Page 388 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

METHEG AMMAH - METHODIST

METHEG AMMAH (the bridle of bondage). 2 Sa. in its growth in the American frontier as America
8:1. expanded westward across the continent. The camp
METHODIST. The Methodist denomination arose out meeting, involving extended gatherings for exuberant
of the Church of England in the 18th century. It preaching and singing, also played a prominent role in
originated with the evangelistic/revival ministry of the Methodism in the 1800s.
two brothers, John (1703-91) and Charles (1707-88) Methodist Doctrine. Wesley’s Articles of Religion were
Wesley. The Wesleys were members of what was drawn from the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles.
derisively labeled “the Oxford Methodists,” a group of Traditional Methodist theology holds to the biblical
Oxford University students who were methodical in doctrines of Inspiration, God, the Trinity, Jesus Christ,
their habits of prayer and Bible reading and who sought the Holy Spirit, Resurrection, Heaven, and hell. Wesley
to live simple, holy lives. The Wesleys were also zealous was Arminian and edited a magazine called the
in evangelism and preached to the prisoners and the Arminian Magazine. He rejected Calvinism, particularly
poor and underprivileged of British society. John Wesley the points dealing with unconditional election,
was converted in 1738 while attending a Moravian irresistible grace, and limited atonement. Wesley did not
meeting and hearing Luther’s exposition on justification believe the human will was the cause of salvation, but
by faith from the book of Romans. Of that night, Wesley he did believe a Christian could lose his salvation
records: “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did through turning from Christ. He also held that a believer
trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an could reach a state of sinless perfection called “entire
assurance was given me that He had taken away my sanctification” through the purifying power of the Holy
sins, even mine.” He and his brother, with fellow Oxford Spirit. (Contrast 1 Jn. 1:8-10.) Methodist baptism is
graduate George Whitefield, became central to a great administered to both infants and adults, usually by
spiritual revival that subsequently occurred in England sprinkling. Some aspects of Anglicanism were carried
and America. over into the Methodist denomination, such as the use
The Church of England barred the Wesleys from their of prayer books, a rigid, formal liturgy, and infant
churches, so they preached in homes, in barns, in the baptism.
streets and the fields. John Wesley was the preacher; Methodist Church Polity. Methodists follow an
Charles was a hymn writer (though he also preached). It episcopal form of church government. With a few
is said that John rode 250,000 miles on horseback and exceptions, congregations are not independent and
preached over 42,000 sermons in his lifetime. He autonomous, but are controlled by bishops that oversee
preached an average of 500 times yearly. Converts conferences of churches. Two key words used in the
among the ordinary people multiplied and were United Methodist Church are “connectional” and
organized into Methodist “societies.” “appointive,” meaning all UMC congregations are
Though the Wesleys intended at first to keep their connected in a network of conciliar and legal
movement within the Anglican Church, that became relationships and the bishop has final appointive
impossible as time passed and the numbers of converts authority. The annual conference is composed of all the
increased, together with the Church of England’s churches in a particular region, and the bishop of the
animosity. In 1739, John Wesley drew up a set of conference ordains the pastors of the local churches and
general rules, called the Articles of Religion, which are supervises many aspects of local church life and
still used by many Methodists. Methodism spread doctrine. There is also a general conference composed
rapidly to America, where the first Methodist society of representatives of all churches that meets every four
was organized in 1766. In 1784, the Methodist churches years. One Methodist pastor described the polity of his
in America were set up as the Methodist Episcopal denomination this way: “Local churches do not have
Church. final control over their pulpits. United Methodist
The Wesleys were prolific writers. John wrote over bishops have the right to send any pastor to any church.
50 books, and Charles wrote over 7,000 hymns. While the wishes of the local church are often duly
Significant social change followed in the wake of considered, this is not always so. Local churches have no
protection against pastors who, regardless of their
Methodist preaching, including the establishment of theology, are approved and supported by the hierarchy.”
hospitals and orphanages. Methodists were among those The denominational system even owns the property of
at the forefront of such social reforms as the humane the local church under modern liberal Methodist
treatment of prisoners, the abolition of slavery, and the practice.
establishment of workers rights.
Methodism and the Charismatic Movement. That
Circuit riding preachers were an integral part of Methodism provided the soil for the pentecostal/
Methodism from its inception, and this played a key role
charismatic movements is admitted by many, including

388 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity