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Methodism

"Methodist" and "Methodist Church" redirect here. For other uses, see Methodism (disambiguation) and Methodist Church (disambiguation).

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Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christian tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley.[1] George Whitefield and John's brother Charles Wesley were also significant early leaders in the movement. They were named Methodists for "the methodical way in which they carried out their Christian faith".[2][3] Methodism originated as a revival movement within Anglicanism with roots in the Church of England in the 18th century and became a separate denomination after Wesley's death. The movement spread throughout the British Empire, the United States and beyond because of vigorous missionary work,[4] and today has about 80 million adherents worldwide.[nb 1][5]

Wesleyan theology, which is upheld by the Methodist denominations, focuses on sanctification and the transforming effect of faith on the character of a Christian. Distinguishing doctrines include the new birth,[6] assurance,[7][8] imparted righteousness, and obedience to God manifested in performing works of piety. John Wesley held that entire sanctification was "the grand depositum," or foundational doctrine, of the Methodist faith, and its propagation was the reason God brought Methodists into existence.[9][10] Scripture is considered the primary authority, but Methodists also look to Christian tradition, including the historic creeds. Most Methodists teach that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for all of humanity and that salvation is achievable for all.[11] This is the Arminian doctrine,[nb 2] as opposed to the Calvinist position that God has pre-ordained the salvation of a select group of people. However, Whitefield and several other early leaders of the movement were considered Calvinistic Methodists and held to the Calvinist position.

The movement has a wide variety of forms of worship, ranging from high church to low church in liturgical usage, in addition to tent revivals and camp meetings held at certain times of the year.[12] Denominations that descend from the British Methodist tradition are generally less ritualistic, while worship in American Methodism varies depending on the Methodist denomination and congregation.[13] Methodist worship distinctiveness includes the observance of the quarterly lovefeast, the watchnight service on New Year's Eve, as well as altar calls in which people are invited to experience the new birth and entire sanctification.[14][15] Its emphasis on growing in grace after the new birth (and after being entirely sanctified) led to the creation of class meetings for encouragement in the Christian life.[16] Methodism is known for its rich musical tradition, and Charles Wesley was instrumental in writing much of the hymnody of Methodism.[17]

In addition to evangelism, Methodism is known for its charity, as well as support for the sick, the poor, and the afflicted through works of mercy that "flow from the love of God and neighbor" evidenced in the entirely sanctified believer.[18][19][20] These ideals, the Social Gospel, are put into practice by the establishment of hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, and schools to follow Christ's command to spread the gospel and serve all people.[21][22][19] Methodists are historically known for their adherence to the doctrine of nonconformity to the world, reflected by their traditional standards of a commitment to sobriety, prohibition of gambling, regular attendance at class meetings, and weekly observance of the Friday fast.[23][24]

Early Methodists were drawn from all levels of society, including the aristocracy,[nb 3] but the Methodist preachers took the message to labourers and criminals who tended to be left outside organized religion at that time. In Britain, the Methodist Church had a major effect in the early decades of the developing working class (1760–1820).[26] In the United States, it became the religion of many slaves, who later formed black churches in the Methodist tradition.[27]

  1. ^ Strong, Douglas M. (2022), "Wesleyan-Methodist and Holiness Traditions", The Cambridge Companion to American Protestantism, pp. 435–460, doi:10.1017/9781108756297.024, ISBN 978-1-108-48532-6, retrieved 11 April 2024. "Methodism – the Christian tradition that traces its heritage to John Wesley"
  2. ^ "Methodist Church". BBC. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  3. ^ Garrison, Stephen O. (1908). Probationer's Handbook. Eaton and Mains. pp. 21, 41.
  4. ^ American Methodism. S. S. Scranton & Company. 1867. p. 29. Retrieved 18 October 2007. But the most-noticeable feature of British Methodism is its missionary spirit, and its organized, effective missionary work. It takes the lead of all other denominations in missionary movements. From its origin, Methodism has been characterized by its zeal for propagandism. It has always been missionary.
  5. ^ "Member Churches". World Methodist Council. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Stokes, Mack B. (1998). Major United Methodist Beliefs. Abingdon Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0687082124.
  7. ^ Abraham, William J.; Kirby, James E. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0191607431.
  8. ^ "Distinctive Emphases of Methodist Belief" (PDF). The Methodist Church in Ireland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference DaviesGeorge2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gibson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Stanglin, Keith D.; McCall, Thomas H. (2012). Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace. Oxford University Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0199755677.
  12. ^ Iovino, Joe (4 September 2018). ""Fishing with a large net": United Methodist camp meetings". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  13. ^ Tucker, Karen B. Westerfield (2001). American Methodist Worship. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-0198029267.
  14. ^ Tovey, Phillip (24 February 2016). The Theory and Practice of Extended Communion. Routledge. pp. 40–49. ISBN 9781317014201.
  15. ^ Eckett, Robert (1865). Methodism. Hamilton, Adams, & Co. p. 129.
  16. ^ Thomas, Louisa (August 2018). "The Relevance of the 18th Century Wesleyan Class Meeting in the 21st Century Church". The Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist. 80 (8). Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection: 8–9.
  17. ^ A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the people called Methodists. T. Blanshard. 1820. ISBN 978-0-19-812529-7. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  18. ^ Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2002). The Poor and the People Called Methodists. Abingdon Press. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-687-05155-7.
  19. ^ a b Wilson, Charles Reagan (2005). Encyclopedia of Religion in the South. Mercer University Press. ISBN 978-0865547582. Both Southern Baptist and Methodist organizations engaged in evangelism and social service missions in the United States and abroad. ... However, despite their similarities in evangelism and social services, by the dawn of the 20th century the two denominational women's movements had already diverged from each other because the Methodist organizations had embraced the Social Gospel. They had embarked not only on social service in addition to evangelism but on social reform.
  20. ^ "Wesley on Social Holiness" (PDF). The Methodist Church in Britain. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  21. ^ Abraham, William J.; Kirby, James E. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0191607431. First, it is clear that 'evangelism' is primarily concerned with the evangel, the gospel, or the good news we bear in the world.
  22. ^ Models for Christian Higher Education: Strategies for Survival and Success in the Twenty-First Century. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1997. p. 290. ISBN 978-0802841216. Retrieved 18 October 2007. Wesleyan institutions, whether hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens or schools, historically were begun with the spirit to serve all people and to transform society.
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scott2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference McKnight2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ J A Clapperton, "Romance and Heroism in Early Methodism", (1901)
  26. ^ Swatos, William H. (1998). Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Rowman Altamira. p. 385. ISBN 978-0761989561.
  27. ^ Montgomery, William E. (1993). Under Their Own Vine and Fig Tree: The African-American Church in the South, 1865–1900. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 0-8071-1745-5.


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