Five Things Methodists Don't Believe

Although the vast majority of Christian doctrines and beliefs are things that we hold in common, there are some "Methodist distinctives," and it is important for us to understand them. This message was an attempt to do that - in reverse - by thinking together about some beliefs that are NOT part of our Methodist tradition. As a reminder the five things are as follows:

1 - There is only one way to interpret the Bible.

2 - The Communion table should be closed.

3 - To receive the Holy Spirit, you have to speak in tongues.

4 - Once saved, always saved.

5 - Whatever will be, will be.

Here is a follow up on these thoughts:

BIBLE INTERPRETATION. Here are some more thoughts from John Wesley on this matter (paraphrased, to be more understandable, and for brevity).

"Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? If it is, give me your hand. (2 Kings 10:15)"

This does not mean you must share my opinion. I do not expect or desire that. Nor does it mean I must share your opinion. You keep your opinion and I will keep mine, as steadily as ever. Let all opinions alone on one side or the other - only "give me your hand."

This does not mean you must embrace my form of worship or I must embrace yours. This does not depend on your choice or mine. We both must act as we are fully persuaded. If you think one form of church organization to be better, then think and act accordingly. I believe that infants ought to be baptized. If you are otherwise persuaded, follow your own persuasion. I have no desire to dispute with you on these "smaller points." Let them never come into sight. If your heart is as my heart, if you love God and all mankind, I ask no more - "give me your hand."

You can read more of this sermon by John Wesley.

This short statement from United Methodist doctrinal standards is a good description of the proper authority of Scripture:

"We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation."

OPEN COMMUNION. This is not particularly controversial in Methodist circles, as it is a long-standing tradition. Interestingly it is more of a custom than it is a matter of written doctrine or policy. Read more about current discussions on open Communion.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES. Methodists hold a sort of "middle ground" here. Some Christians suggest that the experience of "speaking in tongues" is the defining mark of having received the Holy Spirit. At the other extreme, some Christians suggest that speaking in tongues is no longer an authentic experience of the Holy Spirit. The "middle ground" holds that speaking in tongues is indeed an authentic gift of the Holy Spirit given to some, but that it is not a gift that is given to all believers - in other words, you can certainly receive the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues. See this discussion for further thought. (Although this comes from a Greek Orthodox perspective, it is a pretty good description of the "middle ground.")

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED. This teaching is sometimes called "eternal security." Methodists believe that even though God never gives up on us, it is always possible for us to use our free will to turn away from God - sad so that would be. See this discussion.

WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE. Methodists come from an Arminian background (emphasizing the fact that God's love is offered to everyone - and we have the free will to respond) rather than a Calvinist background (which suggests that some are chosen and others are not.) Here is a good discussion of both Arminian and Calvinist thought.

Here are more frequently asked questions about Methodist beliefs.

Here are some additional Scripture references:

THE BIBLE. Psalm 119:97-105. 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Hebrews 4:12-13. 2 Peter 1:20-21.
COMMUNION. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Galatians 3:26-28. Ephesians 4:4-6.
TONGUES. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5.
FREE WILL. Romans 11:22. Galatians 5:4. Colossians 1:22-23. Hebrews 6:4-6. Hebrews 10:26-27. James 5:19-20. 2 Peter 2:20-22. 2 Peter 3:17-18.

Finally, just to be fair, here are some counterpoint views on some of these issues, which you may also want to read:

A defense of "closed Communion"

A defense of "speaking in tongues" as THE sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit

A defense of the idea that "speaking in tongues" is no longer an active gift of the Spirit

A defense of the teaching - "once saved, always saved"

A defense of the idea - "whatever will be, will be"

Generation to Generation

Yesterday we looked at Psalm 78. Focus again on these verses from the beginning of this psalm attributed to Asaph:

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past--stories we have heard and know, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did....so the next generation might know them--even the children not yet born--that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. (Psalm 78:2b-4, 6-7, New Living Translation)

Yesterday I made brief reference to three big complaints about church. This came from Dieter Zander, co-author of a book called Inside the Soul of a New Generation. He tells about visiting with some college soccer players in southern California back in the early 1980s. He had encouraged them to visit his church (a very vibrant, contemporary church, by the way) but none of them would ever come more than once. As he talked with them about what they did not like about church, he said their reponses fell into three basic categories:

"1. 'Church is boring.' They weren't saying it was boring for the people who went there; they believed that the people who attended church got a lot out of it. But for them personally, it didn't engage them. 'It just doesn't fire me up,' they'd say.

"2. 'Church is irrelevant.' Again, they were sure that other people found it relevant, but church simply didn't connect with the issues they were encountering in their daily lives.

"3. 'There's no one like me at church.' They saw church as a fine place for older people and for families raising their children, but they didn't see anyone in their age group at church.

"Hearing those reasons again and again really affected me, because I saw that, through their eyes, they were right. [Our church was] a wonderful church for Baby Boomers, but my soccer friends felt left out."

Does this sound like anyone you know?

Have you heard comments like this from anyone in your circle of friends, family, coworkers or acquaintances?

I also referred to Leonard Sweet, author of Aqua Church: Essential Leadership Arts for Piloting Your Church in Today's Fluid Culture.

Sweet says: "Notice something about water. Water is a liquid that fills the shape of any receptacle...Every generation needs a shape that fits its own hands, its own soul. Each generation, every person, needs a different handle from which to receive the living waters of Jesus. Our task is to pour the living water into anything anyone will pick up...This is what Paul meant when he talked about our "becoming all things to all men" that we might win some (1 Cor. 9:22). I am a virtual fundamentalist about content. I am a virtual libertarian about containers...Unfortunately, much of the church is as fundamentalist about containers as I am about content, and as libertarian about content as I am about containers...A lot of churches are languishing because they won't trust the gospel to fit and fill containers with handles they don't like."

Have you seen "containers" that some churches use that may turn you off at first? Be honest with yourself!

Reflect also on this article in Saturday's Chronicle on the struggles that churches have in attracting and keeping men. The article talks about a book by David Murrow called Why Men Hate Going to Church.

What do you think?

Finally - make this your prayer:

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. (Psalm 71:17-18, NRSV)

Movement or Institution

On Sunday, we talked just a bit about the difference between Christianity as a "movement," and Christianity as an "institution."

A good resource for this discussion is Greg Ogden's book The New Reformation: Returning the Ministry to the People of God. (This book was published in 1990, and has since been revised with a new title - Unfinished Business.)

In the book, he contrasts the church as "organism," and the church as "institution."

As organism, the starting point is the Body of Christ. The church is the whole people of God in whom Christ dwells.

As institution, the starting point is leadership offices in the church. The true church is found where the Word of God is rightly proclaimed and the sacraments are rightly administered.

As organism, the church's ministry is "bottom-up," shaped by the gifts and callings distributed by the Holy Spirit to the whole body of Christ.

As institution, the ministry is "top-down," the province of the ordained offices of the church.

As organism, all ministry is lay ministry.

As instituion, lay ministry supplements and is secondary to ordained ministry.

Organism = one people/one ministry.

Institution = two people (clergy/laity)/two ministries.

Ogden goes on to suggest that a return to a biblical model of the church as "organism" will help transform churches from rigid institutions into transformational giants!

What do you think?

First Sunday

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share together on this "first Sunday." It has been a busy week, but we already feel so blessed and refreshed by the tangible ways that you have helped show forth God's love.

I hope you will check back at this blog from time to time, where we can share holy conversations!