What is differences between Methodist and baptist?

Answer 1

Methodists and Baptists have many of the same tenets.

Methodists tend to be more open minded and politically active than Baptists.

Baptists believe that baptism is an outward symbol of what has happened internally and has you go through an immersion after you have made a conscious and deliberate acceptance of Jesus as you personal Savior. Thus the name Anabaptist that was shortened to baptist. Baptists in general believe that the Bible is the scripture that should be followed closely. In some instances the members believe that the Bible is without error and that the canonization of the Bible was guided by God himself.

Methodists take a more corporal stand on the responsibility and salvation of an individual. There are things that a church community are encouraged to do to spread God's love and honor. Each individual has a personal salvation but also a church or corporal salvation that requires them to be altruistic. the Bible is a guidebook but not necessarily the final word to the church. In general if a person believes that there are many ways to God then the Methodist church would embrace them but not the baptist.

I'd like to improve on this answer. The United Methodists have little in common with the Southern Baptist Church. Both take opposite views of the Bible. The Baptists strongly believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible, the Methodist do no. The Methodists are a direct offshoot of the Anglican Church with the founder of the Methodist CHurch, Rev John Wesley, having remained a high church priest of the Church of England. The United Methodists have much more in common with the Episcopal/Anglican Church then the Baptists-except in styles of worship. Theologically and liturgically, the Methodists are Anglican. The Baptists do not celebrate the sacraments like the Methodist do. They call Baptism an ordinance but in the Methodist Church they share with other liberal Mainline churches, the celebration of the Eucharist and Holy Communion. The UMC is a connectional denomination; the Baptists are independent , autonomous churches that appoint their own preachers. The Methodist are organized into districts and conferences, with an ordain Bishop being solely responsible for each conference. The UMC ordains deacons and elders. They uphold the belief in the Apostolic Succession-like the RCC and Anglicans. The Baptists obviously don't. The UMC worship in sanctuaries while Baptists call them auditoriums. Baptists are inclined to use little Christian symbology in their place of worship-they don't want to be in anyway "Catholic"-so they have no altars, usually a sole pulpit for preaching, and maybe stain glass windows.

Many UMC are similar in architecture to Lutheran & Episcopal parishes-many are gothic or romanesque in design, with beautiful sanctuary appointments, including a high altar, kneelers for the clergy, altar rails and even sanctuary lamps to represent the presence of Christ! The UMC in the last 100 years, have encouraged their clergy to wear different styles of vestments and to use acolytes in the worship. The Baptists are very informal in their worship and their preachers rarely wear any robes-maybe the choir will. The UMC is found in all states whereas the Southern Baptist Church is concentrated in the border states and southern states. You won't find them in the North west, the Upper Midwest, or for sure in the New England States. The last critical difference is that the United Methodist Church can be described as a moderately liberal church that has a strong progressive history and committment to justice issues and social problems in our country. The UMC has certainly had its share of division especially over sexual orientation. But they are much more tolerant than the Southern Baptists when it come to most if not all social issues. The American Baptists, are far smaller but are much closer to the UMC on issues!

Answer 2

Methodists are known for their belief in salvation for all, while Baptists emphasize the concept of believer's baptism. Methodists are more structured with a hierarchy of clergy, while Baptists have more autonomy among their churches. The two also differ in their views on predestination and their approaches to the interpretation of The Bible.