The Main Differences (& Similarities) Between Methodists & Baptists

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Explaining the practices that unite and divide these Protestant traditions

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• Differences
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• Similarities
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• Which came first?
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• Can they attend each other’s churches?
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• Baptist Core Beliefs
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• Methodist Core Beliefs
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• Famous Baptists and Methodists

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Ever wondered what the differences between the Methodist and Baptist denominations are? Both are considered branches of the Christian tree but have their own unique worship and organizational practices. The main difference is that Baptists only practice immersion baptism for adults and youths who can declare their faith, while Methodists do sprinkling, pouring, and immersion baptisms for infants, adults, and youths. Keep reading for the differences, similarities, core beliefs, and notable people of each church.

Methodist vs. Baptist Churches

Methodists allow the baptism of adults and infants, while Baptists reject infant baptism and believe that the rite is only for individuals who can personally declare their faith. Methodists also practice open communion and have a church hierarchy, and Baptists have closed communions and independently-run congregations.

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Section 1 of 7:

Main Differences Between Methodists and Baptists

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   Methodists baptize infants and Baptists don’t. Methodists allow the baptism of adults, youths, and infants. Baptists, however, reject infant baptism because they believe that baptism is only for individuals who can truly understand their faith and personally declare Jesus as Lord.

   • This is also one of the biggest differences between Baptism and other Christian denominations.
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   Baptists only do immersion and Methodists use other baptism methods. This means the Baptist minister lies the person back in the water so they’re totally immersed, then brings them back up again. Methodists, however, accept sprinkling, pouring, and immersion as a sign of regeneration or new birth.

   • Baptists believe that total immersion aligns with New Testament baptism as carried out by John the Baptist.
   • Methodists believe that the method of baptism doesn’t matter—what matters is that you were baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by an authorized person.
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   Methodists let all join communion and Baptists only allow Baptists. The Methodist church believes in “open communion,” which means that all baptized Christians of any age or denomination are welcome to join the Lord’s table. Meanwhile, Baptists typically restrict communion to only baptized Baptist church members.

   • Baptists practice “closed communion” because they believe that only people who are saved, properly baptized (immersed in water), and members of the local Baptist church can sit at the Lord’s table.
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   Methodists have a hierarchy while Baptists have independent churches. Each local Methodist church has a Church Council that works with the minister, but the entire denomination has groups of leaders who act and make decisions for all the churches. Meanwhile, every baptist congregation is self-governing and doesn’t have a hierarchy of bishops or priests.

   • The umbrella organization for all Methodist churches is the World Methodist Council, which meets every 5 years in different locations around the world.
   • In the U.K., most Baptist churches belong to the Baptist Union. This isn’t an authoritative organization, but instead, it’s a central resource that assists churches.
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   Methodist bishops assign pastors while Baptists choose pastors. Unlike Methodist churches, Baptist churches have no hierarchy of bishops or priests that exercise authority over members. Instead, church members meet to appoint ministers, elders, deacons, pastors, and other leaders.

   • Methodists don’t have a central headquarters or a leader of the entire faith. Instead, leadership is divided between three powers that work together: the General Conference, the Council of Bishops, and the Judicial Council.
     • This means that each bishop is elected by the other clergy leaders.
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   Baptists believe salvation is only through faith and Methodists don’t. Baptists believe that you can be saved through faith in God’s grace and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Methodists, on the other hand, believe that salvation is a lifelong process. Baptism, good works, church membership, and communion are all part of that process.

   • Methodists don’t believe that God predestines some people to salvation and others to condemnation. Baptists tend to not take a stance on predestination.
   • Baptists believe that baptism, church membership, communion, and good works are important, but are not necessary for salvation.
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Section 2 of 7:

Similarities Between Methodists and Baptists

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   Both affirm the Holy Trinity, Christ, and the resurrection. Like Baptists, Methodists believe there is one true God who reveals Himself as the Holy Trinity: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. As Christian denominations, both also affirm belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

   • However, Baptists might disagree on whether the physical body of Jesus Christ or the spiritual body was resurrected (this divide is called the fundamentalist-modernist controversy).
     • Methodists tend to believe that this resurrection was spiritual, not physical.
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   Both denominations emphasize the authority of the Bible. As a branch of Christianity, Methodism accepts the final authority of the Scripture. Baptists are also “people of the Book” and emphasize the Bible as the only authority on faith and practice.

