Introduction

Source for this page: Charles L. Allen, Meet The Methodists, An Introduction to the United Methodist Church, (Nashville: Abington Press, 1986). Copies are available in the Church Library (Room 128).

Methodism from the beginning has been more life-centered than belief-centered. Yet, though Methodism has emphasized the worm heart, John Wesley was a man of scholarship who believed in education. The church he founded has emphasized from the beginning the value of a trained mind. No other church has done more to further the cause of education.
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Freedom From Rigid Creed

In reference to rigid creeds, John Wesley made the following statement in a sermon in Glasgow:

"There is no other religious society under Heaven which requires nothing of men in order to assure their admission into it but a desire to save their souls. Look all around you; you cannot be admitted into the Church, or Society of the Presbyterian, Anabaptists, Quakers, or any other unless you hold the same opinion with them, and adhere to the same mode of worship. The Methodists alone do not insist on your holding this or that opinion; but they think and let think. Neither do they impose any particular mode of worship; but you may continue to worship in your former manner, be it what it may. Now I do not know any other religious society, either ancient or modern, wherein such liberty of conscience is now allowed, or has been allowed, since the age of the Apostles. Here is our glorying; and a glorying peculiar to us. What Society shares it with us?"
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Baptismal Affirmation

In order to be baptized in The United Methodist Church, a youth or adult is required to affirmatively answer the following:

1. Do you truly and earnestly repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?
2. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life?
3. Do you desire to be baptized in this faith?
4. Will you then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of your life?
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Membership Vows

In order to become a member of The United Methodist Church, one is required to affirmatively answer the following:

1. Do you here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that you made, or that was made in your name, at your Baptism?
2. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and pledge your allegiance to his kingdom?
3. Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
4. Do you promise according to the grace given you to live a Christian life and always remain a faithful member of Christ's holy Church?
5. Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?
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Basic Beliefs and Doctrines

It is easily seen that in order to become a member of The United Methodist Church, one does not have to subscribe to a long list of beliefs. However, the church does have a very firm and clearly stated set of beliefs. The more prominent Methodist beliefs may be briefly stated as follows:

1. The Bible
The Bible is the inspired and holy Word of God. The Bible is our textbook. The bible is listed first because it is our chief source of knowledge about God and Christ and contains all the truth necessary for salvation.
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2. God
God is infinite in wisdom, power, and love - the creator and sustainer of the universe. Every person on earth is God's child. God will hear the prayers of any and every person. One does not have to go through any intermediary to reach God. However, through worship in the sanctuary, through fellowship with other people, through proclamation of the faith from the pulpit, through study in classes, and in other ways the church helps one learn about and commune with God.
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3. Jesus Christ
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). We believe Jesus Christ is uniquely God's Son, sent by God, to be born of Mary, to make the invisible God known in human form. In his expressions of loving mercy, in his teaching, in his miracles of compassion, in the absolutely holy life he lived, in the compassion of his ministry, and in the utter selflessness of his servanthood, we see God. "He who has seen me has seen the Father," Jesus said (John 14:9).

We believe Jesus Christ died upon a cross for us and our sins. His cross is an example of sacrifice, and it is a revelation of God's love, but it is more, much more. His death on the cross forever makes a difference in a person's relationship with God. As Paul put it, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself" (II Corinthians 5:19). We find salvation through his shed blood.

We believe Christ rose from the dead, and his resurrection is our assurance that there is life for us beyond the grave. "Because I live," he said, "You will live also" (John 14:19)
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4. The Holy Spirit
The Holy spirit is God here on this earth - God in us and with us. The Holy Spirit came in a new and mighty way upon the Christians at Pentecost (Acts 2) and is present in the world today. We believe the Spirit bears witness to our spirits that we are in Jesus Christ and are the children of God (Romans 8:16)O. "The witness of the Spirit" is a doctrine often emphasized by John Wesley. In his sermon on the subject, he said, "By the witness of the Spirit I mean the inward impression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God; that Jesus Christ hath loved me and given Himself for me; that all my sins are blotted out and I, even I, am reconciled to God."
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5. Forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls
This is the very center of our faith. Sin is both in our nature and in our actions. It may be said that our actions are the expressions of the sin in our souls. If we are "heartily sorry for these our misdoings," as we pray in the prayer of confession, and put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified, saved, cleansed - not because we deserve it, but because of the grace, the unmerited favor of God. "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
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6. Holiness
As the result of commitment to God we grow in faith, and our love for God and for one another becomes more complete. Holiness of heart and life has always been emphasized by Methodist. Actually, no one ever attains a literal sinlessness in life. As one grows in Christian faith, the intentions of the soul become more perfect. This is what we call sanctification. "For God knew his own before ever they were, and also ordained that they should be shaped to the likeness of his Son" (Romans 8:29 NEB).
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7. Conversion
One becomes a Christian through the Christian experience of conversion. It may be a climactic experience such as came to Saul of Tarsus as he was on the way to Damascus. Suddenly he saw a light from heaven and heard the voice of Jesus (Acts 9, 22, 24). As long as he lived, that experience was the light of his life. Throughout the history of Methodism, there have been revivals when people "came forward" to the altar in a church or revival service and received a life-changing experience in Christ. Many Methodists have been able to sing:

I can tell you now the time,
I can take you to the place;
Where the Lord saved men,
By his wonderful grace.

But there is also the experience of Timothy. He never had a climactic conversion. He could not refer to any one moment when he was converted to Christ. Writing to Timothy, Paul says, "From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 3:15).

John Wesley as a child was carefully instructed in the Christian faith by his wonderful mother. Throughout his life, he never forgot his early teaching. Thus it is natural that from the very beginning of the Methodist societies he would give great emphasis to teaching children. Methodism has always practiced infant baptism. It is even argued by some that Wesley organized the very first Sunday schools, preceding Robert Raikes. Methodism strongly emphasizes teaching children. No church in the world today provides finer literature for children than does The United Methodist Church, which also provides careful instruction in membership for children. Children are happily received into full membership in the church.

In the early days of Methodism, new members came out of revivals. Today the large majority of members who come on confession of faith are children. Blessed is the church which remembers the words of our Lord, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).

Zacchaeus experienced yet a different type of conversion - a great decision. As Zacchaeus and Jesus visited together in his home, he decided to change his way of living. Jesus told him, "Today salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:9).

Methodism has always been glad to accept the individual experience that each person has had.
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8. The Church
The United Methodist Church recognizes and accepts all other Christian churches. We have implanted in our hearts the words of Wesley, "If your heart beats with my heart in love and loyalty to Christ, give me your hand."

All Christians are invited to the Communion table in every United Methodist Church. Methodism's invitation to participate in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is:

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to almighty God. (Book of Hymns, #832)

Methodism accepts both the baptism and vows of membership from any other Christian church. One coming from another church is only asked, "Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?"

Also, it has always been the custom of Methodist churches to cooperate with other churches in every possible way. Methodism has never claimed to be the only church. It claims to be one of the Christian churches. It has been pointed out by many that the United Methodist Church recognizes "the Christians of other churches and the churches of other Christians."
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9. Baptism
Baptism is an outward sign of an inner commitment and a spiritual new birth. It is a rite of initiation into the body of which Christ is the head. It is believed that three modes of baptism were practiced by the early church: sprinkling, pouring, and immersion. We know that these three modes continue to be practiced by Christians today. Being more concerned about the inner experience than the outward expressions, The United Methodist Church both practices and accepts any mode of baptism. However, sprinkling is the method most often used in United Methodist Churches.
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