Methodist/Catholic differences.....

[dawgfan]

Despite what you may have heard, this is the official Methodist statement on Holy Communion:
gbod.org/worship/thm-bygc.pdf

It states that Communion is a “means of grace” and more importantly that:

“Jesus Christ, who “is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of
God’s very being” (Hebrews 1:3), is truly present in Holy Communion. Through
Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God meets us at the Table. God,
who has given the sacraments to the church, acts in and through Holy
Communion.”

and:

The divine presence
is a living reality and can be experienced by participants; it is not a remembrance
of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion only.

There are also lots of doctrines and beliefs, you can find them in “The United Methodist Book of Discipline” which is published every 4 years, in the Bible and in the United Methodist Book of Worship. Also, on the official UMC website umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1707359/k.BE59/Beliefs.htm

That’s interesting but not what I was always taught.

From umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2299859/k.13B7/Our_Christian_Roots.htm

The Lord’s Supper (Communion, Eucharist)
The Lord’s Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ.
The Lord’s Supper recalls the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family.
By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry.
We practice “open Communion,” welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.

This is what I used to believe and what my family still believes. Your website link was interesting. I’ll have to print it out and review later.

 

[O.S.Luke]

That’s interesting but not what I was always taught.

Then you were taught incorrectly.

The Lord’s Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ.

It does symbolize the body and blood of Christ. It is also the real presence of Christ. It’s a both/and, not an either/or.

Symbols point toward realities, and often ARE the reality. If you get stopped by a cop for running a stop sign, and explain to him that the stop sign is just a symbol of the law, not the law itself, I suspect that you will still get a ticket.

If you don’t get a ticket, then that would be an example of sanctifying grace, but that would be another thread.

 

[BrianH]

The church has an official statement that accepts the real presence.

 

[pinoyjones]

Again here is a problem, even the clergy does not believe this or at le ast there is a divide between what they chose to believe within their church. I just called a friend of mine who is the pastor of the Methodist Church and asked him about these quotes. Although he is a Methodist minister, he was trained as a presbyterian. He states that this is not a clear defined belief among methodists. I gave him the web site and hope he will shed light on this discussion. He also stated that the meaning of real presence may not be defined the same as th CaTHOLIC CHURCH (body blood soul and divinty od Christ). This brings up the importance of the Supreme Pontiff.

 

[pinoyjones]

I don’t think that the Eucharist can be both a symbol and the real presence. They are an either/or situation. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but the dove is not the holy Spirit. I am not sure that this is a great analogy of what I mean, it has been a toough day!!!

 

[LordHaveMercy]

Again here is a problem, even the clergy does not believe this or at le ast there is a divide between what they chose to believe within their church. I just called a friend of mine who is the pastor of the Methodist Church and asked him about these quotes. Although he is a Methodist minister, he was trained as a presbyterian. He states that this is not a clear defined belief among methodists. I gave him the web site and hope he will shed light on this discussion. He also stated that the meaning of real presence may not be defined the same as th CaTHOLIC CHURCH (body blood soul and divinty od Christ). This brings up the importance of the Supreme Pontiff.

One of the many important reasons I’m converting.

 

[Zooey]

So Zooey, why call yourself Methodist and not Anglican?
And thanks for correcting me. I understand they founded the Methodist movement without really meaning to?

Well…because I’m a Methodist! I am a member of the United Methodist Church. I was raised in the Holiness tradition of Methodism, in a Free Methodist congregation.
Besides, how can a nice Irish/Welsh girl possibly go about calling herself “Anglican”?!!??

Methodists do not put emphasis on the eucharist because they don’t believe in the real presence. Without this what else is there, just a bunch of singing hymns. They have no set doctrines or beliefs that they can be held to believe. As a Methodist friend once said, As long as we put the money in the basket, all is good.

Not true!! Whoever your friend is/was, doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Do I judge Catholics by Fr Andrew Greeley?? No!! Kindly, return the favor, please.

You don’t know much about Methodists then.

Exactly!!

I am not a Methodist, but I have a close colleague that is and she states it is only a symbol,

:nope: She’s just plain wrong!!! If she doesn’t believe, that is a shame, and its also quite shocking, as it means that she is receiving the Body & Blood of our Lord unworthily, & needs our prayers!!

they do not believe in transubstantiation

It is true that we do not define the manner in which the Real Presence occurs, in the same way as Catholics. That does not mean that we don’t believe in it.(At least, we’re supposed to!!!)

nor has many of the methodists that I have spoken to have any service even close to the Mass. My friend has been to Catholic services and states they are very different

I have attended Catholic Mass. It is **very **similar to our Holy Communion…(We kneel at the altar to receive, though…I was very surprised to find Catholics don’t do that!!!)

Although he is a Methodist minister, he was trained as a presbyterian.

And you’re surprised that he doesn’t agree with correct Methodist doctrine & practice???
The Presbyterians I know…Their beliefs are all over the place!! I know a Presbyterian fundamentalist, & I know a Presbyterian agnostic. I know a Presbyterian evangelical, & I know a Presbyterian who is so far to the left–theologically & every other way–that I’m surprised she doesn’t fall off the left edge of the continent!!!
Dinnae ask a Presbyterian about Methodism…They’re still blaming us for Geo. Whitefield’s dustup w/the Wesley brothers!!!

 

[lak611]

Not true!! Whoever your friend is/was, doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Do I judge Catholics by Fr Andrew Greeley?? No!! Kindly, return the favor, please.

