Methodist vs. Pentecostal
A side-by-side comparison of Methodist and Pentecostal 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.
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism began in the early 1900s, notably at the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. It teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in Acts and 1 Corinthians, including tongues and healing, are active today. It is among the fastest-growing Christian movements.
At a glance
Where they differ: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Style of worship.
Varies within one or both: Church government; Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; 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 | Pentecostal |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bible is the inspired and final authority. Believers also expect the Holy Spirit to guide them personally, always tested against 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. | Most Pentecostals, including the Assemblies of God, are Trinitarian. A smaller “Oneness” wing rejects the doctrine and teaches that Father, Son and Spirit are modes of one person. |
| How a person is savedAgree | 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 through faith in Christ, usually with an emphasis on new birth and a personal experience of conversion. It is often followed by a distinct experience called baptism in the Holy Spirit. |
| 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. | Most classical Pentecostal bodies, such as the Assemblies of God, hold that a believer can forfeit salvation, though some Pentecostals teach eternal security. |
| 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. | Generally Arminian: Christ died for all, and each person can accept or refuse. A small number of Reformed Pentecostals hold to election. |
| 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. | Believer’s baptism by immersion, as an act of obedience and a public witness. Baptism is distinguished from baptism in the Holy Spirit. |
| 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. | An ordinance in memory of Christ’s death. It is often marked with a sense of God’s presence and healing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. | Two ordinances, water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some Pentecostal groups add foot washing. |
| Church governmentVaries | A “connectional” system in which churches are bound in districts and conferences. The United Methodist Church has bishops, and some Methodist bodies do not. | Varies. The Assemblies of God combines congregational and presbyterian features, and the Church of God in Christ has bishops. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Women are ordained as pastors and bishops in the United Methodist Church and most other Methodist bodies. Clergy may marry. | Varies. The Assemblies of God ordains women, and some other Pentecostal bodies reserve pastoral office for men. |
| 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. Pentecostals do not pray to her or the saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Purgatory is rejected. Believers are with Christ at death and await the resurrection, and unbelievers face judgment. | Believers go directly into Christ’s presence at death. Pentecostals hold to a literal heaven and hell and expect the return of Christ. |
| 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. | Expressive and Spirit-led, with lively music, spontaneous prayer, testimony and an openness to prophecy, tongues and healing. |
| 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. | All the gifts of the Spirit continue today. Most teach baptism in the Holy Spirit as a separate experience after conversion, and many teach speaking in tongues as the initial sign of it. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday. |
| Best known for | Warm-hearted evangelism, hymnody, holiness of life and social outreach through hospitals, schools and missions. | Speaking in tongues, healing, lively worship and rapid growth in Latin America, Africa and Asia. |
“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
- Baptism
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Grace
- Justification
- 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
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Pentecostal
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- Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Pentecostal
- Pentecostal vs. Seventh-day Adventist
- Pentecostal vs. Church of Christ
- Pentecostal vs. Non-denominational