methodist and baptists

[hyperhiggy]

Hi i have a question for anyone that can help!

I returned to my church during the summer which i went to when i was young. I then came over to Scotland in September and i have been going to the local Methodist Church as i went to the one in Belfast. I found the service quite different from the church back home. I have been going to a Baptist Church on Sunday Evenings and really enjoy the services. I was wondering if someone could explain the main differences between them? I have tried to search on the internet but cannt really find anything.

I do not want to upset anyone as i am a member of the Methodist Church and go there on a Sunday Morning but i do enjoy the evening service in the Baptist Church...if anyone could help!

Thank you!

 

[JMandrell]

I am a baptist, but my parents are both methodist. When I go home to visit I go to their church. The beliefs of salvation are pretty much the same as far as I have seen, but the ceremony of church is done alot differently. One of the main differences is baptism. They baptize by sprinkling while we dunk.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Both groups have historical ties to the Anglican church although the Baptist tie tends to be more strained.

Methodists are almost always Arminian. They practice infant baptism, use the connectional model of church governance and tend to be open to giftings of the Spirit because of John Wesley's influence. Methodists also tend to be liturgical and ecumenical relative to Baptists.

Baptists run the gamut from Calvinist to Arminian with generally stronger Calvinistic leanings. As JMandrell mentioned, Baptist prefer full immersion believer's baptisms, use the congregational model of church governance and are not as open to giftings of the Holy Spirit. They are rarely liturgical and ecumenicalism is generally frowned upon.

 

[hyperhiggy]

Thank you, I was just a little confused!

 

[Andyman_1970]

Aren't Methodist's just Baptist's that can read?























j/k

 

[SonOfThunder]

Both groups have historical ties to the Anglican church although the Baptist tie tends to be more strained.

Methodists are almost always Arminian. They practice infant baptism, use the connectional model of church governance and tend to be open to giftings of the Spirit because of John Wesley's influence. Methodists also tend to be liturgical and ecumenical relative to Baptists.

Baptists run the gamut from Calvinist to Arminian with generally stronger Calvinistic leanings. As JMandrell mentioned, Baptist prefer full immersion believer's baptisms, use the congregational model of church governance and are not as open to giftings of the Holy Spirit. They are rarely liturgical and ecumenicalism is generally frowned upon.

Now that's way over my head, can you type it in English please?

Aren't Methodist's just Baptist's that can read?

FUNNY MAN!!!


Seriously, I do often wonder what the differences are and how God views them all. Who has truth? for me it's a MAJOR MAJOR worrying issue.

I can read, what does that make me? smart comments please

James

 

[Gold Dragon]

Now that's way over my head, can you type it in English please?

Sorry. Here are a few quick definitions. Click on the links for more detailed definitions.

Arminian : Free-Will teachings of Jacobus Arminius
Calvinistic : Predestination teachings of John Calvin
Connectional church governance : A centralized organization that includes bishops and lay members
Congregationalist church governance : individual local churches are autonomous
Liturgical : Following a prescribed form of worship
Ecumenical : Promoting unity among Christian groups

 

[BT]

Both groups have historical ties to the Anglican church although the Baptist tie tends to be more strained.

Baptists run the gamut from Calvinist to Arminian with generally stronger Calvinistic leanings. As JMandrell mentioned, Baptist prefer full immersion believer's baptisms, use the congregational model of church governance and are not as open to giftings of the Holy Spirit. They are rarely liturgical and ecumenicalism is generally frowned upon.

I have (IME) met far more Baptists who are neither calvinist, calvinistic, arminian, or arminianistic.

The Baptist churches (independent anyway) use the biblical model of church governance namely the autonomy of the local church. We are open to giftings of the Spirit so long as they are true gifts that exist today and not fabrications. We practice biblical separation yet fellowship with any body of believers who are doctrinally sound Bible-believers/preachers/livers.

