Difference Between Methodist and Baptist

Main Difference

The main difference between methodist and baptist is that methodist is a Christian religion that allows baptism of infants, youth, and adults whereas a baptist is a Christian religion that only baptizes to confess young people and adults.

Methodist vs. Baptist

Methodists and Baptists are two religions of Christians that have many similarities, but they are also different in many views and doctrines. Methodists and Baptists believe in God, in the Bible, in the works and the teaching of Jesus that they accept as Christ, the savior of humanity. They both believe that baptism and communion are basic sacraments, but it is also their difference. Methodists allow the baptism of youth, infants, and adults. They do not distinguish between age and mental maturity of individuals. They also allow different forms of baptismal methods as they perform them with immersion, dusting, and casting. Baptists, on the other side, only baptized to confess young people and adults. Methodists practice an open communion in which the rite is open to all, whereas Baptists hold closed communions. Methodists have a system of governance of the episcopal hierarchy; on the other hand, Baptists enjoy the independence of the congregation. According to Methodist, pastors can be male or female, on the flip side, according to Baptists pastors are male-only.

Comparison Chart

What is a Methodist?

The Methodist Movement started from Protestant Christianity. This movement was created on the teachings of George Whitefield, John Wesley, and his brother Charles. All these three were important personalities in the movement which began as a revival in the Church of England in the 18th century but broke away after Wesley’s death. This movement quickly spread from the United Kingdom to the United States and throughout the world through strong missionary work. Today, the Methodist church claims to have 80 million members worldwide. For Methodists, communion is welcome for all. The Methodist Church also values ​​acts of piety, including fasting, holy communion, and healthy living, to name but a few, emphasizing the importance of social holiness, missionary work, and service to the poor. Methodists participate in the creation of hospitals, schools, universities, orphanages, and popular kitchens. The Methodist Church has pastors or elders who are both men and women. A district “Superintendent,” a bishop, and a Cabinet member appoint pastors in various churches to ensure that their believers focus on Christ, not on human leaders.

What is a Baptist?

The beginnings of the Baptist Church date back to the early 17th century. Baptists only baptize to confess young people and adults. Infant baptism is not practiced because they believe that it should be administered only to people who can understand the true meaning of the rite and also able to understand the faith. Baptists also perform baptism strictly by immersion. They practice closed communion where the table is open only for baptized church members. A local Baptist church has an unrestricted hand to find and even ordain its own pastors, who are not appointed by the leaders of their church. So, pastors can go from one church to another and can also be dismissed by the local church. Baptist women think that men are more apt to be pastors or elders.

Key Differences

1. A member of the greatest Christian denomination of the religious revival led by John Wesley that insists on personal and social morality is known as Methodist while a member of a Christian denomination who baptizes believers by immersion is known as Baptist.
2. Methodists allow the baptism of youth, infants, and adults. They do not distinguish between age and mental maturity of individuals. Baptists, on the other side, only baptized to confess young people and adults.
3. Methodists practice baptism by immersion, sprinkling, and spilling, while Baptists baptize only by immersion.
4. Methodists practice an open communion in which the rite is open to all, whereas Baptists hold closed communions.
5. Methodists have a system of governance of the episcopal hierarchy; on the other hand, Baptists enjoy the independence of the congregation.
6. Methodists give bishops the power to assign pastors to congregations, conversely, with Baptists, the congregation selects its own pastor.
7. Methodists believe that it is the person who chooses to be saved, on the flip side, the Baptists maintain that once saved, the person is always saved and cannot fall from grace.
8. Methodists are generally less fundamental whereas Baptists are primarily fundamentalists.
9. According to Methodist, pastors can be male or female, on the flip side, according to Baptists pastors are male-only.

Comparison Video

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it is summarized that Methodists and Baptists are two Christian religions in which Methodist are less fundamental and allow baptism of infants, youth and adults whereas, Baptists are primarily fundamentalists and only baptize to confess young people and adults.