Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
August 8, 1957
NUMBER 14, PAGE 8-9a

Methodism Versus Christianity

Earl Fly, Valley Station, Kentucky

As implied in our title, Methodism is not Christianity. It is contrary to the Bible in origin, name, doctrine and practice. Because we believe there are good honest people in Methodism who can be converted to Christianity with the truth, we send forth this tract for their consideration. All quotations from the METHODIST DISCIPLINE (M. D.), the official creed book of Methodism, are from the 1948 edition. Quotations from METHODIST DOCTRINAL BELIEFS (M.D.B.) by Cullen T. Carter are taken from a tract published by the Board of Education, Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. All emphasis on words are mine.

The M. D. says, "The Methodist Church is a church of Christ in which 'the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered.' This church is a great Protestant body, though it did not come directly out of the Reformation but had its origin within the Church of England. ITS FOUNDER WAS JOHN WESLEY. (Pg. 3).

May I kindly state that the claim that the Methodist church is a church of Christ is utterly false. In order for any church to be a church of Christ, it must be scriptural in origin, name, doctrine, and practice. The Methodist church is unscriptural in all of these essential prerequisites. It originated in the wrong place at the wrong time, has the wrong founder, wears the wrong name, teaches false doctrines and has unscriptural practices. That you may clearly see the striking difference between the Methodist church and the Lord's church, we present the following contrast for your serious consideration.

Chart Goes Here Methodist Church Church Of Christ

1. ORIGIN. "Within the 1. ORIGIN: Jerusalem

Church of England. (Isa. 2; Acts 2).

2. DATE: 1739. 2. DATE: About A. D. 33.

3. FOUNDER: John 3. FOUNDER: Jesus Christ

Wesley (Methodist Discipline). (Matthew 16:18).

4. NAME: Methodists 4. NAME: Christians.

5. BAPTISM: Sprinkling 5. BAPTISM: Burial

and pouring. (Rom. 6:4).

We shall discuss some of these contrasts and present others later, but these should be sufficient proof that there is a great difference between the Methodist church and the Lord's church. They originated at different places at different times (over 1700 years apart!); they have different founders, wear different names, teach different doctrines and practice different things. THEREFORE THEY ARE DIFFERENT CHURCHES! They are destined for different places in eternity. One was planted by God, the other was not; one has Christ as its Saviour (Eph. 5:23), the other shall be rooted up (Matt. 15:13). Question: CAN ONE BE SAVED IN A CHURCH DESTINED TO BE ROOTED UP BY GOD? What think ye? Can one be saved in a church of which Christ is not the Saviour?

The statement in the Discipline that "the pure Word of God is preached" in the Methodist church is proved to be false by comparing Methodist doctrine with the Bible.

Notice the contradictory difference in the following example:

METHODIST DISCIPLINE; "We are justified by faith only" (Pg. 27).

BIBLE; "By works a man is justified and NOT by faith only" (James 2:24).

This one example of a direct contradiction is a serious one, for it involves the plan of salvation for the whole world. No one can be saved by a false plan. And since the Methodist plan plainly contradicts the Bible, it is a false plan. Thus it is not possible for one to be saved who believes and follows Methodist doctrine. One must believe the gospel of Christ or be damned (Mark 16:16).

Though the Discipline contradicts the Bible, it says, "We have therefore expected that the Discipline would be administered, not merely as a legal document, but as a revelation of the Holy Spirit working in and through our people" (Pg. 1). How could it be a revelation of the Holy Spirit since it contradicts the Holy Spirit's words, the Bible? Too, the fact that it is frequently revised, added to, and sometimes reversed proves this claim to be false. Furthermore they contradict their own claim by saying, "Methodism created a book of its own, its Discipline" (M. D., P,. 5).

But what about their claim to preach the pure Word of God? Is it the pure Word of God when men are taught to wear the name Methodist? Where does God authorize it? "The name, Methodist Church, is not found in the Bible. No intelligent, informed person makes such a claim." (M. D. B. by Carter). Members of Christ's church were called Christians, not Methodists (Acts 11:26). Paul persuaded men to be Christians (Acts 26: 28). We can rejoice when we suffer as a Christian (1 Pet. 4:16). There is salvation in none other name (Acts 5:12).