 

[SonOfThunder]

Sorry. Here are a few quick definitions. Click on the links for more detailed definitions.

Arminian : Free-Will teachings of Jacobus Arminius
Calvinistic : Predestination teachings of John Calvin
Connectional church governance : A centralized organization that includes bishops and lay members
Congregationalist church governance : individual local churches are autonomous
Liturgical : Following a prescribed form of worship
Ecumenical : Promoting unity among Christian groups

Thankyou, I didn't know that


James

 

[Iollain]

Aren't Methodist's just Baptist's that can read?





j/k

Hey! I resemble that remark!

 

[Gold Dragon]

I have (IME) met far more Baptists who are neither calvinist, calvinistic, arminian, or arminianistic.

I agree that almost all of the baptists in my circles are neither Calvinistic nor Arminian. However, a quick search of Baptist history and resources will show a much stronger Calvinistic bent and the number of Particular/Reformed Baptists far outweigh the number of Free-Will/General Baptists. This question is really irrelevant for this generation but it may be relevant to a Methodist seeking a Baptist church.

 

[BT]

Baptist church history is a funny thing. Because depending on which book you read you'll find that we have pretty much exactly the kind of history that you're hoping we have.

(which is to say that if you're a calvinist you can find the books that prove we came from that branch of doctrine, but if you are arminian you can find the books the prove we came from that branch (probably even invented it).)

Which is one reason that "baptist church history" cracks me up.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Baptist church history is a funny thing. Because depending on which book you read you'll find that we have pretty much exactly the kind of history that you're hoping we have.

(which is to say that if you're a calvinist you can find the books that prove we came from that branch of doctrine, but if you are arminian you can find the books the prove we came from that branch (probably even invented it).)

Which is one reason that "baptist church history" cracks me up.

Agreed, which is why I tend not to trust baptist church history written by baptists.

 

[BT]

Agreed, which is why I tend not to trust baptist church history written by baptists.

Hey it's handy if you ever want to win an argument!

 

[Gold Dragon]

Baptist church history is a funny thing. Because depending on which book you read you'll find that we have pretty much exactly the kind of history that you're hoping we have.

Also, I'm probably more Arminian than Calvinistic. So what does it mean if I have read baptist history from arminian baptist, calvinistic baptist and non-baptist sources and still consider baptists to generally have a stronger Calvinistic bent, both historically and currently? Why would I hope for this?

Interestingly, most of the arminian baptist history sources I've read are in agreement with calvinistic and non-baptist sources in recognizing their minority status in baptist circles, even if General baptists predate Particular baptists by a few years. During the evangelical revival of the 1700s and 1800s, arminianism gained more ground and probably overtook calvinism. Many baptist churches now don't hold an either-or position on this issue but those that do are predominantly calvinistic. The resurgence in SBC support of Calvinism being one of the primary reasons for this shift.

Of course, a general statement about Baptists should never be used to stereotype all baptists, especially considering the differences that having a congregational church governance system allows.

 

[hyperhiggy]

Seriously, I do often wonder what the differences are and how God views them all. Who has truth? for me it's a MAJOR MAJOR worrying issue.
James

See thats what i was worrying about because i did not know the differences. When i am in Northern Ireland during the summer and christmas period i only go to my Methodist Church. But over the last few weeks in Scotland i have been going to both and i do not want it to be frowned upon.

 

[labellady]

Aren't Methodist's just Baptist's that can read?























j/k

I went from Methodist to Baptist....so what does that make me?

 

[labellady]

Methodists have a methodical way of doing things. I am meaning in the order of worship in church. In a baptist church they are not as set in their order of worship. Also, the baptist church I go to doesn't say the Apostles Creed. I don't know if that is the way of other baptists or not.

 

[BT]

I think that is consistent labellady. We don't recite any creeds at all (IME). Which is of course not to say that no baptist church ever at any time (past, present, future) did not worship creedally. But I think that not reciting creeds is the rule rather than the exception.