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Do not fill this in! ==Theology== {{Main|Wesleyan theology}} {{quote box |title=A traditional summary of Methodist teaching |quote=All need to be [[salvation in Christianity|saved]].<br />[[Unlimited atonement|All may be saved]].<br />All may [[Assurance (theology)|know themselves saved]].<br />All may be [[Christian perfection|saved to the uttermost]]. |source=''Catechism for the Use of the People Called Methodists''.<ref name="Catechism">{{cite book|title=A Catechism for the Use of the People Called Methodists|date=2000|publisher=Methodist Publishing House|location=Peterborough [England]|isbn=978-1858521824}}</ref>{{rp|40}} |width = 20% |align = right }} Many Methodist bodies, such as the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] and the [[United Methodist Church]], base their doctrinal standards on the [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]],<ref name="Vickers2016">{{cite book|last=Vickers|first=Jason|title=A Wesleyan Theology of the Eucharist: The Presence of God for Christian Life and Ministry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BBRrDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT350|access-date=11 March 2017|date=2016|publisher=BookBaby|language=en|isbn=978-0938162513|page=350}}</ref> John Wesley's abridgment of the [[Thirty-nine Articles]] of the Church of England that excised its Calvinist features.<ref name="Melton2005">{{cite book|last=Melton|first=J. Gordon|title=Encyclopedia of Protestantism|date=2005|publisher=Infobase Publishing|language=en |isbn=978-0816069835|page=48|quote=Among the items deleted by Wesley as unnecessary for Methodists were articles on of Works Before Justification, which in Calvinism are largely discounted, but in Methodism lauded; Of Predestination and Election, which Wesley felt would be understood in a Calvinist manner that the Methodists rejected; and of the Traditions of the Church, which Wesley felt to be no longer at issue.}}</ref> Some Methodist denominations also publish [[catechism]]s, which concisely summarise Christian [[doctrine]].<ref name="Catechism" /> Methodists generally accept the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the [[Nicene Creed]] as declarations of shared Christian faith.<ref name="Catechism" />{{rp|30β33}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Why do we say creeds?|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/why-do-we-say-creeds|publisher=The United Methodist Church|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> Methodism also affirms the traditional Christian belief in the [[Holy Trinity|triune Godhead]] (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as well as the [[Christian orthodoxy|orthodox]] understanding of the person of Jesus Christ as [[Incarnation (Christianity)|God incarnate]] who is both [[Hypostatic union|fully divine and fully human]].<ref name="articles">{{cite web|last1=Communications|first1=United Methodist|title=The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/the-articles-of-religion-of-the-methodist-church|website=United Methodist Communications|publisher=The United Methodist Church|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928045447/http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/the-articles-of-religion-of-the-methodist-church|archive-date=28 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Methodism emphasizes doctrines that indicate the power of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] to strengthen the faith of believers and to transform their personal lives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Methodism {{!}} History, Beliefs, & Organization |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Methodism |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=5 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Methodism is broadly [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] in doctrine and is characterized by Wesleyan theology;<ref name="Tillett1907">{{cite book |last=Tillett |first=Wilbur Fisk |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQ_QULVJ8qIC&pg=PA12 |title=A Statement of the Faith of World-Wide Methodism |publisher=Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South |year=1907 |page=12 |language=en-us |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> John Wesley is studied by Methodists for his interpretation of church practice and doctrine.<ref name="Catechism" />{{rp|38}} At its heart, the theology of John Wesley stressed the life of Christian holiness: to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength and to [[Golden Rule|love one's neighbour as oneself]].<ref>See {{Bibleverse|Mark|12:31|NRSV}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Communications|first1=United Methodist|title=Our Wesleyan Heritage|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/our-wesleyan-heritage|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=18 October 2016}}</ref> One popular expression of Methodist doctrine is in the [[hymn]]s of Charles Wesley.