beliefs?

[purposeinlife]

hi, i just became a christian yesterday and i am trying to find out what different types of churches believe. i guess the "non-denominational" thread is for people that don't attend a certain type of church. i have tried to find out what all the different types of churches believe and it looks like they all believe in the same thing. i can't really tell the differences between like lutherans and baptists and assembly of god. so, what do methodists/nazarenes believe?

 

[herev]

hi, i just became a christian yesterday and i am trying to find out what different types of churches believe. i guess the "non-denominational" thread is for people that don't attend a certain type of church. i have tried to find out what all the different types of churches believe and it looks like they all believe in the same thing. i can't really tell the differences between like lutherans and baptists and assembly of god. so, what do methodists/nazarenes believe?

OK, where to start.
We follow our founder, John Wesley, and each church would suggest probably that they follow him a little better (between United Methodist, Nazarenes, Wesleyans, etc.)
But there are a few basics.
We believe in salvation by grace through faith.
We believe in the Trinity
We believe in the authority of scriptures, and that God's word is spoken through scriptures, tradition, experience and reason.--that's a complicated one.
We believe in missions, taking care of the poor, educating people on the will of God, the ministry of the entire church, the holy catholic church (as in, we are all part of the one church as believers),
we believe in the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed.
those are a few of the Theological ideas
As to doctrine--just a few here
we baptize infants--we baptize only once
we have only two sacraments, baptism and communion.
We believe that in the act of communion, we celebrate the "real presence" of Christ, not that the elements are actaully transformed into the actual body and blood of christ.
We believe in the ordination of women. (my wife, my district Superintendent, and my bishop are all women pastors)
that's a few of the basics in Doctrine. Let me know if there are other questions.
Rev Tommy Conder
United Methodist Pastor

 

[purposeinlife]

hi tommy, it looks like the same as anglicans. are there any main distinctives between methodists/nazarenes and anglicans?

 

[CryptoKnight]

Many of the differences aren't over beliefs, but rather traditions. Part of the Methodist split from the Anglicans was due to the (at that time) Anglican tendency to cater to the elite, rather than minister to the poor. I think John Wesley correctly identified a problem, correctly identified a solution (don't split, among other things) but was met with a church that wasn't willing to change. Yet.

Now, because of the schism, our traditions have diverged, but our beliefs remain in sync (as I perceive them, at least). Our seperation, and subsequent unification of some sister churches in the 60's, thus forming the United Methodist Church did, of necessity, inject a certain element of tolerance with regards to the "isms" of our brother and sister Christians (Nightranger! sorry...). Thus, I think you will find a slightly broader acceptance in the UMC than you would the Anglicans.

Another interesting example is the Episcopaleans. Where they face a split because of the ordination of an openly gay Bishop, the UMC is probably more likely to stick together because of the broader sense of acceptance and responsibility. Not saying that the anti-gay-pastor crowd is happy, but they also appreciate Wesley's reluctance to split the church, and are honoring it.

HEREV's signature sums up the thinking of many Methodists. Eager for the truth, but not so likely to leap forward and claim that they have it in the absolute. More likely to point you to the Bible and help you find it for yourself.

 

[herev]

hi tommy, it looks like the same as anglicans. are there any main distinctives between methodists/nazarenes and anglicans?

there have certainly been some differences since we split off 225 or so years ago, but mostly cosmetic--more formal in anglican, etc.

 

[herev]

Many of the differences aren't over beliefs, but rather traditions. Part of the Methodist split from the Anglicans was due to the (at that time) Anglican tendency to cater to the elite, rather than minister to the poor. I think John Wesley correctly identified a problem, correctly identified a solution (don't split, among other things) but was met with a church that wasn't willing to change. Yet.

Now, because of the schism, our traditions have diverged, but our beliefs remain in sync (as I perceive them, at least). Our seperation, and subsequent unification of some sister churches in the 60's, thus forming the United Methodist Church did, of necessity, inject a certain element of tolerance with regards to the "isms" of our brother and sister Christians (Nightranger! sorry...). Thus, I think you will find a slightly broader acceptance in the UMC than you would the Anglicans.

Another interesting example is the Episcopaleans. Where they face a split because of the ordination of an openly gay Bishop, the UMC is probably more likely to stick together because of the broader sense of acceptance and responsibility. Not saying that the anti-gay-pastor crowd is happy, but they also appreciate Wesley's reluctance to split the church, and are honoring it.

HEREV's signature sums up the thinking of many Methodists. Eager for the truth, but not so likely to leap forward and claim that they have it in the absolute. More likely to point you to the Bible and help you find it for yourself.

Well Said

 

[cactusj]

Do the Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyians belief in the sign gifts....like speaking in a prayer language out loud in church services, etc--or does this belong to the Charsmatic/Pentecostal/AoG/Word of Faith group?

 

[CryptoKnight]

Do the Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyians belief in the sign gifts....like speaking in a prayer language out loud in church services, etc--or does this belong to the Charsmatic/Pentecostal/AoG/Word of Faith group?

Definitely more Charismatic/Pentecostal, though any good Methodist should condede that "anything is possible in the Lord". I, for one, do not see the need for it, neither do most in my congregation, hence the Spirit does not respond to us in that way. In some church communities, that may be so important that the Spirit gives it to them.

 

[cactusj]

Have any of you found the Charsmatic/Pentecostal beliefs being forced upon your church?

 

[CryptoKnight]

Heh, that's a tricky one, since my Methodist pastor was brought up Pentecostal! Actually, he has made some wonderful judgement calls to re-invigorate our congregation. Still, he knows that during our "traditional" worship service he is best served to keep his hiney parked behind the podium, and moderate his speech a bit!

So, to seriously answer your question, nothing has been *forced* upon anyone who wasn't willing to lean a certain directions, though a *few* comfort levels may have been pushed with the occasional call for "gimme a 'Hallelujia!'". Then again, no one has tried to speak in tongues, so the peace has been kept ;-)

 

[CryptoKnight]

Tommy,

Can you explain "We believe that in the act of communion, we celebrate the "real presence" of Christ, not that the elements are actaully transformed into the actual body and blood of christ"?

Well, I'm not Tommy, but I can give this a go. I think HEREV could give this one justice (is he TOmmy?).

We believe the "real presence" of Christ in that we, as the church are the Body of Christ. Either that, or we believe that since Christ said
Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
than he is there with us with his "real presence."


However, we do not believe in transubstantiation, which is the miraculous conversion of bread and wine to the physical body and blood of Christ at the moment of the blessing of the elements, as the Catholics do.

 

[herev]

Well, I'm not Tommy, but I can give this a go. I think HEREV could give this one justice (is he TOmmy?).

We believe the "real presence" of Christ in that we, as the church are the Body of Christ. Either that, or we believe that since Christ said
Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
than he is there with us with his "real presence."


However, we do not believe in transubstantiation, which is the miraculous conversion of bread and wine to the physical body and blood of Christ at the moment of the blessing of the elements, as the Catholics do.

Yeah, what he said!

 

[Bayhawks83]

Methodists beive the you get the holy spirit by faith, most anglicans believe you get the holy spirit by water baptism. Thats the big difference.

 

[Bayhawks83]

double post