Methodist Roots

When I was ordained in the United Methodist Church back in 1973, it was impossible to imagine the chaos and confusion that now is changing the face of Methodism.  I recently ran across an old broadcast by Billy Graham in which he was celebrating the 175th anniversary of Methodism. In this 1959 radio broadcast he listed four things distinctive about Methodism.  He said Methodists believe in conversion and preach the new birth.  They uphold the authority of the Scripture.  They are a people who believe in the Spirit filled life and they have a strong social concerns ministry.     

It was refreshing to hear and to have it laid out in such simple language by a Baptist!  Those of us who have the name "Methodist" attached to our spiritual identity know that John Wesley who lived most of the 18th century is the father of Methodism.  It is, as Billy Graham pointed out long years ago, a rich heritage and one that was in the beginning filled with such spiritual power that it became the largest denomination in our country.   

In a time of such denominational turmoil, it would be a good thing for those of us who are called Methodists to spend some time looking at our roots instead of looking at those who might disagree with us.  It may be impossible to turn back the pages of history and go back to those days of beginning, but it can only help us in finding our way forward to understand that if the past is forsaken, it is likely that Wesley's fear will become reality:  "I am not afraid the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America.  But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having no form of religion without the power.  And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine,  spirit, and discipline with which they first set out."