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chilcote |first1=Paul |title=Methodist Theology |url=https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MethodistTheology#section1.4 |journal=St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology |date=2022}}</ref> Since enthusiastic [[congregational singing]] was a part of the early evangelical movement, Wesleyan theology took root and spread through this channel.<ref>Preface to ''The Methodist Hymn Book'', December 1933.</ref><ref>John Wesley. "Preface to ''A collection of Hymns for use of the People called Methodists''", 20 October 1779.</ref> Martin V. Clarke, who documented the history of Methodist hymnody, states: <blockquote>Theologically and doctrinally, the content of the hymns has traditionally been a primary vehicle for expressing Methodism's emphasis on salvation for all, social holiness, and personal commitment, while particular hymns and the communal act of participating in hymn singing have been key elements in the spiritual lives of Methodists.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clarke |first1=Martin V. |title=British Methodist Hymnody: Theology, Heritage, and Experience |date= 2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-17179-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkYrDwAAQBAJ |access-date=22 January 2021 |page=1 |language=en}}</ref></blockquote> ===Salvation=== [[File:Sankt Georgen am Laengsee Launsdorf Kreisverkehr Bildstock Kreuzigung Christi 02122015 2428.jpg|thumb|Methodists believe Jesus Christ died for all humanity, not a limited few: the doctrine of [[unlimited atonement]].]] Wesleyan Methodists identify with the [[Arminian]] conception of [[free will]], as opposed to the [[theological determinism]] of absolute [[predestination]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Roger E. |last=Olson|title=Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5P0oPZraEQsC&pg=PA33|year=2009|publisher=InterVarsity Press|page=33|isbn=978-0830874439}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|''Arminianism'' is named after [[Jacobus Arminius]], a Dutch theologian who was trained to preach [[Calvinism]] but concluded that ''some'' aspects of Calvinism had to be modified in the light of Scripture.<ref>Parkyns, Edgar (1996). ''His Waiting Bride'', pp 169β170, {{ISBN|0-9526800-0-9}}</ref> Arminians as well as Calvinists appeal to Scripture and the early [[Church Father]]s to support their respective views, however the differences remain{{snd}}Arminianism holds to the role of [[Free will in theology#Christianity|free will]] in salvation and rejects the doctrines of [[predestination]] and [[unconditional election]].<ref>Ashby, Stephen "Reformed Arminianism" ''Four Views on Eternal Security'' (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 137</ref> John Wesley was perhaps the clearest English proponent of Arminian theology.<ref>John Wesley, [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/sermons.toc.html Sermons on Several Occasions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131051225/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/sermons.toc.html |date=31 January 2014 }} for further detail.</ref>|group="nb"|name="Arminianism"}} Methodism teaches that [[Salvation in Christianity#Arminianism|salvation]] is initiated when one chooses to respond to God, who draws the individual near to him (the Wesleyan doctrine of [[prevenient grace]]), thus teaching [[synergism]].<ref name="Olson2002">{{cite book|last=Olson|first=Roger E.|title=The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity|date=2002|publisher=InterVarsity Press|isbn=978-0830826957|page=281|quote=Two examples of Christian synergism are the Catholic reformer Erasmus, who was roughly contemporary with Luther, and the 17th-century Dutch theologian Arminius. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist tradition, was also a synergist with regard to salvation.}}</ref><ref name="2002Olson">{{cite book|last=Olson|first=Roger E.|title=The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity|date= 2002|publisher=InterVarsity Press|language=en|isbn=978-0830826957|page=281|quote=About one hundred and twenty-five years later, the English revivalist and Methodist founder Wesley taught the same basic syneristic view of salvation based on belief in God's prevenient grace enabling fallen sinners to respond freely to God's offer of saving grace.}}</ref> Methodists interpret Scripture as teaching that the [[atonement in Christianity|saving work]] of Jesus Christ is for all people ([[unlimited atonement]]) but effective only to those who respond and believe, in accordance with the [[Reformation]] principles of ''[[sola gratia]]'' (grace alone) and ''[[sola fide]]'' (faith alone).<ref>Davies, Gwyn (2002). "A Light in the Land" (2002). p. 46. {{ISBN|1-85049-181-X}}.</ref> John Wesley taught four key points fundamental to Methodism: # A person is free not only to reject salvation but also to accept it by an act of free will. # All people who are obedient to [[the gospel]] according to the measure of knowledge given them will be saved. # The Holy Spirit assures a Christian that they are [[Justification (theology)|justified]] by faith in Jesus ([[assurance (theology)|assurance of faith]]).