Mar 22, 2010 -- 11:34PM, Will.weston wrote:

I was hoping a Methodist could clarify something.  I come from a Baptist tradition (but don't attend a church currently).  I've always heard that the only real difference between a Baptist and a Methodist is the way we baptise.  But I attended a Methodist Church yesterday and I got the feeling it was more relaxed than the Baptist tradition.  For example: Baptist Churches I have attended seem to always be drawing this line in the sand, as if to separate the saved from the unsaved.  It is like they are constantly checking their neighbor to see if they are saying, "Amen" at the right times.  And little coversational cues like "If you don't remember what day you were 'saved' maybe you are not a real Christian," and so forth.  Everyone in the congregation knows these cues, but they are constantly being reaffirmed as if there is a paranoia that someone will challenge what it means to be a Christian and the whole church seems always on the verge of being offended or freaking out if you don't play the game.  

In contrast, the Methodist Church I attended had a low-key service that I enjoyed very much.  There was no pressure to play that game and people were happy just to introduce themselves to me.  The sermon was a passage from John and the preacher acknowledged that there were distinct differences in how each of the Gospels portrays Jesus and that the 'facts' in the Gospels do not always match up. 

So, I have read a couple of comparison charts on Christian denominations on the internet and they are all too wordy and vague.  Given my impressions of the Baptist and Methodist traditions above, what is your view as a Methodist about these observed differences. 

My more specific questions are:

1...Do Methodists take a less than literal approach to the Bible (less literal than the Baptist view that insists it is all entirely accurate including the creation account in Genesis and the Bible is essentially written by God who whispered it word for word to humans and He made sure they didn't edit anything)?

2...I read on a comparison chart that Methodists believe a person can "gradually" turn to Christ over time.  This seems very practical to me but it is very un-Baptist.   Baptists insist one must confess to being a sinner, repent, and ask Jesus "into your heart" and accept Him as Lord.  This is all pretty much one little prayer at the time of conversion and then they are considered 'saved.'  In case anyone forgets that, they always put those cues in their services to get people to jump through the hoops to remind them what Christianity (according to Baptists) requires.  So do Methodists typically go the "pray the magic prayer and, presto, your saved" like the Baptists?  Or is their a significant number who consider themselves in the group that has "gradually turned" to Christ?

I appreciate your answers in advance.

will I agree with what was posted as well. I too was brought up Methodist and we all so beleve that the communion table is open to all. Yes we were founded in 1965 but out west in the west we were founded in 1848 which is 150+ yrs of being around Jhon wesly was our founder please feel free to  go to umc.org for more in info on our faith hope you find what you are looking for.