   • In Baptist and Methodist churches, no other writings have equal authority with the Bible and no one person has the right of final interpretation.
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   Baptists and Methodists encourage active participation and community. Both denominations have a variety of worship practices, including singing, prayers, receiving tithes and offerings, and listening to Scripture readings. Both also hold Bible studies and prayer meetings.
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   Both denominations came from the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a religious revolution that happened in the 16th century, when the Church of England broke away from the Catholic church, creating other Christian branches in the process.

   • The Baptist church was strongly inspired by Calvinism, which was created by John Calvin, a leading Protestant reformer.
   • The founders of Methodism shared the spirit of Protestant reformers, and some of the Methodist movement came out of Calvinistic ideals.
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Section 3 of 7:

Which came first, Methodists or Baptists?

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   The Baptist movement probably started before Methodism. Most historians think that the first Baptist congregation appeared in 1609 in Holland, where the Church of England minister, John Smyth, scandalously baptized himself and other church members. Church of England minister John Wesley created Methodist clubs starting in 1839.

   • Methodism was typically more popular in urban areas, while Baptism was most popular in the rural American South.

Section 4 of 7:

Can Methodists attend Baptist church, and vice versa?

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1. 
   Yes, Methodists and Baptists can attend each other’s churches. While their worship styles and some of their beliefs may be different, both denominations share core Christian beliefs. However, Methodists might not be able to participate in closed Baptist communions.
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Section 5 of 7:

What are the 3 core beliefs of the Baptist church?

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1. 
   Baptist churches emphasize the Bible, true believers, and independence. Baptism founder John Smyth and reformer Thomas Helwys joined a group of separatists in England in 1606 and came up with the 3 core beliefs that later shaped the Baptist church.

   • The Bible, not church tradition, was the guide for faith and practice.
   • The church should only be made up of believers, not everyone who was born in the local parish.
   • The church should be governed by believers, not by hierarchical figures like bishops.

Section 6 of 7:

What are the “4 alls” of the Methodist church?

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1. 
   Methodists believe that all can and need to be saved completely. Methodists tend to follow the Protestant branch of the Christian tree, and their core beliefs align with Orthodox Christianity. These 4 core beliefs are sometimes known as the “4 alls.”

   • All need to be saved (doctrine of original sin).
   • All can be saved (Universal Salvation).
   • All can know they are saved (Assurance).
   • All can be saved completely (Christian perfection).
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Section 7 of 7:

Famous Baptists and Methodists

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   Famous Baptists include John Leland and Martin Luther King Jr. Baptism started in England, but many believers fled persecution to the American colonies. Because of this, most notable Baptist church members are either from England or the U.S., especially the American south.

   • Thomas Helwys, joint founder of Baptism.
   • John Leland, American Baptist minister and abolitionist.
   • John Gill, English Particular Baptist pastor.
   • John Bunyan, Puritan preacher and author of The Pilgrim’s Progress.
   • Charles Spurgeon, highly influential English Particular Baptist preacher.
   • Lottie Moon, American missionary in China.
   • Martin Luther King Jr., American minister, activist, and civil rights movement leader.
   • Billy Graham, American Southern Baptist minister and civil rights advocate.
   • Timothy George, American theologist, professor, and editor for Christianity Today.
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   Famous Methodists include Richard Allen and Albert Outler. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a missionary in the American colonies in the 1700s. Methodism spread rapidly in America and broke away from the Church of England in 1797, which is why most of these famous Methodists are from the U.S.

   • John and Charles Wesley, English Methodist movement leaders.
   • Richard Allen, American freedman and Methodist preacher.
   • E. Stanley Jones, American Methodist theologian and missionary in India.
   • Albert Outler, American Methodist historian, theologian, and pastor.
   • Thomas Welch, British-American Methodist minister and creator of Welch’s grape juice.
   • Thomas C. Oden, American Methodist theologian and author.
   • Richard B. Hays, American New Testament scholar, professor, and Methodist minister.
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