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Part 4: What We Believe About Doing Good
When people think about The United Methodist Church, they might picture potlucks, hymn sings, or mission trips—but underneath all of it runs a deep conviction: faith isn’t just something we believe; it’s something we do.
From the very beginning, Methodists have been known for practical faith. John Wesley called it “holiness of heart and life”—a spirituality that always shows up in action. He famously said, “There is no holiness but social holiness.” What he meant was that a life of faith isn’t private or hidden; it naturally spills out into love of neighbor, care for the poor, and compassion for the world.
Faith in Action
Wesley organized small groups not just for prayer and study, but for works of mercy. Early Methodists visited prisons, started schools, provided food and clothing for those in need, and advocated for justice long before it was fashionable. They believed that serving others was not an optional side activity—it was the fruit of a transformed heart.
That legacy lives on today. United Methodists feed the hungry, build homes, teach literacy, respond to disasters, and challenge systems of injustice around the globe. Through UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief), our church is often one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave when crisis strikes. When you give through your local congregation, you’re part of that work—because our connection makes compassion go further.
The Social Principles
We also have a distinctive document called The Social Principles, which guide how we think and act as people of faith in the world. They cover everything from care for creation to economic justice to the dignity of every person. They aren’t laws, but moral
compasses—expressions of how love of God and neighbor shape our lives together.
The goal isn’t to tell people what to think; it’s to help us think faithfully—to bring Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience into conversation with the realities of modern life.
Personal and Social Holiness
Methodists have always believed these two belong together. Personal piety—prayer, worship, devotion—fuels social action, and social action deepens personal faith. One without the other becomes incomplete. The inward journey and the outward journey are both acts of grace. Our faith, then, is not about escaping the world, but transforming it.
When United Methodists roll up their sleeves to clean up a neighborhood, mentor a child, or advocate for peace, we are living out the heart of our tradition. To be Methodist is to have sleeves rolled up and hearts wide open.
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