Real Sorceror
New member
:idunno: Maybe? Its been close to 10 years since I went regularly, so I can't say for sure. I've always assumed the "Christ died for my sins" part was standard Christian fare.
toldailytopic: The Methodists: what did they get right, and what did they get wrong?
- Thread starter Nathon Detroit
- Start date
Ted L Glines
New member
Guess it depends on who is judging. When I was growing up (churches were maybe different then), I was in the Methodist Church. I lived on a farm with my grandparents. The minister was Stanley Reed and he will never be forgotten. When my grandparents were ill, he came out to the farm and saw that the chores were done and that we were fed and comfortable. Stanley was that kind of a minister; that kind of a man. Regardless of religious forms, Stanley knew and understood Jesus. He would have done the same if he had been Jewish or Catholic.
Lon
Well-known member
It is necessary to distinguish between Methodists. The United MC is far from the root. They have become liberal in their views and the gospel message, while preached within the walls and certainly clear in the liturgy, is benign of His power, frankly due to liberal seminaries. Liberal pastors abound but one may find 1 in 10 or so to have a reverend with close attachments both to his Bible and his Savior and conservative evangelical views, however, this pastor has also necessarily embraced the liberalism of his college and thusly, has traded for a measure of impotence.
There are several split off denominations that have sought to re-gain what was felt lost from the Wesylian lineage, one of the largest is the Free Methodist denomination.
What did Methodists get right? They are ecumenical in approach, have strong scriptural liturgy and hymns, and are actively involved in missions. As was mentioned above, they are a congenial group with a strong community feel. Because of such an eclectic invitation to members, evangelicals are free in their Sunday School classes to share the gospel and the Methodist material, traditionally is strong on Biblical Evangelism.
What they got wrong? Their ecumenical approach often leaves them with a strong Liberal label. I still remember the commercial they produced in the 90's "I'm a Muslim, and I'm a Methodist," said one man in a turban. The UMC didn't balk or shy away from the contradiction at all, instead opting for a Christ who welcomes all liberally. Good message? Yes, but taken too far, they sacrificed truth standing upon "Love one another" over and above a scriptural truth. All sermons I have heard in the UMC are topical. They tend to start with a scripture passage and then quickly segway into humanitarian concerns, albiet, at times, they use a scriptural parable or story, especially from Jesus, to coincide with the social point. They wrestled long and hard when they discovered no few of their pastors were homosexual and, to the best of my knowledge, still are struggling with anything definitive in dealing with the issue.
To sum it up, if a church stands for nothing, they fall for everything. The UMC is too liberal in deference to ecumenical emphasis and social concern. In the nineties, "I'm a Muslim and I'm a Methodist" was their intended and promoted by-line. Such quickly reveals both their strengths and weaknesses at a glance. Whatever good or bad you can say about the quote, is true of the UMC in a quick assessment and nutshell.
There are several split off denominations that have sought to re-gain what was felt lost from the Wesylian lineage, one of the largest is the Free Methodist denomination.
What did Methodists get right? They are ecumenical in approach, have strong scriptural liturgy and hymns, and are actively involved in missions. As was mentioned above, they are a congenial group with a strong community feel. Because of such an eclectic invitation to members, evangelicals are free in their Sunday School classes to share the gospel and the Methodist material, traditionally is strong on Biblical Evangelism.
What they got wrong? Their ecumenical approach often leaves them with a strong Liberal label. I still remember the commercial they produced in the 90's "I'm a Muslim, and I'm a Methodist," said one man in a turban. The UMC didn't balk or shy away from the contradiction at all, instead opting for a Christ who welcomes all liberally. Good message? Yes, but taken too far, they sacrificed truth standing upon "Love one another" over and above a scriptural truth. All sermons I have heard in the UMC are topical. They tend to start with a scripture passage and then quickly segway into humanitarian concerns, albiet, at times, they use a scriptural parable or story, especially from Jesus, to coincide with the social point. They wrestled long and hard when they discovered no few of their pastors were homosexual and, to the best of my knowledge, still are struggling with anything definitive in dealing with the issue.
To sum it up, if a church stands for nothing, they fall for everything. The UMC is too liberal in deference to ecumenical emphasis and social concern. In the nineties, "I'm a Muslim and I'm a Methodist" was their intended and promoted by-line. Such quickly reveals both their strengths and weaknesses at a glance. Whatever good or bad you can say about the quote, is true of the UMC in a quick assessment and nutshell.
