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2. Where Did They All Come From? Doctrines and Denominations! LUKE 20:4-7 “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.” The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

3. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • General Information: • Methodism has approximately 13 million adherents in North America, with a worldwide following of more than 18 million. • Methodism celebrated its bicentennial as an organized church in 1984. While there are currently 23 separate Methodist bodies in the United States, The United Methodist Church is numerically the strongest. (Handbook of Denominations in the United States, 8th ed., Mead, p. 159, 164) • In 1996, the United Methodist Church in the United States reported a lay and ministerial membership of 8,497,274, with an additional 1,366,632 preparatory members. • That same year there were 36,771 local churches in the United States.

4. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • The Beginnings: • John Wesley (1703-1791). • John Wesley’s place in the development of Protestantism has been the subject of debate. • According to John H. Leith, Wesley “stands between Classic Protestantism and the Liberal Protestantism of the nineteenth century. Wesley’s emphasis upon Christian experience, upon holiness, upon ‘an optimism of grace’ gives a distinct character to his theology.” (Creeds of the Churches, 3rd ed., Leith, p. 353) • John Wesley was the son of a clergyman in the Church of England, and was educated at Oxford University (John also became a clergyman). • With his younger brother Charles (1707-1788), and fellow student George Whitefield, he started a movement at Oxford to protest and work against what was seen as a sterile formalism within the Church of England.

5. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • The Beginnings: • This group, the ‘Holy Club,’ was started in 1729, and was dubbed by critics Bible Bigots and Bible Moths. • Also, out of derision, these proponents of a lifestyle which stressed personal habits such as Bible study, prayer, acts of charity, piety and service, were called Methodists (due to this methodical lifestyle). • As a missionary in the Church of England, John Wesley came to Georgia in 1736 and for the next two years, labored as a missionary to the Indians. • Unhappy and somewhat discouraged, he returned to England. Upon his return, the most important event of his life occurred, which gave spark to the rise of Methodism.

6. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • The Beginnings: • This turning point in his life came when he attended a prayer meeting in Aldergate Street, London, on May 24, 1738. Upon hearing the preacher read Martin Luther’s preface to the epistle of Romans, John later wrote, ‘I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.’ (Quoted in Encyclopedia Americana, p. 793) • His brother Charles had a similar experience on May 21, 1738 (just three days earlier). John was 34 years old at this time, having already been a clergyman in the Church of England for 12 years. His ‘experience of conversion’ gave him the impetus to devote his life to promoting what he termed ‘practical divinity.’ • John Wesley did not plan to found a new church. He was interested in reforming the Anglican Church (Church of England). When met by resistance, he formed ‘societies’ (within the Anglican Church) designed to promote the new found emphasis upon repentance, regeneration, justification, holiness and sanctification to which John, Charles, George Whitefield and others were committed.

7. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Organizational Development. • By 1744, the organizational elements of Methodism were appearing. Such things as a circuit system and an itinerant ministry, class meetings, class leaders and lay preachers were being used. In 1744, the first annual conference of ‘Methodists’ was held. By 1767, 26,000 Methodists (still members of the Church of England) were found in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. • In 1739, John Wesley drew up a set of General Rules, still printed in the Methodist Discipline, as ‘an ideal delineation of Bible rules and conduct.’ (Handbook of Denominations, p. 160)

8. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Organizational Development. • From 1746-1760, he issued four volumes of forty-four Sermons on Several Occasions, in which he set forth basic teachings on all the main themes of Christian doctrine. In 1754, he published a volume of Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament as ‘a guide for Methodist biblical exegesis and doctrinal interpretation.’ (The Book of Discipline Of The United Methodist Church, 1980 ed., p. 41-42) (We will henceforth refer to this book simply as Discipline. Please note we will be referring to the 1980 edition. - jc) • All of this, and many other things, caused a great deal of friction between Anglican Church officials and the Methodists. Relationships were strained, but bearable, until 1784.

9. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Methodism In America. • Methodism was especially adapted to American life. Itinerant preachers serving among the frontiersmen made Methodism a major religious force by the late 1700’s. In 1776, at the start of the Revolutionary War, there were only about 7,000 Methodists in America, but by its end, the membership had grown to nearly 15,000, with nearly 80 preachers. • Prominent in American Methodism were such men as Philip Embury, Robert Strawbridge, Richard Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, Francis Asbury (who became the architect of American Methodism), and Thomas Coke. • Most of these men were sent to America by John Wesley to organize and promote Methodism.

10. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Methodism In America. • In fact, because the Anglican Church would not, Wesley himself ordained Coke as superintendent, to ‘preside over the flock of Christ’ in America. • In turn, Coke ordained Asbury as a second superintendent. • At the Christmas Conference, December 24, 1784, at Baltimore, Maryland, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, with Coke and Asbury elected as superintendents (later called bishops).

11. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Summary Of The Early Years Of Methodism. • The Methodist Church had its beginning from the Church of England. • John Wesley, although credited with founding the Methodist Church, never left the Church of England. • Wesley did not stress theology nearly as much as he did personal involvement in a religious experience, or ‘practical divinity.’ • The Wesleyan emphasis on the profession of a personal experience of salvation has influenced a large part of Protestantism. • Consider what John Wesley said about the use of party names: • “Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot,’ and ‘that the very name (Methodist-emp jc) might never be mentioned no more, but be buried in eternal oblivion.” (Universal Knowledge, IX:540)

12. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF METHODISM. • 1729 - The Holy Club is formed at Oxford, University, by John and Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield. • 1738, May 24 - John Wesley’’s personal experience of conversion. • 1744 - First General Conference of Methodist societies held. • 1746-1760 - Four volumes of 44 sermons, Sermons on Several Occasions, were published. A summary of Wesley’s basic teachings, which has authoritative status in the United Methodist Church. • 1754 - Wesley’’s Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament published. Has authoritative status in the United Methodist Church. • 1784, December 24 - The Methodist Episcopal Church in America was organized at Baltimore, Maryland, under the leadership of Thomas Coke. • 1784 - The ‘Articles of Religion’ was adopted as a statement of Methodism’’s principle tenets.

13. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF METHODISM. • 1792 - First General Conference, made up solely of ministers, was held. • 1828 - Division over an insistence on lay representation led to the formation of the Methodist Protestant Church. • 1844 - Division over slavery and a dispute over the constitutional powers of the General Conference vs. the episcopacy (purely a political and social division). Split resulted in the northern body keeping the name the Methodist Episcopal Church, while the southern body became the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. • 1872 - The laity allowed to participate in General Conference for the first time. • 1939 - The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form The Methodist Church, at Kansas City, MO. • 1968 - The Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, at Dallas, TX.

14. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • CREEDS AND FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS • DOCTRINAL STANDARDS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. • METHODIST CHURCH: — (From The Book Of Discipline, p. 49): • Sermons on Several Occasions, John Wesley (1746-1760) • Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, John Wesley (1754) • The Articles of Religion (1784) • Evangelical United Brethren Confession of Faith (1962) • THE BIBLE: • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Inspired scripture is sufficient as a doctrinal standard. • 1 Timothy 6:3 - The words of Jesus Christ constitute the proper doctrinal standard. • John 12:48; 17:17; Heb. 1:1-2 - Christ’s word is the standard, God’s word is truth

15. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • How Are These Standards Viewed? • METHODIST CHURCH: • As historical landmarks of the Methodist heritage. • ‘In the first place, the Articles and the Confession are not to be regarded as positive, juridical norms for doctrine, demanding unqualified assent on pain of excommunication. They are and ought to remain as important landmarks in our complex heritage and ought rightly to be retained in the Discipline... .they are not accorded any status of finality,.....’ (Ibid., 49-50) • Not legal tests for membership. • ‘Such statements never have been and ought not to be legal tests for membership.’ (Ibid., p. 50)

16. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • THE BIBLE: • Doctrine (word of God, its teachings) is a test of membership in the Lord’s church. • 2 John 9-11 - Not to receive anyone who goes beyond the doctrine (teaching) of Christ. • Romans 16:17 - Mark (take note of) and turn away from those who cause divisions by promoting doctrines contrary to the ones delivered by inspired men. • Man’s teachings are never to be the standard. • Matthew 15:6-9 - Sinful to follow the doctrines of men. • Galatians 1:6-9 - Stern warning against accepting different gospels.

17. The Reformation – THE METHODIST CHURCH – Historical Background • Four Main Sources And Guidelines For Christian Theology. • METHODIST CHURCH: • Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. • ‘...by what methods can our doctrinal reflection and construction be most fruitful and fulfilling? The answer comes in terms of our free inquiry within the boundaries defined by four main sources and guidelines for Christian theology: Scripture, tradition, experience, reason. These four are interdependent; none can be defined unambiguously. They allow for, indeed they positively encourage, variety in the United Methodist theologizing. Jointly, they have provided a broad and stable context for reflection and formulation.’ (The Book of Discipline, p. 78) • These four guidelines are to interact in the formulation of doctrine.

18. IN CONCLUSION …. • THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR: • The source for Biblical doctrine is the authority of Christ, contained in inspired scripture. • Colossians 3:17 - Must do all in the name of (by the authority of) Christ. • 2 Timothy 3:16 - Scripture is profitable for establishing and instructing in doctrine. • 2 Timothy 4:2-4 - Turning to human traditions and experiences is specifically forbidden! (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21). • We must define our traditions, experiences and reasoning in terms of what the Bible reveals, not vice versa! • Methodism has the Wrong starting date. • Methodism has the Wrong starting Person. • Methodism has the Wrong standard for doctrine.

19. Call To Speak ToUS Live Now!!! • Call And --- • Ask For A Copy Of This Presentation. • BY EMAIL, BY FLOPPY DISK or IN PRINT. • Ask To Be Added To The Beacon’s Mailing. • Ask For A Free Bible Correspondence Course. • Check Out Our Website – www.wordandsword.com • Call With A --- • Biblical Question Or Comment. • Receive a Biblical Answer – “Book, Chapter and Verse”. Call (828)485-5555