Following this teaching, United Methodists believe our faith is
demonstrated in the way we live. Jesus used the metaphor of a tree. He
taught, “Every good tree produces good fruit… Therefore, you will know
them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20). The book of James similarly states, “Faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity” (James2:17).
Wesley offered the early Methodists three General Rules
to help us live out our faith. Do no harm is the first rule, followed
by do good. The final rule is to attend upon “all the ordinances of
God,” for which Wesley explains are things like worship, prayer, and
fasting.
United Methodists today also have The General Rule of Discipleship stated in the Book of Discipline:
“To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings
through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit” (2016 ¶1117.2). We do these things as
individual Christians, as congregations, and as a globally-connected
denomination, not to earn something from God, but to participate in
God’s ongoing work in the world, in our lives, and in the lives of
others.