can I hang out here?

[handmaiden97]

hi all....I just wanted to know if I can hang out here with you all....Im not mennonite, amish, or quaker.

I grew up two by two, but honestly dont feel they are truly christian so would not really associate myself that way..

I attend a charismatic church, have a love for the word of God and take it quite literally like many of my baptist friends and I share many of the ideal ans values on marriage,parenting, submission, courtship, modesty (but Im not dresses only) with my mennonite friends. I have even learned to play volleyball in a skirt

but Not being mennonite I wanted to be sure I was welcome to hang out here

[MrJim]

hi all....I just wanted to know if I can hang out here with you all....Im not mennonite, amish, or quaker.

I grew up two by two, but honestly dont feel they are truly christian so would not really associate myself that way..

I attend a charismatic church, have a love for the word of God and take it quite literally like many of my baptist friends and I share many of the ideal ans values on marriage,parenting, submission, courtship, modesty (but Im not dresses only) with my mennonite friends. I have even learned to play volleyball in a skirt

but Not being mennonite I wanted to be sure I was welcome to hang out here

Sure, just note the rules and join in.

What do you mean by "two by two"?

[Danfrey]

The phrase two by two makes me think of the Waldensians. That is how they went out preaching.

Of course you are welcome here.

[Jehane]

Hi. They took me in & I'm none of those things either, God Bless. Jehane

[ZiSunka]

Of course you are welcome.

[Safrguns]

Hi,

Someone mentioned in another thread the term Anabaptist.
I'd never heard the term before, so I checked the links here.
What I've read so far doesn't seem to differ much from core tennants of the christian faith, so I'm just curious....

What are the key components of the Anabaptist faith which differentiate it from baptists, or methodists, or catholics?

What core doctrines concerning Jesus Christ and our salvation are different?

I've never really examined what mennonites believe or why they practice a societal lifestyle which seems to be separated from everyone else.... or is that Quakers?... i don't know.

I promise... I'm not here to argue any points... I'm just looking for a GOOD simplistic definition as opposed to a laundry list of articles of faith.

[ZiSunka]

Differentiating points:

The peace witness--anabaptists are non-resistant to violence and believe that Christians should never engage in violence or killing in any form.

The simple lifestyle--most anabaptist believe that ostentatious living is for the unsaved and that God's people elect to live in a manner that is economical, judiciously decorated and useful. They typically select occupations that serve others, such as farmer, doctor, teacher, etc.

Sola Scriptura--everything God needs to tell us is written in the Bible; no other revelations are necessary.

Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone--even the clothing and buggies are just a manifestation of faith and are in no way able to contribute to our salvation; Christ did everything that needed to be done on the cross, we add nothing.

[Safrguns]

Differentiating points:

The peace witness--anabaptists are non-resistant to violence and believe that Christians should never engage in violence or killing in any form.

The simple lifestyle--most anabaptist believe that ostentatious living is for the unsaved and that God's people elect to live in a manner that is economical, judiciously decorated and useful. They typically select occupations that serve others, such as farmer, doctor, teacher, etc.

Sola Scriptura--everything God needs to tell us is written in the Bible; no other revelations are necessary.

Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone--even the clothing and buggies are just a manifestation of faith and are in no way able to contribute to our salvation; Christ did everything that needed to be done on the cross, we add nothing.

Thank you....
Can you expand on ostenatious living?
Can you give me your view on what it means to be born again?
Eternal Security vs conditional salvation?
Is one considered to be saved outside the anabaptist faith?...
i.e. are baptists or methodists saved too if their faith is in Christ alone for their salvation?

[handmaiden97]

The phrase two by two makes me think of the Waldensians. That is how they went out preaching.

Of course you are welcome here.
well Im not sure who the Waldensies were but here is a link on the internet that gives a brief overview of the two by twos. http://www.workersect.org/2x201.html

As a kid I recall we met in homes the workers ministered in pairs, women dressed conservativly, married women pinned their hair up sometimes wore a covering. It was not until as an adult I began to reserch the doctrines of the church I discovered they do not beleive in the deity of Christ..They are great people! Most of my family lived and died as two by twos (By the way two by two is not the name they prefer, as they dont offically have a name.....it is just a common nickname in this area...in th emidwest they call them mudcrickers but I dont know why?!?!

[MrJim]

Thank you....
Can you expand on ostenatious living?
Can you give me your view on what it means to be born again?
Eternal Security vs conditional salvation?
Is one considered to be saved outside the anabaptist faith?...
i.e. are baptists or methodists saved too if their faith is in Christ alone for their salvation?

Ostentatious is simply referring to a lifestyle that is self centered and concerned primarily with comfort and luxury.

Anabaptists are primarily arminian-that is, believing in a conditional security. We are born again by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and by following and obeying what Jesus taught we stay in communion with Him. You can find more details in the sticky regarding our confessions.

We are not exclusive, believing that only anabaptists are saved. At the end these labels are not going to really mean anything anyway.

Another distinctive of the anabaptists is being discussed in the "Two Kingdoms" thread. The anabaptist worldview is key to understanding us, and the teaching of the doctrine of the two kingdoms is the underpinnings for the particular viewpoints.