The Discipline says, "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion" (Pg. 470). Is this the pure Word of God? The Bible says that baptism is a burial (Rom. 6:4). No one was ever sprinkled or poured for baptism by any person for any purpose in the entire New Testament! The pure Word of God does not give men such a choice. Furthermore, no infant was ever baptized in the New Testament, and there is no scripture that authorizes such today.

Methodism teaches that baptism is not necessary to salvation. "The forgiveness of sins and the new life must come before the administration of baptism . . . The Methodist Church regards water baptism as a church ordinance, and not essential to salvation." (M. D. B. by Carter. Pos. 9. 15). The pure Word of God says that "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . ." (Mark 16:161. Baptism is essential to getting into Christ (Gal. 3:271. into Christ's death to receive benefits from his blood (Rom. 6:3), for remission of sins (Acts 2:381. to have sins washed away (Acts 22:16), to be saved (I Pet. 3:21). It's Methodism versus the pure Word of God!

At the dedication of an organ in worship, the minister is to say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we dedicate this organ to the praise of Almighty God" (M. D., pg. 560). "In the name of" means "by the authority of." Where in the pure Word of God does the Father, Son and Holy Spirit authorize the organ in the New Testament church? What church of Christ ever used it in Bible days? Again, it's Methodism versus the pure Word of God!

It will no doubt shock many Methodists to learn that their Discipline teaches that all babies are BORN with original sin. Under the heading, "OF ORIGINAL OR BIRTH SIN" it says, "Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually." Pg. 26). Thus every baby born is corrupted in its nature, is very far from original righteousness, and is continually inclined to evil. It does not become a sinner by growing up and committing sin of its own free will, according to Methodist, but is BORN with original sin. But the pure Word of God teaches no such thing as original or birth sin for infants (See Matt. 18:3; Mark 10:14).

In the Bible, the only scriptural reason for divorce and remarriage is fornication (Matt. 19:9). But in instructing the minister not to perform a marriage ceremony for a divorced person whose husband or wife is still living and unmarried, the Discipline then says, "but this rule will NOT apply to the innocent person when it is clearly established by competent testimony that the true cause for divorce was adultery or OTHER VICIOUS CONDITIONS which through mental or physical peril invalidated the marriage vow" (Pg. 107). The Lord only allows ONE condition for divorce and remarriage, but the Discipline allows OTHER conditions! It's Methodism versus the Lord!! The Discipline ADDS TO the pure Word of God (See Rev. 22:18).

We have tried to be as kind and plain as possible in proving that the Methodist church is not the Lord's church, and that the Discipline is not a revelation of the Spirit, nor the pure Word of God. It adds to, takes from, changes and denies the Bible. God teaches that if one does not abide in Christ's doctrine, he bath not God (II John 9); and if one does not believe the gospel of Christ he shall be damned (Mark 16:16). Since Methodist doctrine is not the doctrine of Christ, then obviously all who follow it bath not God and shall be condemned. Let all Methodists realize that they are obligated to believe and uphold the Methodist Church in all it teaches (M. D., Pgs. 37, 489), and that as long as one remains a Methodist, he is bidding his preacher God speed and is therefore guilty of every false doctrine he preaches (II John 10, 11).

We earnestly appeal to good Methodist people to reject the Discipline and follow the Bible, to leave the church founded by Wesley and become a member of the one founded by Christ, to abide in Christ's doctrine rather than Methodist doctrine, to be a Christian instead of a Methodist. You alone must make the great choice that will determine your eternal destiny beyond the valley of the shadow of death. Consider the brevity of life, the certainty of death, the surety of the judgment, the ceaseless age of eternity, the horrors of hell, the happiness of heaven, and forsake the church destined to be rooted up by God. Turn to God in obedience while time and opportunity yet remain. Enter, live, serve and die in the church for which Christ died (Acts 20:28), over which he reigns as head (Eph. 1:22), of which he is the Saviour (Eph. 5:23): the Church of Christ. Do so by believing in God and Christ, repenting of sins confessing Him, and being buried in baptism for remission of sins. (Heb. 11:6; John 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Rob. 10:10; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:4).