What's the difference between UMC and Lutherans?

[Flipper]

Thank you, Origen, that makes better sense.

HeatherJay - no problem. I'm just a Cliff Notes kind of girl.

 

[SandyLou]

Hey Flipper,

Not questioning your Christianity at all - please don't misunderstand - I just would think this was a question ya'll could talk about together. Which church do ya'll attend - a Lutheran or Methodist? Or are you perhaps saying that one or both of you were "raised" in the Lutheran or Methodist church but perhaps are not fully aware of Church doctrine? I love the sources that have been posted here! Wow! My ex hubby was raised in a Lutheran church but was not a church attender so couldn't tell me much about the religion - just his memories of childhood.
As John Wesley said in a sermon: "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without doubt, we may. In this all the children of God may unite, even though they retain these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may help one another increase in love and in good works"

--SandyLou

 

[LivingWitness]

Wesley taught, contrary to Lutheran theology, that 1) man is free not only to reject salvation but also to accept it (free salvation) by an act of human will; 2) all people who are obedient to the Gospel according to the measure of knowledge given them will be saved (universal salvation);

perhaps I am ignorant but did Luther teach that we did not have free will. And against universal salvation?


Raygn

 

[Flipper]

Hey Flipper,

Not questioning your Christianity at all - please don't misunderstand - I just would think this was a question ya'll could talk about together. Which church do ya'll attend - a Lutheran or Methodist? Or are you perhaps saying that one or both of you were "raised" in the Lutheran or Methodist church but perhaps are not fully aware of Church doctrine? I love the sources that have been posted here! Wow! My ex hubby was raised in a Lutheran church but was not a church attender so couldn't tell me much about the religion - just his memories of childhood.
As John Wesley said in a sermon: "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without doubt, we may. In this all the children of God may unite, even though they retain these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may help one another increase in love and in good works"

--SandyLou

We currently go to an LCMS church. He seems to believe that the theology is very similar between the two, so it was end of discussion. Since I've been on this board, I'm seeing that there are bigger differences. Since we might move out closer to his parents, I wanted to get a better idea of the differences - since we would most likely join the UMC church he grew up in.

 

[Flipper]

perhaps I am ignorant but did Luther teach that we did not have free will. And against universal salvation?


Raygn

My understanding is that Lutherans believe that salvation is a gift from God and that we can only reject it.

 

[Bonifatius]

perhaps I am ignorant but did Luther teach that we did not have free will. And against universal salvation?


Raygn

Hi Raygn,

yes, he did. You can find this doctrine in his book DE SERVO ARBITRIO (Ueber den unfreien Willen). Luther held the opinion, that we as sinful humans are unable to hear God's calling and to respond to it. Wesley instead was convinced that we as humans - by the work of God's prevenient grace - can hear this calling and can respond to it.

Greetings from Germany
Bonifatius

 

[Bonifatius]

We believe in the real presence of Christ as being present at the table, but we do not believe that the elements themselves undergo any change. The elements are symbolic, but the meal is not.

Hi,

I agree that Wesley's understanding of the Holy Eucharist is some kind of REAL PRESENCE.

As Charles Wesley put it in one of his eucharistic hymns:

His presence makes the feast;
And now our spirits feel
The glory not to be expressed,
The joy unspeakable.

He bids us drink and eat
Imperishable food;
He gives his flesh to be our meat,
And bids us drink his blood.

What'er the Almighty can
To pardoned sinners give,
The fullness of our God made man
We here with Christ receive.

By the way: there is a new paper on the UMC's understanding of Holy Communion on the way which was adopted by General Conference. Title is "This holy mystery" - should be available somewhere ...

Greetings
Bonifatius