In my home town of Delanco, N.J. we have a Presberitan and a Methodist Church, which had revivalistic summer camps in the S. Jersey area. The Presberterian were the gospel of prosperity was piety.
I don't quite understand your last sentence. Did you mean "The Presbyterians were the gospel of prosperity AND piety"?
My pastor (who is 35 years old, so very young among pastors) was recently leading an adult Bible study and, as sometimes happens when members get him in a smaller group, the conversation sequed into other denominations. I like how he put his opinion of Presbyterians. "They started out with a good solid theology and we (Baptists) agree with them on core tenets, so the denomination is Christian. We shouldn't be trying to excommunicate one another. BUT, they've got a lot of the side issues wrong because they've compromised with the world, so no, I would never choose to become a Presbyterian."
I think, currently, he could have said the same thing about Methodists. I've met Methodist who I would say are not Christians. I've also met Baptists who probably aren't actually saved. There's far more Methodists in that category than there are Presbyterians or Baptists, but all churches have a problem with people who attend, who may think they're right with God, but who don't actually have regenerated spirits.
But, of course, my series is looking at nearly 300 years ago. A lot has changed in that time. Presbyterians were Calvinists back then and represented the conservative wing of the American churches, focused on righteous living through a covenantal relationship. Methodists were the up-and-coming, focused on personal salvation and piety, but some were prone to liberalism because once you've got your fire insurance, you don't have to obey God, right? And, then Baptists were this weird group existing in small numbers growing out of the Great Awakening, that focused on both regeneration and righteous living.
My paternal grandmother was a Methodist and got into trouble (this was the 1930s) with the church when she allowed her son (my father) to attend dances and go to movies. My, how things have changed!
In my home town of Delanco, N.J. we have a Presberitan and a Methodist Church, which had revivalistic summer camps in the S. Jersey area. The Presberterian were the gospel of prosperity was piety.
I don't quite understand your last sentence. Did you mean "The Presbyterians were the gospel of prosperity AND piety"?
My pastor (who is 35 years old, so very young among pastors) was recently leading an adult Bible study and, as sometimes happens when members get him in a smaller group, the conversation sequed into other denominations. I like how he put his opinion of Presbyterians. "They started out with a good solid theology and we (Baptists) agree with them on core tenets, so the denomination is Christian. We shouldn't be trying to excommunicate one another. BUT, they've got a lot of the side issues wrong because they've compromised with the world, so no, I would never choose to become a Presbyterian."
I think, currently, he could have said the same thing about Methodists. I've met Methodist who I would say are not Christians. I've also met Baptists who probably aren't actually saved. There's far more Methodists in that category than there are Presbyterians or Baptists, but all churches have a problem with people who attend, who may think they're right with God, but who don't actually have regenerated spirits.
But, of course, my series is looking at nearly 300 years ago. A lot has changed in that time. Presbyterians were Calvinists back then and represented the conservative wing of the American churches, focused on righteous living through a covenantal relationship. Methodists were the up-and-coming, focused on personal salvation and piety, but some were prone to liberalism because once you've got your fire insurance, you don't have to obey God, right? And, then Baptists were this weird group existing in small numbers growing out of the Great Awakening, that focused on both regeneration and righteous living.
My paternal grandmother was a Methodist and got into trouble (this was the 1930s) with the church when she allowed her son (my father) to attend dances and go to movies. My, how things have changed!