I have a Methodist minister friend. He would definitely have something to say to the person who does not believe in the Real Presence. Unfortunately, I have a friend who is a Catholic and does not believe either. I pray for him and leave it up to God because I do not know what else to do.

:nope: She’s just plain wrong!!! If she doesn’t believe, that is a shame, and its also quite shocking, as it means that she is receiving the Body & Blood of our Lord unworthily, & needs our prayers!!

It is true that we do not define the manner in which the Real Presence occurs, in the same way as Catholics. That does not mean that we don’t believe in it.(At least, we’re supposed to!!!) I have attended Catholic Mass. It is **very **similar to our Holy Communion…(We kneel at the altar to receive, though…I was very surprised to find Catholics don’t do that!!!)

Catholics used to kneel at the altar to receive. That was how I made my First Communion. The change happened sometime in the late 70’s/early 80’s. I think it is more reverant to kneel to receive our Lord.

 

[Sixtus]

pinoyjones

I don’t think that the Eucharist can be both a symbol and the real presence. They are an either/or situation. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but the dove is not the holy Spirit

I must admit that whenever I see the Blessed Sacrament on TV such as when the News reports on something his holiness has done [with pictures of him celebrating Mass], I usually kneel before the image of the Blessed Sacrament.

Of course it is not the Blessed Sacrament but a radio signal of the Blessed Sacrament. I am not worshipping a radio signal but that which it represents. For me, that is the Real Presence

 

[rr1213]

I will say though that while there are commonalities among Methodist worship and perspectives, there also is a great diversity especially within the United Methodist Church. You will find many people within the Methodist Church with a failry orthodox view of matters as well as many people who are quite, let us say “liberal”, in their theology. I grew up United Methodist and thought that the Church as a whole was very devout yet liberal…of course I then converted to a more “conservative” communion, the Episcopal Church , upon marrying an Episcopalian. My parents remain United Methodist and, from what I can see, the Methodist Church has in some areas moved to a more orthodox understanding of some issues.

 

[Biblioassistant]

One thing I love about the Methodist Church is Charles Wesley’s wonderful hymns. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Rejoice The Lord Is King. etc.

That’s how you do it, Marty Haugen.

 

[rr1213]

One thing I love about the Methodist Church is Charles Wesley’s wonderful hymns. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Rejoice The Lord Is King. etc.

That’s how you do it, Marty Haugen.

Absolutely. Great point. Hymns by Charles AND John Wesley.

 

[Sixtus]

Being once a regular attender at both Mass then the Methodist Chapel next door, I realised early on that the readings and homilies were the same in both Church’s. Of course the Methodists invariaby gave a punchier more thought provoking sermon and there were a lot more hymns [and everyone sang, not conspicuous of what they sounded like].

I felt that one actually complemented the other.

 

[pinoyjones]

Singing is a wonderful way to praise God and to be a part of worship(unless you have a voice like mine). But there is no song or great sermon that can compare to the sacrifice of the Mass. We have priests who could put anyone to sleep, but what he does after the homily, makes it all worth while. Singing is great, but not too important in comparison.

jonespm

 

[O.S.Luke]

It’s ALL important. Worship is worship. We must give AND receive. God is a jealous God and desires our worship of Him.

 

[pinoyjones]

Saying that worship is worship is not correct, I have a friend who feels that playing cards on sunday makes him happy and is thus a form of worship. We could both agree this is not a great form of worship, we can’t fall into relativism here just as the fathers of the reformation have done. We must follow the form of worship given to the apostles, not once did jesus gather people together to sing songs.

 

[O.S.Luke]

The Psalms were always sung. I’m assuming since Jesus was Jewish, he sang the Psalms, too.

I believe it was Augustine who said that when we sing, we pray twice.

O+

 

[pinoyjones]

It mis very true that music has a part in worship. But we must go back to the very early church and see the type of worship that they participated in. Yes they sang the psalms just as Catholics do today, but it was nothing like what Rev. Hagee or the Methodist Church has. We have the Eucharist and follow the words that Jesus says “do this in remembrance of me”. Most if not all Methodists do not believe in the real presence and so to paticipate frequently means very little.

 

[reneeville]

Not all Methodists use the little individual cups, the Methodist congregation that I was affiliated with used the intincture method in many services.
God bless you~

keithkelly posted:

Methodist’s believe in pretty much the same as us and the rest of Christendom.

They do not put emphasis on the Holy Eucharist. When they do, they receive from little individualised cups for reasons of hiyene, which I rather like except that it is not from the ‘one’ cup!

Their worship includes a lot of hymn singing which puts us Catholics to shame.

They make greater use of lay preachers, who tend to do some pretty punchy sermons.

In the town where I used to live, there was a very dynamic Methodists congregation. When their minister died, they elected the local Roman Catholic Deacon to be their Caretaker Ordained Minister. This he did for a whole year until they were able to elect a permanent replacement. I think that should tell you all you need to know about the differences. Apart from the fact they do not have a Mass or the sacrament of Reconciliationm there are very few differences

 

[reneeville]

Hi Keith,
I perused but did not read all the posts so if this is a repeat, please forgive me. The number one thing about the Methodist people is that they are a liturgical people…just like the Catholic (one of the many things on my list that drew me to Catholicism).
God bless your witness to your friend~

Hi all,

I have a coworker who grew up Methodist but hasn’t been attending church. He has asked questions to me and showed ALOT of interest in Catholicism and I’ve tried to answer his questions the best way I could. I am ignorent of what the methodist church believes and teaches so I there is only so much I can say to help him cross the Tiber. Any help would be much appreciated.