Radio Transcript

Denominational Doctrines (08)

The Methodist Church

Our study of denominational doctrines continues with the Methodist Church. The Methodist Church dates back to 1729, when a group of students at the University of Oxford in England began to assemble for worship and study. Other students at Oxford called them the "Holy Club" and "methodists," a derisive reference to the methodical manner in which they performed the various practices that their sense of Christian duty required.

Among this group of students was John Wesley, considered to be the founder of the Methodist Church, and his brother Charles, the sons of an Anglican rector. John preached, and Charles wrote hymns. The theology of the Wesleys leaned heavily on Arminianism and rejected the Calvinists emphasis on pre-destination. It wasn’t long before John Wesley had an enthusiastic following from the English working class who had little interest in the formalism of the Church of England.

Opposition by the English clergy prevented Wesley from speaking in many churches. Consequently, Methodist meetings were often held in open fields. These meetings resulted in religious enthusiasm throughout England, especially among the poor.

Methodism was brought to the U.S. before the American Revolution by emigrants from both Ireland and England. In 1769 John Wesley sent his first missionaries to America. Francis Asbury, commissioned in 1771, was the missionary most instrumental in establishing the American Methodist church. At the Christmas Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized as a body separate from the English Methodist structure. Asbury and Thomas Coke were given the title bishop and became heads of the new church.

Methodism, spread by the circuit rider and the revival meeting, advanced westward with the frontier. During the early 19th century, the tolerant doctrinal positions of Methodism and its stress on personal religious experience, universal salvation, and practical ethics gave it a major role in religious awakening and attracted converts in large numbers.

In 1845 the Methodist Church divided over the issue of slavery. The Northern and Southern branches reunited in 1939. In 1946 two small denominations of German ethnic origin that were unaffiliated with Methodism but greatly influenced by it, the Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 this church joined with the Methodist Church to become the United Methodist Church, bringing more than half of the world of Methodism into one denomination.

The Methodist Church, like most religious groups, does hold to some doctrines that are in accordance with the Bible. The Methodist Church correctly teaches that Christ died for all men. They correctly believe man has free will. They correctly teach a saved person can fall from grace. They promote personal holiness and personal responsibility to God.

But the Methodist Church also teaches things that are in opposition to the Bible. First, the Methodist Church has a human founder, John Wesley. But the New Testament church, the church we read about in the Bible was built by Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Second, the Methodist Church has a human creed, "The Methodist Discipline." But the Bible teaches that the scriptures alone are sufficient as our guide in matters of religion. Paul wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17). Also notice the following from II Peter 1:3. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

If a creed contains more than the Bible, it contains too much. If a creed contains less than the Bible, it contains too little. If a creed contains only the Bible, it is not necessary.

Third, the Methodist Church teaches that a person is justified by faith only. Notice the following quote from Article Nine of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church. "We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort" (end of quote). No doubt, the Bible teaches that there are certain works which have nothing to do with our salvation. For example, the works of the Law of Moses. This is what Paul referred to when he wrote that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). There are works of man’s devising. This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote that we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

But the Bible teaches there are works which are essential to salvation. These works are required by God. Note the following from Acts 10:34-35. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons: But in every nation that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." The Methodist Discipline states that justification by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort. But James wrote that faith without works is dead (James 2:17 & 20). James wrote that James wrote that Abraham was justified by works (James 2:22). James wrote that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only (James 2:24). James wrote that as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26). In fact, Jesus called faith itself a work. Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29).

Fourth, the Methodist Church wears an unscriptural name. The name Methodist cannot be found in the Bible. The Bible teaches that those persons who follow Christ are simply called Christians. Notice the following from Acts 11:26. "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Also notice the following from Acts 26:28. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Paul was not trying to persuade Agrippa to be a Methodist nor a member of any other denomination created by man, but a member of Christ’s one church, simply a Christian. Now notice I Peter 4:16. "Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Friends, I understand that many people would have you to believe that there’s really nothing in a name. Many people believe that it really doesn’t matter what name a particular church wears. In fact, one poet has written, "A rose by any other name would smell so sweet." But friends, names are important! Names give identity. You can be sure that those persons who say there is nothing in a name are concerned about their names. You can be sure those persons would not want their names to be forged. Those persons who say there is nothing in a name are concerned about what they name their children.

Fifth, Methodists baptize infants. Notice the following quote from Article Seventeen of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church. "Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church" (end of quote).

But those persons who baptize infants do so because of a misunderstanding concerning the purpose of baptism. A person is baptized in order to receive the forgiveness of his sins (Acts 2:38). A person is baptized in order to have his sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

Further, we know from the scriptures that baptism is to be preceded by faith. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Can an infant believe the gospel? Baptism is to be preceded by repentance. Many of those who heard Peter and the other apostles preach on the day of Pentecost were pricked in their hearts (Acts 2:37). They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Notice Peter’s response. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Friends, is it possible for an infant to repent? Of course, we know that infants, having no sin in their lives, have no need to repent. We know from the Bible that baptism is to be preceded by a person’s confession of his faith. Notice the following from the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian, recorded in Acts 8:36-38. "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Phillip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Friends, is it possible for an infant to confess his faith in Jesus?

Sixth, Methodists will sprinkle, pour, or immerse for baptism. But the Bible teaches that baptism is an immersion, or burial, in water. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Rome. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). Our English word "baptize" is actually a transliteration of the Greek word "baptizo" which means to dip, plunge, or submerge. It is unreasonable to argue that a person can be buried by sprinkling or pouring.

Seventh, the Methodist church is organized in an unscriptural manner. The Methodist church functions through bishops, district superintendents. This form of government is not found in the Bible. The scriptures speak of the New Testament church in two different senses. Fist, the church is spoken of in a universal sense, such as in Romans 16:16 when Paul wrote, "the churches of Christ salute you." The New Testament church is also spoken of in a local sense, such as in I Corinthians 1:2, where Paul wrote, "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth." God determined that each local congregation is to be completely self-governing with a plurality of elders to oversee one particular congregation. Notice the following from Acts 14:23. "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." Also notice the following from Acts 20:28, where Paul, speaking to the elders at Ephesus said, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood."

There are other differences between the Methodist church and the New Testament church that could be mentioned. But these differences, the human founder, the human creed, the false doctrine of salvation by faith only, the unscriptural name, and infant baptism are sufficient to demonstrate that the Methodist church is far different from the church we read about in the Bible.