How are Presbyterians different than Baptists or Methodists?
Baptists often emphasize the importance of making a decision for Jesus Christ and being baptized. Methodists often encourage spiritual disciplines and taking seriously the life of faith. These are all good things. Presbyterians have a different emphasis. We believe human beings cannot do anything to affect their own salvation. God has chosen us. Still we believe accepting Christ is important and we encourage various disciplines to live out our relationship with God. The difference is in what is “required”. To become a church member, we ask people to affirm faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Methodist and Presbyterian worship services are often similar in tone; however, historically we come from different notions about how God works. Presbyterians get their name from the way they govern with elders. The root word for Presbyterian, presbuteros, is the Greek word for elder.