<ref name="AbrahamKirby"/><ref name="Yates2015">{{cite book |last1=Yates |first1=Arthur S. |title=The Doctrine of Assurance: With Special Reference to John Wesley |date=2015 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1498205047 |language=en |quote=Writing to Arthur Bedford on 4th August 1738, Wesley says: 'That assurance of which alone I speak, I should not choose to call an assurance of salvation, but rather (with the Scriptures) the assurance of faith.}}</ref> # Christians in this life are capable of [[Christian perfection#Wesleyan teaching|Christian perfection]] and are commanded by God to pursue it.<ref name="Harper">Harper, J. Steven (1983). ''The Way to Heaven: The Gospel According to John Wesley'', {{ISBN|0-310-25260-1}}.</ref> After the [[first work of grace]] (the new birth),<ref name="Stokes1998"/> Methodist [[soteriology]] emphasizes the importance of the pursuit of holiness in salvation,<ref name="Joyner2007">{{cite book|last=Joyner|first=F. Belton|title=United Methodist Answers|year=2007|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|isbn=978-0664230395|page=80|quote=Jacob Albright, founder of the movement that led to the Evangelical Church flow in The United Methodist Church, got into trouble with some of his Lutheran, Reformed, and Mennonite neighbors because he insisted that salvation not only involved ritual but meant a change of heart, a different way of living.}}</ref> a concept best summarized in a quote by Methodist evangelist [[Phoebe Palmer]] who stated that "justification would have ended with me had I refused to be holy."<ref name="Sawyer2016">{{cite book|last=Sawyer|first=M. James|title=The Survivor's Guide to Theology|year=2016|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|language=en|isbn=978-1498294058|page=363}}</ref> Thus, for Methodists, "true faith ... cannot subsist without works."<ref name="Knight2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.catalystresources.org/wesley-on-faith-and-good-works/|title=Wesley on Faith and Good Works|last=Knight III|first=Henry H.|date=9 July 2013|publisher=AFTE|language=en|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> Methodism, inclusive of the [[holiness movement]], thus teaches that "justification [is made] conditional on obedience and progress in [[Sanctification in Christianity#Methodist|sanctification]]",<ref name="Sawyer2016"/> emphasizing "a deep reliance upon Christ not only in coming to faith, but in remaining in the faith."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timothytennent.com/2011/07/09/means-of-grace-why-i-am-a-methodist-and-an-evangelical-part-3/|title=Means of Grace: Why I am a Methodist and an Evangelical|last=Tennent|first=Timothy|date=9 July 2011|publisher=[[Asbury Theological Seminary]]|language=en|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> John Wesley taught that the keeping of the moral law contained in the [[Ten Commandments]],<ref name="Campbell2011">{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Ted A.|title=Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials|edition=2nd|date=2011|publisher=Abingdon Press|language=en|isbn=978-1426753473|pages=40, 68β69}}</ref> as well as engaging in the [[works of piety]] and the [[works of mercy]], were "indispensable for our sanctification".<ref name="Knight2013"/> Methodists also believe in the [[second work of grace]]{{snd}}Christian perfection, also known as entire sanctification, which removes [[original sin]] and makes the believer holy.<ref name="Stokes1998"/> John Wesley explained, "entire sanctification, or Christian perfection, is neither more nor less than pure love; love expelling sin, and governing both the heart and life of a child of God. The Refiner's fire purges out all that is contrary to love."<ref>Wesley, John. ''The Works of John Wesley'', Third Edition., vol. 12 (London, England: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room, 1872), p. 432.</ref><ref name="Whidden2005">{{cite web |last1=Whidden |first1=Woodrow W. |title=Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection |url=https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/es/node/203 |publisher=Biblical Research Institute |access-date=30 June 2019 |language=English |date=18 April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630044749/https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/es/node/203|archive-date=30 June 2019}}</ref> Methodist churches teach that [[Apostasy in Christianity|apostasy]] can occur through a loss of faith or through [[Christian views on sin#Methodist views|sinning]].<ref name="Pinson2002">{{cite book |last1=Pinson |first1=J. Matthew |title=Four Views on Eternal Security |date=2002 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=978-0310234395 |page=18 |language=English |quote=While for Arminius loss of salvation came only through ceasing to believe in Christ, Wesleyans held that it could result from eiter unbelief or unconfessed sin. ... Anabaptists (e.g., Mennonites, Brethren) and Restorationists (e.g., the Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ) have traditionally tended towards doctrines of salvation{{snd}}similar to that of Wesleyan Arminianism without affirming a "second blessing" and entire sanctification. There have always been some in these groups, however, who has espoused a view more akin to Reformed Arminianism. Many traditional Lutherans also affirm the possibility of apostasy and reconversion.