Methodist vs. Church of Christ
A side-by-side comparison of Methodist and Church of Christ teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Methodist
Methodism began in the 18th century as a renewal movement within the Church of England under John and Charles Wesley. It emphasizes God’s grace offered to all, holiness of heart and life, and practical care for the poor.
Church of Christ
The Churches of Christ come from the American Restoration Movement of the early 1800s, which sought to return to the pattern of the New Testament church. Congregations are independent, and they are known for weekly communion and unaccompanied singing.
At a glance
Where they differ: Authority: Scripture and tradition; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Clergy and women in ministry; Style of worship.
Varies within one or both: The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: Books of the Bible; The Trinity; Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Methodist | Church of Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionDiffer | Scripture is primary, and is understood in light of tradition, reason and Christian experience. This fourfold method is called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. | The New Testament is the pattern for worship and church life. Practices are expected to be supported by a command, an example or a necessary inference from Scripture. |
| Books of the BibleAgree | 66 books. The Apocrypha is not part of the canon. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons, in the historic creeds and in Wesley’s Articles of Religion. | One God in three persons. Churches of Christ have no written creed and rest the belief directly on Scripture. |
| How a person is savedDiffer | Justified by grace through faith. Wesley also taught that God’s grace goes before conversion (prevenient grace) and leads to sanctification, growth in holiness that may be called “Christian perfection,” meaning perfect love. | Saved by grace, received through faith that includes repentance, confession of Christ and baptism. Baptism is taught as the point at which sins are forgiven, and faith is understood as active obedience. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Agree | Yes. Wesley taught that a believer can fall from grace by persistent unbelief or sin, though he held that God is eager to restore. | Yes. A Christian who lives in sin without repenting can fall away, and Churches of Christ point to warnings such as Hebrews 6 and 10. |
| Predestination and free willAgree | Rejects Calvinist predestination. Grace is offered to everyone, and each person is free to accept or resist it, which is the Arminian position. | Rejects Calvinist predestination. God offers salvation to all and each person must choose to obey the gospel. |
| BaptismDiffer | A sacrament and sign of God’s grace. Both infants and adult believers are baptized, and the mode may be sprinkling, pouring or immersion. | Immersion of a believer for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is taught as necessary for salvation, and infant baptism is rejected. |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ | Christ is truly present, but the manner is a holy mystery. The United Methodist Church rejects transubstantiation and does not define a theory. | A memorial observed every Sunday, since Acts 20:7 is taken to show the pattern of the early church. The elements are symbols. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. |
| Church governmentDiffer | A “connectional” system in which churches are bound in districts and conferences. The United Methodist Church has bishops, and some Methodist bodies do not. | Each congregation is fully autonomous and is led by a group of elders (also called shepherds or overseers). There is no denominational headquarters. |
| Clergy and women in ministryDiffer | Women are ordained as pastors and bishops in the United Methodist Church and most other Methodist bodies. Clergy may marry. | Elders, preachers and public worship leaders are men. Women teach children and other women and take part in many other roles. |
| Mary and the saintsAgree | Mary and the saints are honored as models of faith. Methodists do not pray to them. | Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. There is no prayer to saints, and no role for saints in worship. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Purgatory is rejected. Believers are with Christ at death and await the resurrection, and unbelievers face judgment. | The dead await judgment in Hades, in comfort or in torment. After the resurrection the righteous enter heaven and the wicked face eternal punishment. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | A mixture. Worship generally follows a set order with hymns (many by Charles Wesley), Scripture and preaching, and styles range from traditional to contemporary. | A simple service of singing, prayer, preaching, communion and giving. Most congregations sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries | The Spirit’s work is stressed in assurance and holiness. Attitudes to tongues and healing vary, and the Wesleyan holiness movement gave rise to Pentecostalism. | Generally teaches that miraculous gifts, such as tongues and healing, ended with the apostolic age. The Spirit is understood to work through the written Word. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). |
| Best known for | Warm-hearted evangelism, hymnody, holiness of life and social outreach through hospitals, schools and missions. | Weekly communion, unaccompanied singing, believer’s baptism for forgiveness and a determination to follow the New Testament pattern. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Grace
- Justification
- Baptism
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- Sabbath
More comparisons
Methodist
Church of Christ
- Catholic vs. Church of Christ
- Eastern Orthodox vs. Church of Christ
- Lutheran vs. Church of Christ
- Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Church of Christ
- Anglican / Episcopal vs. Church of Christ
- Baptist vs. Church of Christ
- Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Church of Christ
- Pentecostal vs. Church of Christ
- Seventh-day Adventist vs. Church of Christ
- Church of Christ vs. Non-denominational