Buzzword
New member
From what I've read of Adam Hamilton, a UMC pastor and author, the best thing about the Methodist church is their attempt to bring together the spiritual and social gospels.
Never settle for saving a man's soul if you've left his belly empty, his clothes in tatters, his family homeless, or his children hopeless.
Never settle for saving a man's soul if you've left his belly empty, his clothes in tatters, his family homeless, or his children hopeless.
Krsto
Well-known member
Amen Sky.
Ideally, we should be members one of another as members of the body of Christ and love each other as members of the same family with the same Father and Jesus our Brother, which involves speaking the truth in love and correcting one another, iron sharpening iron, and not allow ourselves to be defined by membership in a particular denomination.
some other dude
New member
And Jeremiah was a bullfrog. :chuckle:
Yes.
Not much difference in Baptist and Methodist doctrine wise.
In the movie A River Runs Through It, the father said that Methodists were just Baptists that could spell!
My grandparents were die hard Methodists.
It did seem that the Methodist church had communion more often than Baptist.
Strange it is, very strange that "Methodists" under the leadership of John Wesley at Oxford were a fervent religious group who sought salvation by rigourous religious devotion, hence their name.
But looking back a few years later every one of that group would acknowledge that they were not saved, not even christian, even good John Wesley and his brother Charles. In fact John Wesley was one of the last of the group to get saved.
While JW was busy getting run out of America on a rail, George Whitefield, who Wesley had a few years previously taken under his somewhat imperious wing and mentored, this Whitefield was preaching already to vast crowds in Bristol.
He had discovered that one can be saved in an instant, changed forever in the twinkling of an eye by the new birth. Brilliant scholar though Wesley was, he was a slow learner in this.
Wesley and his methodists certainly saved Britain from the revolutions other nations experienced and is truly the father of the welfare state...from Methodism comes the Salvation Army.
The story of the great awakening is a thrilling story. Of particular interest is the story of George Whitefield and what divided him from Wesley.
But looking back a few years later every one of that group would acknowledge that they were not saved, not even christian, even good John Wesley and his brother Charles. In fact John Wesley was one of the last of the group to get saved.
While JW was busy getting run out of America on a rail, George Whitefield, who Wesley had a few years previously taken under his somewhat imperious wing and mentored, this Whitefield was preaching already to vast crowds in Bristol.
He had discovered that one can be saved in an instant, changed forever in the twinkling of an eye by the new birth. Brilliant scholar though Wesley was, he was a slow learner in this.
Wesley and his methodists certainly saved Britain from the revolutions other nations experienced and is truly the father of the welfare state...from Methodism comes the Salvation Army.
The story of the great awakening is a thrilling story. Of particular interest is the story of George Whitefield and what divided him from Wesley.
Heavenbound
New member
The Methodists
The Methodists
Don't think any one of us have it totally right...:think:
The Methodists
Don't think any one of us have it totally right...:think:
Heavenbound
New member
I would agree with you there Right on Sky!
SaulToPaul 2
Well-known member
....while you are saved.
SaulToPaul 2
Well-known member
SaulToPaul 2
Well-known member
Then perhaps 'saved' isn't the appropriate term to use yet.
K:
:up: I agree, for most in the Bible (outside of Romans-Philemon).
SaulToPaul 2
Well-known member
I wouldn't have that exception.
:Clete:
assuranceagent
New member
From the website of the United Methodist Church (denominational website):
As far as I'm concerned, that's an open and shut case.
...and that's not all.
They also affirm that all religions have validity to their "paths" of salvation, Allah and God are (in essence) the same (with the exception of that whole trinitarian bit), and other such fun facts.
If they got anything right, they have utterly obliterated it with their attempts to make the gospel "culturally relevant."
:nono:
Methodist Q&A: Click me
As far as I'm concerned, that's an open and shut case.
...and that's not all.
They also affirm that all religions have validity to their "paths" of salvation, Allah and God are (in essence) the same (with the exception of that whole trinitarian bit), and other such fun facts.
If they got anything right, they have utterly obliterated it with their attempts to make the gospel "culturally relevant."
:nono:
Methodist Q&A: Click me
Cracked
New member
Many, if not most, of the mainline Christian denominations have become excessively liberal in certain ways. However, there are always groups that pull away from the denomination as this happens.
assuranceagent
New member
That's why many, if not most, of the mainline Christian denominations have become excessively powerless and ineffective in their willingness to run counter-culture and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If even the Church refuses to stand on what's right and preach the truth, what chance does the world have? :idunno: