The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Bunyan On Denominations

Could someone please explain to little ol me what on earth is a "Calvinistic" Methodist please.

Nothing is at all "calvinistic" if but one point from the five is denied - like methodists do.

Mark,

Try here:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/C/CalvinisM1C1h.asp

Can you please point out to me which ones, if any of the "Five Points" George Whitefield denied?

I think he's talking about my (ex)roommate, Pilgrim.

My roomie is kind of confused about the Doctrines of Grace, and while I have tried to explain them to him, he just seems a bit more muddled when I get through with him that before.

BookMark may be referring to your room mate, but I find that hard to see when he wrote this:

It appears from like methodists do, that he is making a summary statement about ALL Methodists.

We'll just have to wait and see when/if Mark replies to find out what it is exactly he is referring to and hopefully with an example of where Whitefield denied any of the "Five Points". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/evilgrin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,

Sorry folks, I missed this .

Whitefield parted company with the methodists - didn't he ?

Of course he held to the 5 points.

No Mark Whitfield remained with the Calvinist Methodist church until the end of his life. His disagreement with Wesley (see here: http://www.gty.org/~phil/wesley.htm) didn't cause him to leave the Methodist Church.



Pete

George Whitfield remained an ordained minister in the Church of England to his dying day. He was never a member of any methodist church. The formation of the Calvinistic Methodists occurred some time after his death in the early 1800s. They were a separate denomination from the Wesleyan Methodists.

James.

James,

What you say is true as to the denominational affiliation of Whitefield. However, it is also true that he is accredited with being responsible for starting the Methodist denomination rather than what is popularly believed; i.e., the Wesley's, who had their own peculiarities in doctrine, e.g., Arminianism and Perfectionism which are probably the two most distinctive.

He may be credited with being the theological fountainhead of Calvinistic Methodism but he was most unwilling that those converted under his ministry should found another denomination. As mentioned above, this denomination did not come into being until well after his death.

As for Wesleyan Methodism, the Wesley's were likewise initially reluctant that their followers should leave the established church, but they went along with forming another denomination as events unfolded! English Methodism, rather than Welsh (Calvinistic) Methodism always displayed the stamp of the Wesleys rather than Whitefield.

Historically yours,

James.

Yes, and please note that I am in agreement with your words and the historical record. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Methodism came into existence mainly due to the teachings of Whitefield, albeit posthumously. All I was trying to emphasize is that it was not the Wesley's but Whitefield who should be given any credit for the origination of Methodism which today is hardly recognizable to that which it was in the beginning.

Thanks for the update I could find nothing that said he wasn't a member of the Methodist Church (Calvinist or otherwise) so I went on what I learned from the Methodist information I had.

Pete

Are we agreeing here? Whitefield was never a member of the Methodist church. He was always and only a member of the Church of England.

James.

Oh yes James don't worry as I said my source of information was limited yours obviously is greater than mine. I suppose one of these days I'm going to have to get a really comprehensive book(s) on Church History that will tell me all the details and not just the generalities.

Again thanks.

Pete