Denominations

2. Denominations Methodist • Any religion that does not harmonize with the NT is sinful • Founded by right person • Founded at right time • Founded at right place

3. Denominations Methodist • Methodist Church is man-made & modern • Not based on Bible alone • Not the NT Church • Not built by Christ • Not worthy of our support

4. Denominations Methodist History & Organization Doctrines & Practices

5. Denominations Methodist History & Organization • History traced to 1729 • Oxford, England • John & Charles Wesley, George Whitefield • Bible study groups – “methodical” • Wesleys dissatisfied with Church of Eng. • Charles enamored with Luther’s faith-only

6. Denominations Methodist History & Organization • History traced to 1729 • New movement spread to New World • English born ministers run off • Resentment toward Wesley • Grew during revolutionary war • U.S. Methodist Episcopal Church 1784 • Circuit riders • 1.3 million members by mid-19th century

7. Denominations Methodist History & Organization • United Methodist Church - Organization • Episcopacy – executive branch • Conferences – legislative branch • Judicial Council – judicial branch • Boards, Agencies, Councils – churches

8. Denominations Methodist History & Organization • United Methodist Church - Organization • 13 Theological schools • 10 Universities • 45,000 clergy men & women • 15 female bishops

9. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • Scripture • Tradition • Experience • Reason

10. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “While we acknowledge the primacy of Scripture in theological reflection, our attempts to grasp its meaning always involve tradition, experience, and reason. Like Scripture, these may become creative vehicles of the Holy Spirit as they function within the Church. They quicken our faith, open our eyes to the wonder of God’s love, and clarify our understanding.”

11. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine.”

12. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “The story of the church reflects the most basic sense of tradition, the continuing activity of God’s Spirit transforming human life.”

13. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “Some facets of human experience tax our theological understanding.”

14. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “Since all truth is from God, efforts to discern the connections between revelation and reason, faith and science, grace and nature, are useful endeavors in developing credible and communicable doctrine…

15. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Authority – Wesleyan Principles • “We seek nothing less than a total view of reality that is decisively informed by the promises and imperatives of the Christian gospel, though we know well that such an attempt will always be marred by the limits and distortions characteristic of human knowledge.”

16. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Wesleyan Principles contrary to Bible • Scripture, 1 Pt. 4:11; 2 Pt. 1:3 • Tradition, Mt. 15:7-9; 2 Thes. 2:15 • Experience, Gen. 37:31-36 • Reason, Isa. 55:8, 9; Prov. 3:5

17. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • UMC has ever-shifting authority • “The General Conference shall have full legislative power over all matters distinctively connectional, and in the exercise of this power shall have authority as follows” (Article IV, preamble to const.)

18. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • UMC has ever-shifting authority • No authority to change • “established standards of doctrine” • “No-fault Division?” (Christianity Today)

19. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Baptism is a “sign of profession and mark of difference” and “a sign of regeneration,” including babies • Baptism for salvation, Acts 2:38 • For believers, Acts 8:36-38 • By immersion, Col. 2:11, 12

20. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices Articles of Religion: “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation”

21. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • Therefore, no man needs to believe in: • The Methodist Church • The Book of Discipline • The General Conference • Wesleyan Doctrine • Faith Only • Infant Baptism

22. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • UMC uses unbiblical methods of membership • Instruction in meaning of Christian faith • History, organization, teaching of UMC • Baptismal and membership vows • Reasonable period of training • Sacrament of Baptism

23. Denominations Methodist Doctrines & Practices • UMC uses unbiblical methods of membership • Bible, Acts 8:26-39; 9:26-28

24. Denominations Methodist History & Organization Doctrines & Practices

25. Denominations Methodist • Any religion that does not harmonize with the NT is sinful • Founded by right person • Founded at right time • Founded at right place

26. Denominations Methodist • Methodist Church is man-made & modern • Not based on Bible alone • Not the NT Church • Not built by Christ • Not worthy of our support