Methodists — a comparison of the doctrine of 17 current religions
Prepared by and presented by Rex Bennett
An overview of the beliefs of the Methodists
- Methodists:
- Atonement — Christ atoned for the personal sins of men and also for original guilt. Christ was crucified to reconcile God to man.
- Baptism — Baptism is by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. It is only an outward sign of one’s entrance into the church. Baptisms of other churches aer accepted. It is not necessary for salvation. Infants can be and are baptized.
- Did Christ organize a church while on earth? — Christ did not organize a temporal church, only in a spiritual sense.
- Ecclesiastical authority — They do not believe in any line of priestly descendants. This kind of authority is not necessary. The Bible is the only authority needed, and the conscience of each individual prescribes the interpretation thereof.
- God — God is a personal spirit without body or parts. In the Godhead there are three persons, with those persons being one in substance, power, and eternity. Those three persons are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
- Heaven and Hell — These are two distinct and separate places. Heaven is considered to be where God is. Hell is not a physical state but a mental state, with no remorse of conscience.
- Holy Bible — The Bible contains everything that is necessary for salvation. If a given thing cannot be read in or proven by the Bible, it is not necessary for salvation.
- Holy Ghost — The Holy Ghost is a spiritual personality which proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost is one with the Father and the Son in substance and glory. They are “one”.
- Holy Trinity — Consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They are three distinct entities which are one in spirit substance.
- Is membership in a church needed for salvation? — You do not need to join a church to be saved. One just needs to believe in Christ.
- Life after death — After death we enter into a life of continual progression. We will still exist as a personality. There is no knowledge of family relationships after death.
- Marriage — Marriage is for this life only, and they do not believe in marriage or family relationships after death.
- Miracles — They believe in miracles anciently as well as today, mostly manifested in healing today. Miracles are a higher power operating over a lower power, not understood by man.
- Future status of non-believers in Christ — Those who have faith in Christ will be saved, and those that do not believe will suffer condemnation.
- Pre-existence of man — They do not believe in the pre-existence of man.
- Purpose of life — The purpose of life is to live a Christian life which prepares us to live with God and the redeemed. Man’s purpose is to live God’s commandments.
- Resurrection — There will be a resurrection of a spiritual body or personality. The soul maintains its identity.
- Revelation — They believe in the ancient revelation as found in the Bible. As for today, revelation is only manifested through God’s spirit directing man toward good works, inventions, and other good things.
- Sacrament — The holy sacrament is taken in remembrance of the body and blood of Christ by all those who feel worthy to partake of it. They use unfermented grape juice and bread. It is taken monthly or less frequently if desired.
- Satan — Satan is the force for evil in the universe. Some believe that there may be a personal devil.
- Second Coming of Christ — Some believe Christ has already come, that being at the time that Jerusalem was destroyed. Others believe that he has yet to come for the second time.
- Vicarious work for the dead — There is absolutely nothing that living man can do for those that have died.
- Virgin birth, immaculate conception — Christ’s mother was mortal and his Father was immortal. They believe in the virgin birth wherein Mary miraculously conceived Christ. They do not believe in the immaculate concepcion.
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