More often than not, I get carried away with all that I want to say about United Methodism and what it means to be United Methodist. So often, especially in seminary, being United Methodist is talked down upon and negative things are said about it more often than not. It's really unfortunate when these are the people who are going to be leading the denomination. I find our doctrine and polity to be justified. Regardless of whether or not I think it is accurate, in all circumstances, I can at least see where they were coming from in many aspects when it was written and in turn am able to uphold it. 

United Methodism is a very new denomination, comparatively, but has roots that are older than this country. It is extremely important to who we are as a denomination that John Wesley not only came over from England but didn't do as well as he had hoped. It lead to the Aldersgate experience which undeniably changed Wesley's life, his ministry, his way of thinking and gave way to a denomination we know today as United Methodism. 

There are some major points that people may not necessarily know about United Methodist that are important. Many times we speak negatively about the Catholic church for many various reasons. There are numerous jokes about not being Catholic and especially now with all of the scandals involving the priests. The current Pope is trying to do as much as he can to try and change Catholicism and the reputation that it has gotten. 

One reason we bring up is, "Why do we have to say '...the holy catholic church' in the Nicene Creed? I don't believe in the holy Catholic Church." Whereas, it's not about believing in the doctrine otherwise we would just be called Catholics. From The Methodist Doctrine book, "The church will be one in Christ, and we work and pray for its unity here. The church is holy in so far as it is called apart from the world, but its holiness is only partial in the present time. The church is catholic because it is intended to be universal for all people and to embrace the fullness of Christian teaching, but its catholicity will not be fully realized until it truly is an inclusive and faithful community." It is important that we band together as United Methodists on everything we have as doctrine. Our understanding of our doctrine and agreement with it is important for us to move forward as a denomination.

One of the most beautiful things that John Wesley said was the idea of a "catholic spirit". I found this to be enlightening and fascinating as a catholic spirit is " a willingness to be open to, and to work closely with those with whom he differed significantly on matters of worship and teachings not affecting the essence of Christian belief (Campbell 19.)" The book continues to go on about how Methodists don't have many doctrinal requirements to be a member. 

One thing I question often is why have we not declared that we are the truest church? Are we not firm in our own doctrine and beliefs? Are we willowy because we don't want to be wrong. Rather, as the book states, "...understanding itself rather as a religious movement with a particular mission among the broader body of Christian believers. Learning the Methodist tradition should entail learning the whole of the Christian tradition in a way in which liberality or openness in doctrine is encouraged as a central spiritual discipline."

Another very important part is John Wesley's difference between essential doctrines and opinions. Wesley defines essential doctrines on which agreement or consensus is critical. Opinions is defined as "about theology or church practices on which disagreement must be allowed." Wesley had "a clear sense of that which was commonly Christian and that which was distinctly Methodist." 

One thing that was mentioned in the reading that I found to be beautiful wording (don't remember where in the book) was that "we not only live in a world 'infected' by sin, but that infection touches each of us." I had never thought of it like that. But, I thought that was brilliant because simply opening the papers we can find a world littered with sin. It is filled with horrible things that happen every day from Pakistan to Israel to North Korea to South Africa to DC to right next door to our own sin that is visible and hidden. We ignore so much sin and do nothing about it. We go to church on Sunday and dress up nice. We say prayers that we may not mean and talk to people we may not even care about. We could easily go through the motions yet still somehow, justify calling ourselves Christian. Or maybe, we recognize only our own sin and simply repent and try and do better. But, if we ignore the sins of the world, we are ignoring our greatest commandment which is to love one another. Through this love that is difficult to give to many we are able to in turn show them Christ. Because of this people should want to sin less. 

This ties in with one of the most foundational parts of United Methodism which was not totally created by Wesley himself which is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is reason, scripture, tradition, experience with Wesley having added experience after Aldersgate. Wesley believed that "experience especially as human contact with God and that our experience of the divine also illumined our own spiritual quest and could clarify the meaning of the Bible.

