WHERE WE STAND
Penn Free Methodist Church is an independent, conservative evangelical and Protestant church, standing in the Biblical tradition of 18th century Methodism (as opposed to contemporary Methodism, which is generally characterised, very sadly, by theological liberalism). Historic Methodism was a return to the teachings of the Bible, a mighty revival of true Christianity effected through the instrumentality of a few faithful men who fearlessly proclaimed the Christian Gospel, especially in the open air. The preaching of the early Methodists very rightly centred upon the individual’s salvation through faith alone in Christ (not through merit-earning works). The preachers had a total dependence on the Holy Spirit to convict their hearers of the sinfulness of their hearts and to draw them into a personal trust in Christ for mercy, cleansing and everlasting life. This preaching helped to rescue England from violent social upheaval and revolution, such as occurred in France in 1789.
The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley (1703-1791), wrote in his Journal on 8th April, 1750:
“I preached morning, afternoon and evening, and then exhorted the society to stand fast in the good old Bible way, and not to move from it, to the right hand or to the left.”
This total reliance on the Bible as the direct revelation of God and as our sole authority continues to be the stance of Penn Free Methodist Church today. We accordingly go to Scripture, God’s word, to determine all matters of faith and practice. We continue to proclaim what the early Methodist preachers proclaimed, namely the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen again that men might know salvation and everlasting life.
In pursuit of this high calling of preaching Christ, the Saviour of sinners, we shun the political correctness which has become the message of so many churches in our day. The task of churches is not to regurgitate the fashionable doctrines of secular liberalism, but this is exactly what is happening. Modern Britain needs to hear, not the cliches of ‘equality and diversity’, not a trendy ‘save the planet’ message, not an anaemic social gospel, not the materialism of an ‘abolish poverty’ emphasis, but a straightforward Biblical call to repentance from sin and to faith in Christ. Our nation is in an absolute mess, precisely because it has abandoned its Christian foundations. We are a ‘broken society’, quite simply, because of sin and rejection of God.
The philosophy of our age is preoccupied with ‘human rights’. This is the new secular religion, and it is a symptom of man trying to be his own master, whilst rejecting the authority of God; but instead of the assertion of rights, men need to realise their responsibility before their Maker. Each individual needs to realise the enormity of the sin and rebellion against God which resides within every human heart. It is God’s rights over His creatures which should be our focus.
Failure to believe in the one true Trinitarian God is a refusal to accept the authority under which we are all called to live, for it is God who has given us life in the first place. There is pride and sinfulness in the human heart, which must be radically dealt with. We shall never solve society's problems by throwing Government money at them. The need of the hour is for each individual to repent of sin, and to come to Jesus Christ, who, out of love for us, warned us: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
To those who do come to Christ, in repentance and faith, He is a loving and merciful Saviour, granting to each believer in Him, through His wondrous grace, and through no merits of their own, the gift of everlasting life.
PENN FREE METHODIST CHURCH
