ellauri092.html on line 182: The Third Great Awakening from 1858 to 1908 saw enormous growth in Methodist membership, and a proliferation of institutions such as colleges (e.g., Morningside College). Methodists were often involved in the Missionary Awakening and the Social Gospel Movement. The awakening in so many cities in 1858 started the movement, but in the North it was interrupted by the Civil War. In the South, on the other hand, the Civil War stimulated revivals, especially in Lee´s army.
ellauri092.html on line 186: In the 1930s many Methodists favored isolationist policies. Thus in 1936, Methodist Bishop James Baker, of the San Francisco Conference, released a poll of ministers showing 56% opposed warfare. When war came in 1941, the vast majority of Methodists strongly supported the national war effort, but there were also a few (673) conscientious objectors.
ellauri092.html on line 196: Methodists stand almost alone among mainline denominations in not performing same-sex marriages, in contrast to the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the United Church of Christ.
ellauri092.html on line 221: Today, there are many different Methodist denominations, but they all hold similar views in several areas. They all follow Wesleyan (or Armenian) theology, emphasize practical life over doctrine, and hold to the Apostle’s Creed. Most Methodists groups reject that the Bible is inerrant and sufficient for life and godliness, and many groups are presently debating the moral standards of the Bible, especially as they relate to human sexuality, marriage, and gender.
ellauri092.html on line 223: Many people have wondered, are baptist and methodist the same? The answer is no. However, there are some similarities. Both Baptists and Methodist are trinitarian. Both hold that the Bible is the central text in faith and practice (though groups within both the families of denominations would dispute the Bible’s authority). Both Baptists and Methodists have historically affirmed the divinity of Christ, justification by faith alone, and the reality of heaven for those who die in Christ, and eternal torment in hell for those who die unbelieving.
ellauri092.html on line 225: Historically, both Methodists and Baptists have placed a heavy emphasis on evangelism and missions.
ellauri092.html on line 227: Methodists believe that baptism is a sign of regeneration and new birth. And they accept all modes of baptism (sprinkling, pouring, immersion, etc.) as valid. Methodists are open to baptism of both those who confess faith themselves, and those whose parents or sponsors confess faith.
ellauri092.html on line 233: In contrast, Methodists are mostly hierarchical. Churches are led by conferences with increasing levels of authority. This begins at the local level, with a Local Church Conference, and progresses upward to a denomination-wide General Conference (or some variation of these categories, depending on the specific Methodist group). Most major Methodist denominations own the property of local churches and have a decisive say in assigning pastors to local churches.
ellauri092.html on line 235: Speaking of pastors, there are significant differences in how Methodists and Baptist choose their pastors too.
ellauri092.html on line 243: Methodists allow both men and women to serve as pastors.
ellauri092.html on line 247: Methodists also subscribe to baptism and the Lord’s Supper and they similarly see both as signs, not as the substances, of God’s grace in Christ. Baptism is not a mere profession, however, but also a sign of regeneration. Similarly, the Lord’s Supper is a sign of a Christian’s redemption.
ellauri092.html on line 253: Baptists are traditionally mixed on the Calvinism-Arminianism debate. Few would call themselves true Arminians, and most Baptists would probably self-describe as modified (or moderate) Calvinists – or 4 point Calvinists, rejecting especially the doctrine of Limited Atonement. In contrast to Methodists, most all Baptists believe in the eternal security of a Christian, though many hold to a view of this that is very different from the Reformed doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints.
ellauri092.html on line 257: Methodism has traditionally align itself with Arminian doctrinal positions, with very few exceptions and very little debate. Most Methodists believe in prevenient grace, and reject predestination, perseverance of the saints, and so on.
ellauri092.html on line 259: As noted, most Baptist churches and church members hold enthusiastically to the doctrine of Eternal Security. The saying, once saved, always saved is popular today among Baptists. Methodists, on the other hand, believe that truly degenerate Christians can fall away into apostasy and be lost.
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