Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?… If it be then give me thy hand. (As to things that do not pertain to salvation) we think and let think. John Wesley
We hold onto the EXTREME MIDDLE which holds together the doctrinal tensions that many denominations ignore. We are not either/or as much as both/and.
For example:
We believe salvation is BOTH instantaneous AND a life-long process.
We believe in holiness is BOTH personal AND social.
We believe God operates BOTH through church tradition (Anglican roots) AND the fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit (Camp meeting roots, field preaching).
We believe God wants us to use BOTH our heads (reason) AND our hearts (experience).
We believe that God is BOTH in control (God’s sovereignty) AND gives us free will.
We believe that BOTH our God reigns AND that “stuff” happens.
We believe in BOTH orthodoxy (right beliefs) AND orthopraxy (right actions).
We believe in BOTH loving God AND loving our neighbors as ourselves.
We believe in BOTH grace (God’s gift) AND good works (our response).
We are BOTH evangelical AND liturgical.
AND we refuse to explain away these paradoxes.
United Methodism is one of the best-equipped faith families in polity and doctrine to reach today’s culture and post-modern world.
I believe that if revival comes to our nation it will be through the (United) Methodists. Bill Graham
Christians do not have to think alike, we only have to love alike. John Wesley