Why are you a Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyan?

[joyfulthanks]

So I'm curious about something: why are you a Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyan?

Have you ever been anything else? If so, what? Was there something specific that prompted your move to Wesleyan-style faith?

 

[FarTraveler]

Cause I was raise a Methodist

And yes I was something else for quite some time

I was an Atheist

 

[overnight]

I am a UM. I have been in many different churches with many different teachings. However, I find that I really like Wesleian theology. A theology of helping others, holiness, and spreading God's word. I also enjoy the UMC church because even though there is a book of disapline, and some theological standards you can pretty much decide what you belive about things on our own. (although I can not hink of a good example right now). Again I have been a part of many different denoms as well as an unbeliever and it is the UMC for me.

(Some examples of churches I have been a part of: baptist, charismatic, pentacostal, nazarene, church of God, and the lsit goes on).
**note some of the ones I have attended have been ones of a Wesley theology ie the Nazarene church. However I still choose UM. No good reason except I love the church.

 

[Historicus]

I am a Methodist because I can be Evangelical (the old meaning not the new 21 Century meaning), and Sacramental. I can embrace the doctrine of Holiness and salvation by grace through faith and still have good works. I would describe myself as a Wesleyan-Anglican. I think Wesley would have embraced that (without his name being added of course ).

I like the United Methodist Church... in fact I am falling in love with it more and more each day.

I was raised Free Will Baptist, attended a Apostolic Church of God for a while with my cousin, I attended a Non-Denominational Church for a while. I explored the Roman Catholic Church. That brought me to Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church... I really though that was were I needed to be it wasn't. I have finally found a home in the United Methodist Church.

 

[evviva]

I was raised a nominal Roman Catholic. When I was a teen-ager I used to attend the church but still found many things that would disappoint me, such as too little attention for the Scripture, too much tradition and Mary and the saints worship.
I then became an atheist for some couple of years until I got to talk with an Australian Baptist girl. So I went to the only evangelical church I knew of in my city and I found myself at home from the beginning.
I used to learn more about Protestantism as a whole, rather than Methodism, but in the last two years I am finding out more about the Wesleyan theology, which I think fits my understanding of the love of God.

 

[silentpoet]

A few good reasons and probably a few not so good reasons.

I found my current Nazerene church through the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Class they offered last fall. I went to the classes and then when I finally got moved over here(I had been commuting 75 miles) I went to sunday morning class and worship. Everybody was friendly and the message that morning seemed pretty good. The welcoming attitude is one way you can tell God is present.

 

[Qyöt27]

One of the reasons (as other posters have said) is the freedom that is often associated with it, particularly the UMC. I actually come from a mottled background. We were raised in a United Methodist Church - my mom has always been Methodist, my dad converted from Catholicism - but we weren't really raised that way. My dad would basically listen to any preacher back when I was a kid, and so my upbringing is probably a lot closer to a dispensational, fundamentalist Baptist one rather than Wesleyan, even though we called ourselves Methodists.

When I was in High School I had an increased interest in belief systems, and particularly the more esoteric parts of Christianity's and Judaism's histories. Out of necessity that meant that I started looking at Church History, which shed more light on the Catholic Church primarily (my dad had generally been negative about his past beliefs, and we grew up with all sorts of misconceptions). Gradually I took more of an interest in orthodox theology and made my way back to looking at Methodist belief.

By that time I was already decidedly mainline or moderate in my beliefs, and distrusting of many of the things lingering around from my childhood. When I looked at what Methodists actually do believe, I was very surprised to find that I agreed with most of it, far more than superficially too, in which it put me at odds with how we'd been raised. I've mostly gotten over that conflict now, but it was very reassuring to find out that the church I'd known since childhood really was where I fit, even if it wasn't the vision of faith that we'd been raised to see. I'm more or less ambivalent toward 'High Church' practices, and actually prefer those somewhat, and generally dislike the 'Contemporary' side of things which is so popular now.

Despite that, considering how I came full circle here, I've made my faith fairly open-ended. I admit things which those in situations like my childhood produced would have a religious crisis over, but I've realigned my priorities and nothing like that can really phase me anymore. Faith is far more personal to me now than it ever was, to be honest. It's just not a make-it-or-break-it deal anymore - it's fluid, now.

 

[IrishGrace]

I was raised in the Episcopal church, but my husband is Methodist, so when I moved to Texas to be with him (about 2 years before we got married) I started attending his church, found that I was very comfortable there and eventually joined about a year and a half ago. I've never looked back.

 

[servingtheking]

Cause I was raise a Methodist

And yes I was something else for quite some time

Same here, I've been an Episcopalian, and went to an AOG church for a while.

 

[daisy26]

I was also raised as a United Methodist. My father, who's now deceased, was a Methodist minister for much of my life. My mom was raised in a Christian Holiness Church, so I've also been in lots of their services as well. I'm definitely a Methodist though.

When I moved to a new town in my state I tried going to a Baptist Church after invited by a co-worker but I just felt out of place, even though the service wasn't much different than what I was used to. I guess I sort of felt like I was getting away from my roots or something too.

 

[desert_island_1]

Mostly becuase I was (and still am) raised a Nazarene. I have looked at the doctrine and I also agree with it.

