Major differences between Anabaptists and evengelicals?

[EturnaL]

Please help me learn what is different between an Anabaptist and an evangelical.

[MrJim]

What have you heard?

[AnaBaptistPat]

we actually believe the Bible. :preach: :amen:

[EturnaL]

Any doctrinal differences would be ideal for this thread...

[bdarien]

historically anabaptists were totally against the child baptism rites of the Catholic church, but they also were totally against service in the armed forces,

and

evangelical is such a broad term that it would more often include anabaptists as opposed to being different;

evangelical is more of a description of a church's position on outreach

for instance some catholic church's consider themselves evangelical as do most protestant churches because they believe that the church grows primarily by outreach thru evangelism to the lost,

while some churches prefer the be fruitful and multiply method of church growth, ie having children and instilling in them a devotion to a particular denomination, whether catholic, orthodox, or protestant.

[vespasia]

Urm...I am anabaptist AND evangelical.

I have never found the two things incompatiable.

[EturnaL]

Ok, differences from non-denominational then.

thanks :)

[WayneinMaine]

This is something I had written some tinme ago on a different forum:

The differences are subtle but important.

Evangelical Protestantism sees the focus of God's activity in history as personal salvation. Their spiritual focus is on "God's plan of salvation" (a phrase not found in the bible). Faith in Christ and His finished work are all that is necessary to be eternally saved.

Anabaptists held that Jesus calls us to follow him, we are called to repent and obey and to separate ourselves as His people. The focus is on discipleship. Salvation for the Evangelical comes the instant one believes and is "born again"; the new birth to the Anabaptists gives rise to a new life, this life of faithfully following the path trod by Jesus and bearing your cross will lead to your salvation in the end.

For the Evangelical the teachings of Jesus in the sermon of the mount (and elsewhere) are either examples to demonstrate the impossibility of obedience and salvation "by works", or at most ideals which we are not expected to attain. For the Anabaptist, the teachings of Jesus are requirements for those who profess to believe.

There's a great deal more that could be said, especially as it relates to the church. Some of what I mention might seem like fine distinctions, or might seem debatable, but when you read the writings of the early Anabaptists and compare them with modern Evangelical writers, you see the real difference in emphasis. These days so much of Protestantism has been infused in Mennonite and Brethren churches that it is difficult to discern that there is radical difference between Luther and Simons or Zwingli and Grebel, or Calvin and Riedemann.

[MrJim]

Great points Wayne, ya might just have to expand even more...

[AnaBaptistPat]

I dunno about you, but I was saved, I was saved forever... :amen:

-ABP

[MrJim]

I dunno about you, but I was saved, I was saved forever... :amen:

-ABP

OSAS isn't a typical anabaptist teaching...but we are an eclectic gathering;)

[MrJim]

One of the big differences is in the world view. American Evangelicals (that's with a capital "E") tend to be huge nationalists/patriotic "America" sort of folks. And that can be either Republican Conservatives or Democratic Liberal or Independents. Historical anabaptist shy away from this view in favor of a larger world view which places the Kingdom of God in the center, not a Kingdom of Man dressed up in religious garb...

[WayneinMaine]

I dunno about you, but I was saved, I was saved forever... :amen:

-ABP
As the Amish man said when asked if he was saved: "not yet!" (Matt 24:13)

[EturnaL]

As the Amish man said when asked if he was saved: "not yet!" (Matt 24:13)

Good response- Luke 15:12, 32

And thanks for the other info as well.

[CelticRose]

Um, it's early & the old mind's not working too well yet due to a lack of caffine intake but shouldn't salvation & disciplship go hand in hand? If one is saved the evidence & proof of one's salvation is in the new life. If one is saved isn't our desire to become more & more confirmed to the likeness of our Lord & saviour, Jesus Christ? That's how it has always seemed to me. Have I missed something here?

[catlover]

Um, it's early & the old mind's not working too well yet due to a lack of caffine intake but shouldn't salvation & disciplship go hand in hand? If one is saved the evidence & proof of one's salvation is in the new life. If one is saved isn't our desire to become more & more confirmed to the likeness of our Lord & saviour, Jesus Christ? That's how it has always seemed to me. Have I missed something here?


You have not missed anything.

[WayneinMaine]

Um, it's early & the old mind's not working too well yet due to a lack of caffine intake but shouldn't salvation & disciplship go hand in hand? If one is saved the evidence & proof of one's salvation is in the new life. If one is saved isn't our desire to become more & more confirmed to the likeness of our Lord & saviour, Jesus Christ? That's how it has always seemed to me. Have I missed something here?
In a sense it’s a matter of which came first, the chicken or the egg. But it is a matter that has some important practical implications.

Evangelicalism holds that you go through an experience of becoming saved and then you in some way move on to discipleship. Anabaptism would hold that you become a disciple (student, follower) of Jesus and as a result you will be saved. Being born again is a specific event in an Evangelical Christian’s life. Being born again is a state of being for the Anabaptist disciple.

