What is the difference between methodist and Lutheran?
Methodists believe in a doctrine called prevenient grace, which they believe to be a type of grace that has covered the whole earth, enabling all persons to come to salvation. Some people *incorrectly* extend this teaching to either universalism, or a modified form of universalism in which salvation is an “opt-out” program. This is a misapplication and distortion of the teaching, but one that you will run into from time to time. Lutherans do not believe in prevenient grace; rather, we believe that ordinarily, grace is initially delievered to a person either through the preaching of God’s Word or through the sacrament of Baptism, and that both together complete a person’s conversion to the Christian faith. This difference leads to a quite different understanding of the role the sacraments play in the Christian life. Lutherans are much more catholic in our view of this, while Methodists have a unique view that tends to be closer to mainstream Protestantism. Hope this helps!