}}</ref><ref name="Robinson2016">{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Jeff |title=Meet a Reformed Arminian |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/meet-a-reformed-arminian/ |publisher=[[The Gospel Coalition]] |access-date=16 June 2019 |language=English |date=25 August 2016 |quote=Reformed Arminianism's understanding of apostasy veers from the Wesleyan notion that individuals may repeatedly fall from grace by committing individual sins and may be repeatedly restored to a state of grace through penitence.}}</ref> If a person [[backsliding|backslides]] but later decides to return to God, he or she must confess his or her sins and be entirely sanctified again (the Arminian doctrine of [[conditional security]]).<ref name="Robinson">{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Jeff |title=Meet a Reformed Arminian |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/meet-a-reformed-arminian/ |publisher=[[The Gospel Coalition]] |access-date=16 June 2019 |language=en |date=25 August 2016 |quote=Reformed Arminianism's understanding of apostasy veers from the Wesleyan notion that individuals may repeatedly fall from grace by committing individual sins and may be repeatedly restored to a state of grace through penitence.}}</ref><ref name="CaugheyAllen1850">{{cite book |last1=Caughey |first1=James |last2=Allen |first2=Ralph William |title=Methodism in Earnest |url=https://archive.org/details/methodisminearn00wisegoog |date=1850 |publisher=Charles H. Peirce |language=en |quote=She had lost the blessing of entire sanctification; but a few days after this she obtained it again.}}</ref> {{See also|Baptism with the Holy Spirit}} ===Sacraments=== Methodists hold that [[sacrament]]s are sacred acts of divine institution. Methodism has inherited its liturgy from [[Anglicanism]], although Wesleyan theology tends to have a stronger "sacramental emphasis" than that held by [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglicans]].<ref name="Kennedy2016">{{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=David J.|title=Eucharistic Sacramentality in an Ecumenical Context: The Anglican Epiclesis |access-date=16 March 2017 |date=2016|publisher=Routledge|language=en |isbn=978-1317140115|page=75|quote=Evangelical Anglicans in the main did not follow the sacramental emphasis of the Wesleys but tended to be Cranmerian in their eucharistic theology, rejecting any notion of an objective presence of Christ in the elements.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6twuk5c8OSYC}}</ref> In common with most Protestants, Methodists recognize two sacraments as being instituted by Christ: [[Baptism]] and [[Holy Communion]] (also called the Lord's Supper).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=David Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9xyaPnbtYkC |title=Protestant Nonconformist Texts: The twentieth century |last2=Dix |first2=Kenneth |last3=Ruston |first3=Alan |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Limited |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7546-4013-4 |page=98 |language=en |access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref> Most Methodist churches practice [[infant baptism]], in anticipation of a response to be made later ([[confirmation]]), as well as [[believer's baptism|baptism of believing adults]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQs about Baptism, Membership, and Salvation |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/faqs-about-baptism-membership-and-salvation |website=Discipleship Ministries |publisher=United Methodist Church |access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref> The ''Catechism for the Use of the People Called Methodists'' states that, "[in Holy Communion] Jesus Christ is [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|present]] with his worshipping people and gives himself to them as their Lord and Saviour."<ref name="Catechism"/>{{rp|26}} In the United Methodist Church, the explanation of how [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|Christ's presence is made manifest]] in the elements (bread and wine) is described as a "Holy Mystery".<ref>{{cite web|title=This Holy Mystery|url=http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4951419&ct=11623561|publisher=The United Methodist Church|access-date=23 June 2013|year=2004}}</ref> Methodist churches generally recognize sacraments to be a [[means of grace]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Means of Grace|url=http://www.irishmethodist.org/sites/default/files/pdf/manualoflaws/Chapter%2003.pdf|publisher=Methodist Church in Ireland|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002407/http://www.irishmethodist.org/sites/default/files/pdf/manualoflaws/Chapter%2003.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> John Wesley held that God also imparted [[Grace in Christianity|grace]] by other established means such as public and private [[prayer]], Scripture reading, [[Bible study (Christian)|study]] and [[preaching]], [[Christian worship|public worship]], and [[fasting]]; these constitute the works of piety.