Moravian Church beliefs?

[FaithfulPilgrim]

Hello?

Does anyone here attend a Moravian Church or know anything about them?

I know what their basic beliefs are, but I still have a few questions.

-Does the Moravian Church ordain women?

- What is their view of baptism? I know they practice infant baptism, but what do they believe about it when it pertains to salvation?

-What are there eschatological beliefs? If they have an official stance, is there room for disagreement?

-Do they lean towards Arminianism or Calvinism and how strict are they about it?

Thanks!

 

[Albion]

The Moravian Church does ordain women and is definitely Arminian. I don't know if I'd say "strict about it" with regard to Arminianism, but I do think it's fair to say it's part and parcel of the church and evidently so, unlike a lot of other churches that technically would be classed as Arminian. That's why both John Wesley and Emanuel Swedenborg, both famously Arminian in orientation, were admirers of the Moravians.

 

[FireDragon76]

I don't think Moravians are Arminians in the technical sense. Not all Christians fit into the neat "Calvinist vs. Arminian" debate. From what I know of Moravians, they are much closer to Lutherans Pietists. On the extreme end before you cease being Lutheran altogether (like the Evangelical Free Churches, which are more like Baptists).

The Moravians started as remnants of the followers of Jan Hus, a pre-Luther protester who was burned at the stake in the early 15th century. Eventually his followers merged for a time with the broader Lutheran Reformation, but under a German nobleman named Zizendorf, a Lutheran Pietist, they were the first Protestant group to send missionaries around the world (which is one reason Wesley encountered them in Georgia).

Wesley liked the Moravians because they believed in the inner witness of the Holy Spirit giving assurance to their justification. But he never fully got onboard with all things Moravian. It was actually Charles Wesley who was first converted to the Moravian teaching and had an experience of the inner witness of the Holy Spirit (that is where the hymn, "For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" came from).

Now days Moravians fit in with mainline Protestantism. They are a small denomination in the US, but they do ordain women. They have altar fellowship with the Methodist Church and the ELCA, among others.

Moravian beliefs about baptism are similar to Pietist Lutherans or Methodists, it is a means of grace and not merely a symbol done in obedience, but at the same time like other Pietists there is an emphasis on conversion in life that is made possible due to the grace of baptism.

I believe like a lot of historic churches, they are amillenialist. Most of these types of churches don't have end-times eschatology as a big part of their theology. Some historically amillenialist churches also have had individuals that have more of a postmillennialist belief.

 

[Albion]

I don't think Moravians are Arminians in the technical sense. Not all Christians fit into the neat "Calvinist vs. Arminian" debate. .

I thought of that, too, but for those Christians who do think of these as either-or positions (as I think our friend probably does), there was only one possible answer.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I have a friend who comes from a long line of Moravians. One of the really curious things to me has been his total aversion to sharing the gospel in any form. It seems to me that the Moravians sent their evangelistic brethren out to preach the gospel in other areas, but the remnant which remained behind slowly evolved an anti-evangelistic stance. My friend takes a rather odd Calvinistic view that the Holy Spirit will do His work without our interference or help. Our purpose on earth is to develop our inner spiritual life and to enjoy sweet fellowship with the saints. I think that may explain why the Moravian Chuch in American is in sharp decline.

 

[Dale]

I was a member of a Moravian church at one time.

On baptism, they can do infant baptism or adult baptism.
If a family believes in infant baptism it can be done that way.
If a family believes in adult baptism, they can wait until the children are old enough to understand it.

 

[Basil the Great]

I recall reading long ago about the Methodist founder, John Wesley. He was on a ship crossing the Atlantic and he became very afraid of a storm. However, the Moravians who were with him were calm and apparently had a strong trust in the Lord and in His care. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from the Moravians who were with John Wesley?