What is the difference between southern baptist and methodist?

Question

I had been raised southern baptist and had been going to the same church for years. Then I moved and I decided to go to the methodist church that my inlaws go to. I liked it and felt more involved and happy at the methodist than I had ever in the baptist. I am considering changing my religion.

Answer 1

Either one is Christian, so you're not considering changing your religion. Here are some basic differences.



Governance:

Southern Baptists (SB): Congregationalist organization. Churches call (hire) their own ministers. Although there is an over-arching organization, each congregation is autonomous.

United Methodists (UM): Episcopal (hierarchy with bishop) organization. Pastors are assigned by the bishop. Congregations are linked pretty tightly with one another.



Theology:

SB: Conservative, largely fundamentalist. Believe in adult baptism (not infant baptism), and always by full immersion. Evangelical approach to recruiting members. They believe that the Bible is infallible and is the sole basis for faith.

UM: Broader range of beliefs. Some fundamentalists, some liberals. All supposedly believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Some may not believe in the second coming. They allow infant baptism (christening) or adult baptism (either on the head or via full immersion). They consider faith based on the Bible, tradition, reason, and personal experience.



Social Action:

SB: Base their social actions primarily on saving souls, but there are several programs designed for improving the lives of others (hospitals, anti-poverty programs, etc.)

UM: Base their social programs more on improving the lives of others, with saving souls seen as important but not the first line of action. (They tend to think that someone has a hard time hearing the gospel when they're starving.)



Worship:

Almost indistinguishable, except when you see an adult baptism in a Baptist church. Most Baptist churches have a baptismal pool in the sanctuary.



Politics:

SB: Although they are risking a lot with the IRS, many SB churches have taken stands against abortion, gay marriage, and premarital sex. Oddly among Christians, they have been supportive of the war in Iraq and of military actions in general.

UM: Tend to focus on social justice issues somewhat more, although they also have taken stands against gay marriage. They tend to support programs that end poverty and promote education. They are against the Iraq war.



I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Methodist Vs Baptist

Answer 3

Methodist Beliefs Vs Baptist Beliefs

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

What is the difference between southern baptist and methodist?

I had been raised southern baptist and had been going to the same church for years. Then I moved and I decided to go to the methodist church that my inlaws go to. I liked it and felt more involved and happy at the methodist than I had ever in the baptist. I am considering changing my religion.

Answer 5

Yeah. The Southern Baptists can be a little harsh.



Methodists are a branch of Church of England, which split from the Roman Catholic church in the mid 1500's. So you'll find Methodism similar in some ways to Catholicism. Minus saints and real presense.



A fellow named John Wesley was dissatisfied with the path Church of England was following. So he and some others split from them. His writings and theology are quite good.



The Baptist church came along a couple hundred years later, right here in the US. The original Baptists split into two groups. North and South. Over the issue of slavery.

Answer 6

Southern Baptists believe that once saved always saved. United Methodists believe that you can fall from grace and will need to repent again.



Southern Baptists don’t believe in infant baptisms.



As far as I know those are the larger differences in belief but I find the United Methodists much more loving in their approach to teaching the Bible, far more open minded, at least at the churches I’ve attended. They don’t seem to put down other denominations the way Southern Baptists do, at least from what I’ve seen.



They don’t seem so judgmental.



I was raised Southern Baptist too and feel much more at home with the Methodists.

Answer 7

A lot of the tenets are similar but there are also some differences. I was baptized in the Methodist church after being brought up in the Baptist. Go to Sunday school and find out the differences. Methodists are kind.

Answer 8

Baptists are Protestants, formed by Calvin. Methodists are an off-shoot of the Anglican Church. Both are Christian, Methodists are just less on the pre-determination part of it. Of course there are United Methodists, African Methodists, Free Methodists, and a couple I am not too sure of.

Answer 9

Sothern Baptist is a branch of the Baptist congregations of North America. Methodists, as in the Method of worship, are more impressed with the grace of GOD in your lifestyle! Baptists, like John the Baptist, are concerned with the personal experience of salvation!

Answer 10

they are about the same theologically. baptists consider Wesley (the founder of the methodist church) a great theologian. also one minor difference is that a baptist won't speak to you at a liquor store.

Answer 11

Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, etc., are all denominations under the Protestant religion. In other words, they are all under the same umbrella. You would not be changing religions if you moved from Baptist to Methodist. The 3 main religions in the US are Protestant, Catholic & Jewish, but they all worship the same God. Go where you are most comfortable, as long as they preach the word of God .

Answer 12

I'm Methodist we're open minded thats for sure. I don't know anything about babtist churchs.

Answer 13

We should quit worrying so much about the different denominations of churches, we are all one, we all make up the entire body of the church, we all have spiritual gifts from God, and should work as one to unite in spreading Gods message.

Answer 14

You are not changing your "religion". They are both Christian (and both Protestant).



You can do a side by side comparison by going to the links below.

Answer 15

Well for one neither of them are the real true Church that Jesus Christ started. " you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, (MT 16:18. 265 Pontifs later we have succession to Peter the first Pope of the church, Not CHURCHES.



There is only one true Church, but many christians.

Answer 16

Knock yourself out. I hope it feels good to go to church while your alive because when you die we are all just gonna be worm meal anyways.

Get all the inner peace and salvation you can now because in a few decades (God willing) you will never have the chance again.

~Ciao~

Answer 17

The accent?

Answer 18

no diffrence