A Short Account of Methodist Belief
Scripture
Scripture is the inspired word of God which serves to tell us who God is, who we are in God, and how we should serve God.
The Trinity
We affirm the foundational Christian belief that there is one God who though a single being exists as three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God has eternally existed, uncreated and perfect, in this unity from before time and will forever exist in this way.
Humanity
God created Humanity to serve and love God in perfect unity. Through humanity’s Sin, we have become separated from God and now must be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by our belief in him and our repentance from Sin.
Christ’s Work and Salvation
Jesus Christ was born into this world, by the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully human. Christ lived sinlessly, died on the cross for our redemption, and rose again from the dead by his own authority. Through him, the gateway of salvation was opened, that all who believe in him may have eternal life.
The Salvation Christ works is not merely being saved from an eventual Hell, but is a present release from the power of Sin, allowing the believer to pursue goodness through the means of Grace, acts of mercy, and personal piety.
Predestination
The United Methodist Church teaches that God does not predestine souls, either for Heaven or Hell, and that through Christ salvation is available to all people. We therefore believe that any person who 1) Loves the Lord Jesus Christ 2)Earnestly repents of their sins 3) and Seeks to live in peace with their neighbor, are able to be saved through their faith in Christ.
The General Rules
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, asked his students to attend to three rules for live.
Do Good. Do no Harm. Attend to all the Ordinances of God (worship, prayer, sacraments, etc.)
Sacraments
United Methodists believe in two sacraments – Baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion.)
In Baptism, people of any age are joined to God’s church by their profession of faith or those of their families. We believe that Baptism is a necessary step for any believing person to take, as it joins them to God’s church. Baptism is not withheld from any person based on age of cognitive ability, as God’s grace cannot be withheld from any person. We do not practice, teach, nor support the idea of rebaptism.
In the Eucharist, bread and grape juice are consecrated by a licensed or ordained minister and, through faith, become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The method by which Christ is made present with us is considered a “Holy Mystery,” and so we do not teach transubstantiation or consubstantiation. Nonetheless, Christ is truly present in the bread and the cup. Through the Eucharist we receive strength and grace to live out our Christian life, through being present with Christ.
We believe in an open table, which means all baptized Christians may take from our table, regardless of denomination. Those who have not professed their faith in Christ or who have not been baptized may also take Communion, so long as they intend to do so.
Foundations of Methodism
The Methodist movement sprang out of the work of the Anglican Minister John Wesley. Wesley launched a network of ministers and lay workers devoted to works of mercy, communal worship and study of scripture, and evangelism.
Following the American Revolution, John Wesley sent Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury to the newly begun “United States of America,” to develop the future of Methodists in America apart from the Church of England. This would become the “Methodist Episcopal Church.” The MEC would split several times across the next 100 years. Methodist Protestant, African Methodist Episcopal, and eventually MEC North and South Churches would form, largely over the matter of slavery and integration.
In 1939 the MEC Churches joined with the Methodist Protestant Church to form “The Methodist Church.” Though the matter of slavery was settled, the Church would not formally integrate until its merger with the Evangelical United Brethren (Originally a German language offshoot of the MEC,) in 1968.
The newly formed United Methodist Church existed as an integrated, diverse, and global denomination committed to a single mission. “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This includes ministries that feed, educate, and empower people around the world as well as traditional evangelism initiatives. Together, the global connection of the Church allows for it to do its work, wherever a need arises.
Doctrinal Standards
In addition to the Bible and the Apostle’s Creed, Methodists utilize the following to describe our core beliefs.