[LearsFool]

Sounds like this Methodist church, being unsatisfied with Jesus' goals for the church He built, decided to invent their own. If that's correct, then this is a church no disciple of Christ ought to join himself to. It's sad to see, but comes as no surprise to those who have studied His teaching in the gospels.

To their credit, it sounds (from your description) like they were at least staying within His teaching on the few/the many, the narrow path/the wide path. So often Jesus foretold that few are able to follow Him. And perhaps this church is comprised primarily of those who are unable to do so, unable to set aside their own ideas - accumulated, perhaps, over a lifetime - and let God fill their minds with His ideas through an arduous study of His revelation in the Scriptures.

When one fellow asked Jesus whether there were few who would be saved, He replied:

"Make every effort (strive, struggle, labor, agonize, endeavour with strenuous zeal) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." - Luke 13:24

[Bryanw92]

>>”Make every effort (strive, struggle, labor, agonize, endeavour with strenuous zeal) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” - Luke 13:24

Many will try and fail. In fact, almost everyone who tries will fail.

But, God had a plan. Jesus died on a cross so that he could bring you through, not because you tried but because he succeeds. He always succeeds.