Methodists and churches of Christ both love Jesus and think highly of the Bible, but they differ on a few clear points: where final authority rests, how the church is organized, how and why baptism is done, whether instruments are used in worship, and how often the Lord’s Supper is observed. Yet, the two also began in different ways. Methodism grew out of the work of John and Charles Wesley in the 1700s. Churches of Christ aim to be simply the church Jesus said He would build (), organized only as the New Testament describes, with nothing added along the way.
Where Does Final Authority Rest?
This is the root difference, and most of the others come from it. Methodist churches rely on a body of teaching beyond the Bible: Articles of Religion, a Book of Discipline, and the Wesleyan tradition, all read alongside Scripture. These are meant to help rather than to replace the Bible, but in practice they solidify their doctrinal mandates, as a creed.
Churches of Christ try to hold the Bible alone as the standard, with no creed, catechism, or discipline book placed beside it. The aim is to speak where the Bible speaks and to stay quiet where it is quiet, taking the Scriptures as complete for what we believe and do; for: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (). When the Bible is the only rulebook, a second one isn’t needed.
How Is the Church Organized?
Methodism runs on a connectional structure. Bishops oversee regions, clergy are appointed through conferences, and congregations answer upward through that system.
Churches of Christ have no such ladder. Each congregation governs itself, led by its own elders, men who meet the qualifications the New Testament lists (; ). Peter told these elders to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (), each caring for the local church, not for churches somewhere else. There is no headquarters and no office above the local congregation. Christ alone is the head of the whole church ().
When it comes to things like “women preachers” contrasted with “men who are preachers” there are distinct differences. When it comes to things like heterosexual leaders contrasted with homosexual leaders, there are differences, too. Basically these particular differences are debated among the Global Methodists and the United Methodists. Yet, the church of Christ has always regarded the sacred connection of marriage to be ‘one woman, for one man, for life’ and has always regarded that men occupy the religious preaching role, not because of intelligence (or lack thereof), but; because it was the choice of God ().
What About Baptism?
Methodist churches baptize infants as well as adults and falsely believe when baptizing an infant it is “…understanding baptism as a rich sacrament symbolizing God’s… love and grace, given to us… before we can even understand it.” — this is from the resource manual of the United Methodist Church (ResourceUMC).
Here at the church of Christ we baptize only those old enough to believe and repent, and only by immersion, understanding it as the point where a penitent believer’s sins are washed away. Peter’s instruction was, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (). Paul describes the act itself as a burial: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (). A burial calls for immersion, and a burial with Christ calls for a faith the person already holds. The Bible uses the phrase “that the old man” of sin “might be done away” so that we “should no longer be” slaves “of sin” (N.K.J.V.). Just as no “man” is a woman, and no woman is a “man”; so, no infant is a “man”. No infant is a mature one, that has to have the condition of being enslaved to sin “put away”. There is no logical reason to say a “man” of sin regarding “children”; unless it is referring to spiritual age. But, even though it relates to spiritual age; it’s obvious that–no infant has the ability to speak, let alone be mature enough to do away with their “sin”. Infants can neither commit sins nor transgress God’s law. They have not developed how to speak, nor have a capacity to disobey moral law!
What Is Worship Like?
Most Methodist services include instrumental music, and the Lord’s Supper is often observed monthly or quarterly. However, some Methodist churches are recently realizing the Lord’s Supper should be part of the worship every first day of the week. ()
Worship in a church of Christ utilizes a cappella singing. The music is sung by the whole congregation without instruments, following the New Testament’s own description: “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (). And the Lord’s Supper is observed every first day of the week, the pattern of the early church: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them” ().
So Which One Should You Look Into?
Laying out differences like these can make it sound like the goal is to win an argument. It isn’t. The goal is to read the New Testament for yourself and ask one plain question: what did the first Christians actually believe and do? We’ll add one honest note. Churches of Christ have no central office speaking for them, so each congregation stands on its own, and we can only tell you about ours. What we’ve described is generally true of churches like ours, though not every group wearing the name is the same. We let you do the decision making regarding adherence to the Scriptures. Feel free to “test all things” () and hold fast to what is good!
Keep Studying
The best way to compare any two churches isn’t to weigh their traditions against each other but to set both beside the Bible. Open the New Testament, read how the earliest church worshiped, organized, and came to Christ, and measure everything, us included, against what you find. Take your time, and don’t settle for less than what the text actually says. ()
You’re Welcome Here
If you’ve been searching for a church home and something has felt like it’s missing, we’d be glad to open the Bible with you and look at these things together. At the church of Christ at South Bumby you’ll find people who will walk with you, never pressure you. Plan your visit and receive a friendly welcome.
If you’d like to see what the Bible says about becoming a Christian, start here.
When we meet: Sunday: Bible Class 9:30 am, Worship 10:30 am & Wednesday: Bible Class 7:00 pm.