Kristy

 

[Strong in Him]

I was an Anglican for over 30 years. I began attending our local Methodist church mainly because it was easy to get to with later service times. I have M.E, and for a long time couldn't go anywhere at all. There were times when I was stronger, but most of the services at my husband's church were too much for me. Eventually he said he'd rather I attended another church than go nowhere at all. Our Methodist church is small and were very welcoming.

I am now a local preacher (though not yet accredited) and in September will begin as a part time lay worker. My husband is an anglican lay reader.

 

[vicarius]

I was raised in the Church of the Nazarene. I've attended Baptist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God. I also spent several years where I didn't attend any church. I came back to the CotN after being stationed overseas for a year and attending chapel led by an Episcopal Chaplain. I just feel like the CotN is where I belong.

 

[Morghaine]

When I was a child, my family and I attended a Methodist church, and I remember still how much I loved Sunday school. Then my grandmother got a job at the Unity church, and talked my family into attending for several years. At the time I was maybe 9-12 or so, so I didn't really understand what was going on (probably a good thing!). Then we moved to a different town, and started back at the Methodist church. I was confirmed/baptised in the Methodist church, and while I have attended various other denominations with friends and such, I've always considered the Methodist church my home. I have to be completely honest and say that in my late teens, I couldn't have told you why I was a Methodist, but after attending classes at our church and reading books about Wesley, now I KNOW why I am a Methodist!

 

[candleflame]

So I'm curious about something: why are you a Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyan?

Have you ever been anything else? If so, what? Was there something specific that prompted your move to Wesleyan-style faith?

I was born into a methodist family and as God has placed me into methodism I've never heard Him telling me to move elsewhere, though I have cause to work and worship ecumenically.

 

[Hispath]

My answer would have to be, because this is where He lead me! Literally! I was not Christian, but He lead straight to the church I am now a part of through a series of events and people.

Very cool! I've never been happier! Though it seems I put in more hours, work more, (at church), and have never been filled with more joy, peace, and happiness in my life!

All because of Him! He is not just the Rock, He totally Rocks!

 

[Onomatopoeia]

I'm a Nazarene because that's where God has (not so subtly) led me.

I had originally been attending a non-denominational church, which my husband and I both loved. Through the course of life and moving and various other factors, we started attending church with his parents-"until we found our own." It had actually been a point of contention between his parents and us for a few years that we didn't attend church with them. My main reasons for not wanting to go to their church was that I didn't like the idea of belonging to a particular denomination, and I was used to and loved a more charismatic, contemporary worship style, which his parents' church greatly lacked. Well...long story short(ish)... we started attending regularly and became more and more involved...God opened our eyes to how much work there was to be done for him in our immediate area, and how much our presence was needed. We both finally realized that it wasn't about where we thought we wanted to be, or what we thought we wanted to be involved in...it was entirely about where God wanted us and what God wanted us to do.

Truthfully, if there had been staunch differences between what I personally believed and what the Nazarene Church as a whole believes and teaches, I can't say that I would be as happy there as I am. Then again....if it came down to a difference in beliefs, I don't believe God would have been directing me here in the first place...unless the beliefs I had previously held to were false.

 

[we5frogs]

I attended a Catholic church through my whole childhood up through my early teens, and while I always had questions, it was not until I had a very hurtful experience that I stopped going to church and began to question everything I had always believed to be true.

Through the years while I was away from the church, Jesus never once gave up on me, and He sent me through a series of churches, none of which I believe He really intended for me to be part of long term, but all of which He had something I needed to learn from. He also introduced people into my life who He used to lead me. I attended a UCC church when I first returned. That church closed and then I attended a Lutheran church.

As I began to get more and more excited about a closer walk with Jesus, I began to yearn for more opportunity to learn and to serve and was not satisfied with what little was offered in these areas. Also, the more excited I became, the less excited they were about me - visable displays of praise and worship were way out of their comfort zone.

Along with that, my youngest son is autistic, which was not something they were prepared to handle, and he felt he could no longer attend there.

So, he and I began to have church at home for a short time, but we both quickly missed being at church, and began looking for a church who could accept us and use us as we were, and one which was focused on reaching the lost and in Christlikeness.

I had never heard of a 'Holiness church', but when we found our current church, we all knew we had found where the Lord wanted us. I have no doubt in my mind that this is where the Lord planned on sending us all along, and I will happily serve here as long as that remains His will.

 

[Warrior4ChristAL]

So I'm curious about something: why are you a Methodist/Nazarene/Wesleyan?

Have you ever been anything else? If so, what? Was there something specific that prompted your move to Wesleyan-style faith?

My grandmother told me the Nazarene Church was founded on the move of the Spirit of God.

Well, they must have none away with that teaching when I was a child.

I was raised in Nazarenedom until I got tired of all the hypocrisy in our church and sin in the leadership.

While I believe anything can start with a move of God mightily, it isn't how we start the race but how we finish it.

Some Nazarenes are wanting another move of God. The way I found the Holy Spirit was to move out of the Nazarene church.

So much for consistancy.

My family on both sides have founded churches, attended Nazarene Bible Colleges and me, well, I found Jesus for real, got baptised in the Holy Spirit and haven't been back to Nazarenedom since.

 

[fungku]

I go to a Wesleyan Church, but I don't consider myself wesleyan or anything else for that matter. Although I take part in church events and activities and love the church and people dearly. I was also baptised here this year.

Personally I think denominations are silly and pretty much each "denominational package" has something I don't agree with in there somewhere.