The decline of Methodism has been a theme in Pentecostal churches for decades. As a teenager in the Church of God in the 1970s, I recall our pastor warning that the Church of God was going the way of Methodism. In fact, the two scapegoats among most campmeetng preachers were the lukewarm Methodists and the apostate Catholics. Both were roundly accused of holding to a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. For the moment, let’s talk about the Methodists and why there is hope for the future of Methodism, and Pentecostalism.
There is a long relationship between Methodism and Pentecostalism. Both are renewal movements born out of desire of a dynamic encounter with God. Both are holiness movements convinced that God has called the church to holiness, or perfection. Christians are not mere “saved sinners”, but saints called to perfection. Many early Pentecostals were Methodists. John Wesley is the father of Methodism, and the grandfather of Pentecostalism. We’re all in the same family.
The prevailing thinking among many Pentecostals is that Methodism is dying because of long held liberal policies and theology. First, it is true that some Methodists embraced liberalism and I would agree that has been a problem. But most Methodists have not embraced liberalism. In 2019 the United Methodist Special Conference in St. Louis voted 53% to 47% in favor of the “traditional plan” which held to a conservative Bible doctrine of human sexuality (see here). In fact, a case can be made that Methodism is experiencing a renewal. Many of the Methodists clergy I speak to are optimistic about the future of their church.
Many of my colleagues in the Church of God fear that we will go the way of liberal Methodism and embrace radical feminism and homosexuality. They insist that decline is inevitable. I disagree. First, let me say again: the majority of Methodists embraced the traditional plan. The primary issues for the Methodists, and for Pentecostals, is fidelity to the Holy Scriptures and the historic theological traditions of the Church. It’s a low view of Scripture and a bad hermeneutic that leads to error.
Frankly, I’m a short-term pessimist with an optimistic long view. There are many problems within Pentecostalism. I fear that we will focus on splinters and ignore logs. I fear that we will quench the prophetic voice of the Spirit, that we will fail to discern the difference between good and evil. I fear that we will fall into political idolatry, that we will be reactionary instead of prayerful and thoughtful.
With all my fears, I have an optimistic long view. Why? The ancient Bishop Irenaeus declared, “‘For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church” and that the Spirit would always renew the Church (Ante Nicene Fathers 1, 458). The church has long persevered persecutions, scandals, heresies, and schisms. In the midst of it all the Holy Spirit continues to dwell within the church as Helper, Teacher, and Intercessor. The Spirit groans within us, the Spirit speaks to us, and through us. The Spirit guides us into sanctifying truth.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