Justifying, sanctifying, and prevenient grace are also all very Wesleyan and important to United Methodism. The concept behind prevenient grace is that it is "God's grace preparing us for salvation...and the acknowledgement of our deep need for God's help". While not Wesleyan, it is important to note that both John and Charles "held to the Arminian belief that grace is universally available". 
In continuing with justifying grace, it is extremely important also to talk about the Moravians as they helped John Wesley in many ways. Mainly that grace can't be earned. Justification and sanctification are "gifts given by faith in Christ." 

The concept of holiness is confusing and complicated however in the Wesley video Dr. Wheeler explains it well. One term that Dr. Wheeler used, was that holiness is more like "falling in love". While I certainly agree, this analogy is also really good to describe how one should be in relationship with God. This explanation of holiness is also justified by the reading, "...sanctification does not mean a joyless pursuit of good works or grudging restraint from things we would really like to do but know we should not. Rather, on the Wesleyan, understanding, sanctification denotes in the first place the transformation of our wills and affections." 
There is a song called "More Like Falling in Love" by Jason Gray. This song however, is about how rules aren't what makes a relationship with God good. It is falling in love with who God is that does it and once you do fall in love what one is capable of is amazing. 

It is very important to note that Methodists insist that Christian perfection also means fulfillment of the second commandment: love our neighbor. John Wesley and Methodist teachers clarified that there are many ways in which human beings cannot be perfect: in this life we are never free from infirmities, temptations, mistakes or ignorance. "It is the intention of God that we should love completely. It is within the power of God to bring about that which God intends." 

One thing that is fundamental to Wesley and in turn should be fundamental to Methodism, but may have gotten lost over time , is the concept of intimacy which is directly linked to accountability.There are questions we should be asking each other and that lead to a greater intimacy but in a time that we re criticized so often by so many aspects of our lives it seems when we come to church we want to be loved on not necessarily challenged or told that we are doing the wrong thing.  "We should be asking how people experience divine grace today." I think it is a question that we never ask. There is so much intimacy and accountability that we lack because of our American way of being so impersonal. While in South Africa, before any question you ask, even as simple as "May I borrow a pen?", you must say, "Hi, how are you?" and wait for the answer. If you don't do this you are considered extremely rude. We are so rushed that we don't want to take up any one's precious time because we ourselves have so little. 

Another big part of Methodism is our beliefs on Eucharist and baptism as those are our two sacraments. Both can and are extremely underrated for various reasons. Because we say the same thing at both every time they are administered, people may consider it mundane or the same every time. The Spirit may be lost on them which may lead them to believe that the Spirit isn't there. If we aren't willing to feel something, does that mean it's not there?

We have certainly come a long way from people fearing to receive it however, we've gone so far the opposite direction that we take for granted the ability to take communion. Recently a prototype had been developed for an edible communion cup. While I first thought of this as a horrible idea for various theological reasons, I read towards the bottom of the article that it could be used in 3rd world countries so that they would be able to eat the bread and drink the juice without there being any evidence left. This would hopefully have them not get killed for taking communion. 

Also, we as United Methodists believe that you don't have to be a member of a church or even believe in God to take communion but come with an open and willing heart to receive the Spirit. I often find this to be the most beautiful part of being Untied Methodist as it really is a symbol that God's grace is for everyone. As United Methodist pastors, we are also forbidden from denying anyone communion. 

One of the newest trends in religion is the concept of Universalism. Some United Methodist parishioners believe in Universal salvation. They might believe this because it is something that we avoid in worship more often than not as no one seems to want to talk about death, dying and fire and brimstone. Too much for 9 am on a Sunday morning? Hope you had your coffee already. Universal salvation is not Wesleyan as that is what Christians who don't like conflict lean towards sometimes. It is hard to believe that your friends might go to hell regardless of how good a life they lead. 

One point I often mull over is that do we think of things that are given a set time period in the Bible that don't match what we know as not to be taken literally. Do we translate times this way just so we can't be wrong? Is it just to make us feel better about ourselves and our beliefs or do we really believe that they shouldn't be taken literally?
These are all extremely important points of United Methodism and more specifically John Wesley. Grace is enough. But, do you want it?