Anabaptist article

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I came across this article (http://www.spurgeon.org/%7Ephil/anabapt.htm) about Anabaptists recently. I wonder if any Anabaptists, or even Baptists, would like to comment.

[MrJim]

Historical anabaptists aren't calvinists or lutherans or baptist so that's why the article says to cautiously approach them. Historical anabaptists don't buy the "reformed" package of goods because they saw what it was doing with Zwingli's and Luther's-turning them into antinominians--that is to say "once saved always saved we are 'free' in Christ" and then they just went on about their way with no change in their life.

And I would question the "sola scriptura"--the historical anabaptists were a bit more "mystical". Some said that the bible was like a tavern sign. The sign says "Food and Wine" but the sign isn't the food and wine--it's inside the tavern. They said that the bible wasn't the Word of God but that Christ was the Word of God. The words were just ink on paper acting as a guide to the true Word.

Anabaptists weren't liked by many during the reformation with persecution coming from both the protestants and the catholics. They didn't fit in well...

Most of your anabaptists today (I speak only of mennonites for that is what I know) fall into two groups: basic evangelical conservative or basic evangelical liberal--each with maybe a "peace" stance. If you search into the very conservative mennonites and the amish you will still find some historical anabaptists. If you plan on debating them on their position you'd better pack a big lunch-but you'll have to travel to the backwoods of PA, OH, and elsewhere to find them ;). Their apologists may look and seem backward but they are extremely sharp and very biblically and historically literate.

[JPPT1974]

Interesting article indeed. But seems as though anabaptists you rarely hear about these days. I don't want to use the word extinct as that would sound like a cruel word IMO.

[MrJim]

Oh, they are still out there. If interested in learning more check out David Bercot and the folks at Scroll Publishing:

http://www.scrollpublishing.com/