What is the difference between baptists and methodists?

Answer 1

First of all, there are United Methodists, Free Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists, Southern Baptists, Missionary Baptists, General Baptists, Free Will Baptists ... etc etc.

Methodists all trace their roots to John Wesley, a priest in the Church of England in the 1700s. Baptist roots go back a little farther, to the Protestant revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries ... the Anabaptists and Mennonites.

Like all Christian denominations, in general Methodists and Baptists share many beliefs: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, died on a cross as the atonement for the sins of humankind, and rose from the dead and still lives to this day, as part of the triune God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Methodists tend to put more emphasis on the grace of God, while Baptists tend to follow a more strict interpretation of scripture.

One of the primary differences involves the sacrament of baptism. Baptists believe that one must be completely immersed (go underwater) in order to be baptized, and many Baptist churches will not accept baptism from another church. If you want to join their church, they insist that you be baptized in their church. Methodists believe that the method of baptism is irrelevant. They allow immersion, pouring of the water over the head, and sprinkling of a small amount of water over the head. They feel that baptism is a symbolic act, and the amount of water isn't important. Methodists will accept a baptism from any other Christian denomination. Also, Methodists will baptize infants, while Baptists insist that one must be an adult in order to be baptized.

Another difference involves Holy Communion. Baptists generally insist that you have to be a Baptist, and in many cases a member of a particular Baptist church, in order to receive communion. Methodists offer open communion: anyone who wishes to partake of the sacrament is welcome. Methodists feel that God is the host of the communion table, and it isn't their place to turn anyone away from God.

Or, as Tom Skerritt's character said in the movie A River Runs Through It: "Methodists are just Baptists who can read."

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Answer 2

Not a whole lot. The Methodist here in Georgia are really pretty mellow and the Baptist are a little more lively. This is sort of strange because of the Westley's "in your face" style of evangelism that defined the early Methodist.

Answer 3

I don't know all the differences, but they are very similar in many things but the big differences is Methodists ordian women and many of their preachers wear robes and have long cloths drapped from the pulpit. their preachers dress like preists in that they wear white collars and wear crosses visible. While Baptists don't.

Baptists are more conversative and Methodist are more liberal. Some Methodist churches have changed song books and refuse to sing song of spiritual warfare like Soldiers of christ arise. some Methodist churches are calling to change all male refrenses of God in the bible to a generic term. While Baptist love their songs of spiritual warfare and refuse to bend on scripture where God is male.


Those are the huge differences that get written about in newspapers and talked about in local news broadcasts.

Answer 4

To quote "A River Runs Through It":

They were Methodists, a denomination my father referred to as Baptists who could read.

Answer 5

One of the biggest is the leadership of the church. Baptist churches tend to be autonomous, in that they follow scripture to the best of their understanding independently. Methodist churches are tied into the denomination more. If the Methodist leadership takes a position, the churches are expected to take it , too.

That said, there are very nice people in both denominations.

Answer 6

Their all different which sect of baptist are you talking about American Baptists, Southern Baptists, Christian Unity Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Duck River & Kindred Associations of Baptists, Baptist Church of Christ, Freewill Baptists, General Baptists, General Six—Principle Baptists, Independent Baptist Church of America, National Baptist, Evangelical Life & Soul Saving Assembly of the U.S.A., Regular Baptists, Separate Baptists, Seventh Day Baptists, Two Seed in the Spirit Predestinarian Baptists, United American Freewill Baptists, United Baptists, Free Communion Baptists, Anti-mission Baptists, Conservative Baptists, Fundamental Baptists, Presided Over By The Most Reverend Dr. Mr.Minister Pastor Bishop Brother Ned Smith Esq. preacher, apostle, Profit

Answer 7

The Methodist church I attended still held to the catholic church. The Baptist church does not. Baptist submerge in water and Methodist sprinkle. I prefer the Baptist.

Answer 8

baptists believe in the baptism of water in a pool "dunking", and methodists use "sprinkling"--i am pretty sure that is like the main difference

Answer 9

They both have an imaginary God but the Methodist don't hide their boozing quite as much.

Answer 10

A methodist is a baptist that can read...