This is one of the more difficult distinctions to articulate. What makes it difficult is in how the Evangelical and Anabaptist look at the teachings of Jesus and perhaps even the scriptures as a whole.

The Anabaptist disciple swallows the “commands” of Jesus and the New Testament hook, line, and sinker. The Evangelical grows and learns to rightly divide the word growing into His image. Being saved by grace through their faith alone, it is important for the Evangelical to avoid being “legalistic”. The Anabaptist has no such concern.

The Anabaptist agrees that the New Covenant is not a matter of “works of law” because the old covenant, and its law, has passed. Nevertheless God does require more than “faith” in some abstract idea, He requires action. The Word made Flesh has revealed the will of God and the perfect fulfillment of the law, demonstrating and teaching the full will of God. The Anabaptist disciple obeys that will by following Jesus and obeying His commands; because of this Anabaptists have long been accused of “works righteousness” or legalism.

[brother daniel]

In a sense it’s a matter of which came first, the chicken or the egg. But it is a matter that has some important practical implications.

Evangelicalism holds that you go through an experience of becoming saved and then you in some way move on to discipleship. Anabaptism would hold that you become a disciple (student, follower) of Jesus and as a result you will be saved. Being born again is a specific event in an Evangelical Christian’s life. Being born again is a state of being for the Anabaptist disciple.

This is one of the more difficult distinctions to articulate. What makes it difficult is in how the Evangelical and Anabaptist look at the teachings of Jesus and perhaps even the scriptures as a whole.

The Anabaptist disciple swallows the “commands” of Jesus and the New Testament hook, line, and sinker. The Evangelical grows and learns to rightly divide the word growing into His image. Being saved by grace through their faith alone, it is important for the Evangelical to avoid being “legalistic”. The Anabaptist has no such concern.

The Anabaptist agrees that the New Covenant is not a matter of “works of law” because the old covenant, and its law, has passed. Nevertheless God does require more than “faith” in some abstract idea, He requires action. The Word made Flesh has revealed the will of God and the perfect fulfillment of the law, demonstrating and teaching the full will of God. The Anabaptist disciple obeys that will by following Jesus and obeying His commands; because of this Anabaptists have long been accused of “works righteousness” or legalism.
:thumbsup:
As I read it discipleship is the path to salvation.
We are only saved when we have endured till the end.

As disciples we are not all at the same point on the path, but we are called to walk the same path Jesus walked.

With love in christ
brother daniel

[MrJim]

In a sense it’s a matter of which came first, the chicken or the egg. But it is a matter that has some important practical implications.

Evangelicalism holds that you go through an experience of becoming saved and then you in some way move on to discipleship. Anabaptism would hold that you become a disciple (student, follower) of Jesus and as a result you will be saved. Being born again is a specific event in an Evangelical Christian’s life. Being born again is a state of being for the Anabaptist disciple.

This is one of the more difficult distinctions to articulate. What makes it difficult is in how the Evangelical and Anabaptist look at the teachings of Jesus and perhaps even the scriptures as a whole.

The Anabaptist disciple swallows the “commands” of Jesus and the New Testament hook, line, and sinker. The Evangelical grows and learns to rightly divide the word growing into His image. Being saved by grace through their faith alone, it is important for the Evangelical to avoid being “legalistic”. The Anabaptist has no such concern.

The Anabaptist agrees that the New Covenant is not a matter of “works of law” because the old covenant, and its law, has passed. Nevertheless God does require more than “faith” in some abstract idea, He requires action. The Word made Flesh has revealed the will of God and the perfect fulfillment of the law, demonstrating and teaching the full will of God. The Anabaptist disciple obeys that will by following Jesus and obeying His commands; because of this Anabaptists have long been accused of “works righteousness” or legalism.

Crazy as it sounds, it's somewhat the same explanation as Catholics give, for they are accused of a similar thing in that being "saved" is a bigger process than just what happens at repentance/conversion.

Of course there are other differences;)

[GorrionGris]

Honest, I often read here the phrase "rightly dividing the Word of God"... but that's an expression I never hear in Spain.

What is it supposed to mean?

[MrJim]

2Timothy2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

It's also can be used as a hammer in that if someone doesn't agree then they're not rightly dividing the word.

[brother daniel]

2Timothy2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

It's also can be used as a hammer in that if someone doesn't agree then they're not rightly dividing the word.

here

15Procura con diligencia presentarte á Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse, que traza bien la palabra de verdad.

here

15 Procura con diligencia presentarte a Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse, que usa bien la palabra de verdad.[r (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202%20;&version=61;#fes-RVR1995-29845r)]

here

15 Procura con la mayor diligencia presentarte aprobado delante de Dios, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse porque sabe analizar y exponer correctamente la palabra de Dios.

15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We learn how to choose correctly.

With love in Christ
brother daniel

[GorrionGris]

It's funny how much things change with a translation :) thanks

[MrJim]

It's funny how much things change with a translation :) thanks

How would you word it if you were translating it from Spanish to English?