not have to go through any intermediary to reach God. However, through worship in the sanctuary, through fellowship with other people, through proclamation of the faith from the pulpit, through study in classes, and in other ways, the church helps one learn about and commune with God.
  • Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). We believe Jesus Christ is uniquely God's Son, sent by God, to be born of Mary, to make the invisible God known in human form. In his expressions of loving mercy, in his teaching, in his miracles of compassion, in the absolutely holy life he lived, in the compassion of his ministry, and in the utter selflessness of his servanthood, we see God. "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father," Jesus said (John 14:9). We believe Jesus Christ died upon a cross for us and our sins. His cross is an example of sacrifice, and it is a revelation of God's love; but it is more, much more. His death on the cross forever makes a difference in a person's relationship with God. As Paul put it, "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). We find salvation through his shed blood. We believe Christ rose from the dead, and his resurrection is our assurance that there is life for us beyond the grave. "Because I live, you also will live' (John 14:19).
  • The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God here on this earth - God in us and with us. The Holy Spirit came in a new and mighty way upon the Christians at Pentecost (Acts 2) and is present in the world today. We believe the Spirit bears witness to our spirits that we are in Jesus Christ and are the children of God (Romans 8:16). "The witness of the Spirit" is a doctrine often emphasized by John Wesley. In his sermon on the subject, he said, "By the witness of the Spirit I mean the inward impression on the soul, where by the Spirit of God immediately and directly witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God; that Jesus Christ hath loved me and given Himself for me; that all my sins are blotted out and I, even I, am reconciled to God."
  • Forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls. This is the very center of our faith. Sin is both in our nature and in our actions. It may be said that our actions are the expressions of the sin in our souls. If we are "heartily sorry for these our misdoings," as we pray in a prayer of confession, and put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified, saved, cleansed - not because we deserve it, but because of the grace, the unmerited favor of God. "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
  • Holiness. As the result of commitment to God we grow in faith and our love for God and for one another becomes more complete. Holiness of heart and life has always been emphasized by Methodists. Actually, no one ever attains a literal sinlessness in life. As one grows in Christian faith, the intentions of the soul become more perfect. This is what we call sanctification. "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family" (Romans 8:29).
  • Conversion. One becomes a Christian through the Christian experience of conversion. It may be a climactic experience such as came to Saul of Tarsus as he was on the way to Damascus. Suddenly he saw a light from heaven and heard the voice of Jesus (Acts 9, 22, 24). As long as he lived, that experience was the light of his life. Throughout the history of Methodism, there have been revivals when people "came forward" to the altar in a church or revival service and received a life-changing experience in Christ. But there is also the experience of Timothy. He never had a climactic conversion. He could not refer to any one moment when he was converted to Christ. Writing to Timothy, Pau said, "From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 timothy 3:15). John Wesley as a child was carefully instructed in the Christian faith by his wonderful mother. Throughout his life, he never forgot his early teaching. Thus it is natural that from the very beginning of the Methodist societies he would give great emphasis to teaching children. Methodism has always practiced infant baptism. It is even argued by some that Wesley organized the very first Sunday schools, preceding Robert Raikes. Methodism strongly emphasizes teaching children. No church in the world today provides finer literature for children than does The United Methodist Church, which also provides careful instruction in membership for children. Children are happily received into full membership in the church. In the early days of Methodism, new members came out of revivals. Today many persons profession their faith are youth who have grown up in the church and who are now making their profession of faith. Blessed is the church that remembers the words of our Lord, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14). Zaccaeus experienced yet a different type of conversion - a great decision. As Zaccaeus and Jesus visited together in his home, he decided to change his way of living. Jesus told him, "Today salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:9). Methodism has always been glad to accept the individual experience that each person has had.
  • The Church. The United Methodist Church recognizes and accepts all other Christian churches. We have embraced the openess that John Wesley affirmed when he preached on 2 Kings 10:15, "Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?…If it is, give me your hand." All Christians are invited to the Communion table in every United Methodist church. Methodism's invitation to participate in the sacrament of the Lor's Supper, or Holy Communion, is as follows:

    Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another (The United Methodist Hymnal, page 7).

    Methodism accepts both the baptism and vows of membership from any other Christian church. A person coming from another denominaiton is asked two questions: "As a member of Christ's universal church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?" and "As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service? Also, it has always been the custom of Methodist churches to cooperate with other churches in every possible way. Methodism has never claimed to be the only church. It claims to be one of the Christian churches. It has been pointed out by many that The United Methodist Church recognizes "the Christians of other churches and the churches of other Christians."

  • Baptism. Baptism is an outward sign of an inner commitment and a spiritual new birth. It is a rite of initiation into the body of which Christ is the head. It is believed that three modes of baptism were practiced by the early church: sprinkling, pouring, and immersion. We know that these three modes continue to be practiced by Christians today. Being more concerned about the inner experience than the outward expressions, The United Methodist Church both practices and accepts any mode of baptism. However, sprinkling is the method most often used in United Methodist churches.