[ZiSunka]

Thank you....
Can you expand on ostenatious living?

Menno already did a good job with that question.


Can you give me your view on what it means to be born again?

Same thing it means to baptists and methodists--it's to put your faith in the redemptive work Jesus accomplished on the cross and to become a new person, as descrbed many places in the NT.


Eternal Security vs conditional salvation?

Some anabaptists believe that since salvation is a gift of God, it can never be lost. Others believe that although God doesn't revoke the gift, a person can choose to void it by living in a manner inconsistent with faith in Jesus Christ.


Is one considered to be saved outside the anabaptist faith?...
i.e. are baptists or methodists saved too if their faith is in Christ alone for their salvation?

A person is saved by grace through saving faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone who has that saving faith is saved, regardless of what church they attend or even if they don't attend church at all.

[Safrguns]

Ostentatious is simply referring to a lifestyle that is self centered and concerned primarily with comfort and luxury.

Anabaptists are primarily arminian-that is, believing in a conditional security. We are born again by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and by following and obeying what Jesus taught we stay in communion with Him. You can find more details in the sticky regarding our confessions.

We are not exclusive, believing that only anabaptists are saved. At the end these labels are not going to really mean anything anyway.

Another distinctive of the anabaptists is being discussed in the "Two Kingdoms" thread. The anabaptist worldview is key to understanding us, and the teaching of the doctrine of the two kingdoms is the underpinnings for the particular viewpoints.

I guess this answers my questions... thanks!

I was reading a little in the two kingdoms... on the surface, I tend to agree... My impression was that this view involves our re-born spirits currently dwelling in the kingdom of heaven with God... sort of like we are co-existing in two places very far apart.
Is this a correct summation of the principle?

[Safrguns]

Some anabaptists believe that since salvation is a gift of God, it can never be lost. Others believe that although God doesn't revoke the gift, a person can choose to void it by living in a manner inconsistent with faith in Jesus Christ.


Thank you... This helped a lot.

[MrJim]

I was reading a little in the two kingdoms... on the surface, I tend to agree... My impression was that this view involves our re-born spirits currently dwelling in the kingdom of heaven with God... sort of like we are co-existing in two places very far apart.
Is this a correct summation of the principle?

No, the Kingdom of God is very much in the now. The Kingdom is within us as the scripture teaches, and we follow a different king than the world does. So in a very real way we are simply ambassadors to the kingdom of man. That, then, explains why most anabaptists have no real allegience to a worldly kingdom.

I am a former US Marine-very patriotic sort. I pledged an oath of allegience to the US Constitution to uphold and defend. I am not part of that kind of world anymore--we anabaptists make poor "patriots" when it comes to nationalism. And if you think about it, if I am a "patriotic" christian and go fight american wars, and my iranian christian brother is a "patriotic" christian and fights iranian wars, then we could be in a place where we are trying to kill each other because that is what our nations are telling us to do. We then are following the worldly leaders commands over God's commands.

You cannot serve two masters...

[Danfrey]

No, the Kingdom of God is very much in the now. The Kingdom is within us as the scripture teaches, and we follow a different king than the world does. So in a very real way we are simply ambassadors to the kingdom of man. That, then, explains why most anabaptists have no real allegience to a worldly kingdom.

I am a former US Marine-very patriotic sort. I pledged an oath of allegience to the US Constitution to uphold and defend. I am not part of that kind of world anymore--we anabaptists make poor "patriots" when it comes to nationalism. And if you think about it, if I am a "patriotic" christian and go fight american wars, and my iranian christian brother is a "patriotic" christian and fights iranian wars, then we could be in a place where we are trying to kill each other because that is what our nations are telling us to do. We then are following the worldly leaders commands over God's commands.

You cannot serve two masters...
Well said Menno.

[ZiSunka]

I don't know any anabaptists who are patriotic, to be honest.

[MrJim]

I don't know any anabaptists who are patriotic, to be honest.

I've come across some of the liberal ones that are pretty staunch democrats...

[Danfrey]

I haven't met any that are patriotic, but I have met some who I would consider anti-government, which is just as dangerous in my view. Neither would fit into a two kingdoms theology.

[Safrguns]

No, the Kingdom of God is very much in the now. The Kingdom is within us as the scripture teaches, and we follow a different king than the world does. So in a very real way we are simply ambassadors to the kingdom of man. That, then, explains why most anabaptists have no real allegience to a worldly kingdom.

I am a former US Marine-very patriotic sort. I pledged an oath of allegience to the US Constitution to uphold and defend. I am not part of that kind of world anymore--we anabaptists make poor "patriots" when it comes to nationalism. And if you think about it, if I am a "patriotic" christian and go fight american wars, and my iranian christian brother is a "patriotic" christian and fights iranian wars, then we could be in a place where we are trying to kill each other because that is what our nations are telling us to do. We then are following the worldly leaders commands over God's commands.

You cannot serve two masters...

Well, my hat is off to anyone who actually progresses from knowing and understanding God's Word to applying it in their own lives... putting Him first.... and taking on humility. Thats not easy.