Methodist Confirmation

[GKMotley]

I had dreams of it, once.

 

[commenter]

We ALL are “lite” if we are measured against the Gospel.

 

[whatistrue]

Who wants to be “normal”…

My wife is fond of saying “‘Normal’ is a setting on a machine. I am not a machine.”

 

[Dovekin]

The assistant pastor stated that he did not like the Passion readings, nor opted to preach on the subject as he felt (his words) it was too heavy and a bit gorey.

This is a reaction against a particular strain of Methodist piety that “over emphasized” the Passion. You can probably find examples in a methodist hymnal that delight in “being washed in the blood of the lamb.”

Methodism really arose in the American colonies with the Great Awakening of the 1740+. This first revival movement placed a heavy emphasis on powerful emotional reactions for a conversion experience. The Wesleys tamed some of that, but America was still a wild place that resisted domestication for some time. It was only as it aged that Methodists moved away from the emotionalism and started suppressing the goriest imagery.

There is a diversity among Methodists, as there is in most groups, so do not think that not liking the Passion is characteristic. At times, they embraced the Passion more than whole heartedly.

 

[Dovekin]

“Elder” is a translation of the Greek word presbyteros , which is also where we get our English words “presbyter” and “priest”.

“Superintendent” is also a translation of the Greek, episcopos. It has become our English word “bishop.” (Super-visor is a better translation of epi-scopos, but only Superman has supervision…)

 

[ltwin]

This first revival movement placed a heavy emphasis on powerful emotional reactions for a conversion experience.

Yes, for a long time actually Methodists were known for their very energetic camp meetings and earned the nickname “Shouting Methodists” for well shouting a lot in their revival meetings. Today, much of that “shouting” tradition has migrated to other churches such as the Pentecostals and holiness churches.