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wesleyan Means of Grace |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace |publisher=United Methodist Church|access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> Wesley considered means of grace to be "outward signs, words, or actions ... to be the ordinary channels whereby [God] might convey to men, preventing [i.e., preparing], justifying or sanctifying grace."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wesley Center Online: Sermon 16 β The Means Of Grace |url=http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-16-the-means-of-grace/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=wesley.nnu.edu}}</ref> Specifically Methodist means, such as the [[cell group|class meetings]], provided his chief examples for these prudential means of grace.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=L. Edward |date=2014 |title=The Holy Communion as a Means of Grace and the Question of On-line Communion |url=http://www.gbhem.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/online_communion/Means-of-Grace-and-the-Question-of-Online-Communion.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001700/http://www.gbhem.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/online_communion/Means-of-Grace-and-the-Question-of-Online-Communion.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=20 October 2016 |publisher=United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry}}</ref> ===Sources of teaching=== {{Further|Wesleyan Quadrilateral|Prima scriptura}} American Methodist theologian [[Albert Outler]], in assessing John Wesley's own practices of theological reflection, proposes a methodology termed the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral".<ref name="Outler1985">{{cite web |first=Albert C. |last=Outler |author-link=Albert C. Outler |url=http://wesley.nnu.edu/fileadmin/imported_site/wesleyjournal/1985-wtj-20-1.pdf |title=The Wesleyan Quadrilateral in John Wesley |editor=Jason Gingerich |publisher=Wesley Center for Applied Theology |year=1985 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329052011/http://wesley.nnu.edu/fileadmin/imported_site/wesleyjournal/1985-wtj-20-1.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Wesley's Quadrilateral is referred to in Methodism as "our theological guidelines" and is taught to its [[Minister (Christianity)|ministers]] (clergy) in [[seminary]] as the primary approach to interpreting Scripture and gaining guidance for moral questions and dilemmas faced in daily living.<ref name="Patterson">{{cite book |last=Patterson |first=Ronald |title=The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church |date=1984 |publisher=United Methodist Publishing House |location=Nashville, Tennessee |language=en-us}}</ref>{{rp|76β88}} Traditionally, Methodists declare the [[Bible]] ([[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s) to be the only divinely inspired Scripture and the primary source of authority for Christians.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chilcote |first1=Paul |title=Methodist Theology |url=https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MethodistTheology#section1.2.4 |journal=St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology |date=2022}}</ref> The historic Methodist understanding of Scripture is based on the superstructure of [[Wesleyan covenant theology]].<ref name="Rodes2014">{{cite book |last=Rodes |first=Stanley J. |title=From Faith to Faith: John Wesley's Covenant Theology and the Way of Salvation |date=2014 |publisher=James Clarke & Company |isbn=978-0227902202 |language=en}}</ref> Methodists also make use of [[Christian tradition|tradition]], drawing primarily from the teachings of the [[Church Fathers]], as a source of authority. Tradition may serve as a lens through which Scripture is interpreted. Theological discourse for Methodists almost always makes use of Scripture read inside the wider theological tradition of Christianity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wesleyan Quadrilateral, the |url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/glossary-wesleyan-quadrilateral-the |work=Glossary |publisher=United Methodist Church |access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Boaheng |first1=Isaac |title=The Wesleyan Quadrilateral and Contemporary Biblical Exegesis |journal=Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology |date=2 September 2020 |pages=87β95|volume=2|issue=3 |doi=10.38159/motbit.2020091|doi-access=free }}</ref> John Wesley contended that a part of the theological method would involve experiential faith.<ref name="Outler1985"/> In other words, truth would be vivified in personal experience of Christians (overall, not individually), if it were really truth. And every doctrine must be able to be defended rationally. He did not divorce [[faith]] from [[reason]]. By reason, one asks questions of faith and seeks to understand God's action and will. Tradition, experience and reason, however, were subject always to Scripture, Wesley argued, because only there is the Word of God [[Revelation|revealed]] "so far as it is necessary for our salvation."<ref name="Patterson"/>{{rp|77}} {{Anchor|Worship}}<!--Do not change. Templates redirect here.--> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page