Closest to Anabaptist Belief and Worship?

[stevenhorr]

Greetings,

I am a bit adrift right now as far as my Christian affiliations go, but have recently discovered an extensive Mennonite lineage on my father's side of the family and a Mennonite background on my mother's side, too. I also have been reading about Mennonite history and feel I have a strong connection and attraction to anabaptism. Sadly, though, there are no Mennonite churches within 3 or more hours of where I live, and my wife and I just finally found decent work and have settled in after many years of underemployment and moving all over the place.

If I can't get to a Mennonite or other anabaptist church, what kind of church could I go to that would be most similar in belief and lifestyle and worship style? There are two Baptist churches an hour from here, as well as a Lutheran church. But no Mennonite churches.

Thanks in advance!
Steve

 

[ValleyGal]

This is a pretty slow board. Sorry no one has answered your post as yet. When you are looking for a new church, the important thing is to find a Bible-believing church that supports a statement of faith similar to one of the "creeds" like the Apostle's creed or whatever. What marks the Mennonites is our simple way of life and living, our non-resistance and love of peace - including living peacefully side-by-side with those who might have a different faith persuasion than ourselves. No matter which church you ever go to, even Mennonite, always measure preaching against the Word. If you hear something at the pulpit you are unsure of or that does not sit well with you, study the Bible on the subject and discuss with your pastor. When I was not in a Mennonite community, I would attend other Evangelical type churches such as Evangelical Free, Free Methodist (not to be confused with Methodist), Church of God (not to be confused with the American COG which is very, very different!), and for a while I even attended Baptist. My husband and I are currently looking at trying Lutheran for the simple fact that he is Presbyterian but our Presbyterian church here is, um, not our style; however, he likes more liturgy than my Mennonite church. Really, just seek a church that preaches Jesus is the Christ, and him crucified to create a way of salvation and reconciliation with the Father.

 

[MrJim]

...and beware of the "once saved-always saved" crowd out there...

 

[ml5363]

...and beware of the "once saved-always saved" crowd out there...

just curious why you feel this way? I consider myself baptist , but I have some issues with this..though I know that god was still there for me these last 12 years when I had gotten away from him..not that I did anything horribly wrong during that time..just wasn't do and acting how we should as christians

 

[MrJim]

just curious why you feel this way? I consider myself baptist , but I have some issues with this..though I know that god was still there for me these last 12 years when I had gotten away from him..not that I did anything horribly wrong during that time..just wasn't do and acting how we should as christians

I agree with the majority of Christian traditions against the "eternal security" interpretation of Scripture..the OP is looking for something close to Anabaptists...and there are no Anabaptist groups teaching "eternal security"...

 

[Caretaker]

There are a host of other Anabaptist denominations in addition to Mennonite. There's Amish, of course, but horse and buggy might not work well for you!

But you might Google Brethren. There are several denominations that have Brethren in their name. Most of them are offshoots from the original German Brethren founded in Schwarzenau, Germany in the early 1700's. River Brethren is a counter example. It's Anabaptist, but it split from the Mennonites.

Just be aware that there is a tremendous variation among Anabaptist denominations, all the way from the horse and buggy Amish to some of the Brethren denominations that would be hard to distinguish from today's mainline denominations.

 

[98cwitr]

So OSAS is not part of mainstream Anabaptist theology? Or is this view divided among the denomination?

 

[Caretaker]

So OSAS is not part of mainstream Anabaptist theology? Or is this view divided among the denomination?

I have never encountered "Once Saved Always Saved" in the context of traditional Anabaptist theology.

There is a concept called "Universal Restoration" that originated with Alexander Mack, founder of the original German Baptists. It is similar to, but in some ways different from, Universal Salvation. But that's different from "Once Saved Always Saved". Also, Universal Restoration is not today a part of mainstream Church of the Brethren theology.

 

[MrJim]

I have never encountered "Once Saved Always Saved" in the context of traditional Anabaptist theology.

There is a concept called "Universal Restoration" that originated with Alexander Mack, founder of the original German Baptists. It is similar to, but in some ways different from, Universal Salvation. But that's different from "Once Saved Always Saved". Also, Universal Restoration is not today a part of mainstream Church of the Brethren theology.

Agreed~never met nor learned of any Anabaptist group that bought the OSAS thing invented during the Reformation...

 

[Mr H A Bull]

...and beware of the "once saved-always saved" crowd out there...

I am genuinely curious as to why you say this. Can you expand?

 

[MrJim]

Simply a false teaching invented during the Reformation.. not followed by the historic Church (Orthodox, Catholic) nor the Anabaptists nor the Lutherans...only taught by Presbyterians, Reformed, some Baptists and assorted hodgepodge Evangelicals.

I am genuinely curious as to why you say this. Can you expand?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Greetings,

I am a bit adrift right now as far as my Christian affiliations go, but have recently discovered an extensive Mennonite lineage on my father's side of the family and a Mennonite background on my mother's side, too. I also have been reading about Mennonite history and feel I have a strong connection and attraction to anabaptism. Sadly, though, there are no Mennonite churches within 3 or more hours of where I live, and my wife and I just finally found decent work and have settled in after many years of underemployment and moving all over the place.

COOL! (lineage, fwiw; not to make any more of it than it is , however, only as God may have directed your family in the past in His Word, thru your life up to today)
You might not find an unobjectionable church to go to, in the area you are in.
Remember the widow ?
She is spoken of everywhere the GOSPEL of JESUS is Preached.
Where did she go ? To the Temple where those who were opposed to Jesus were the leaders !
Did Jesus say she should not go there ?
NOTE: her faith was NOT in the Temple, nor in the hypocriets/ religious leaders/ but in YHWH WHOM she trusted for her life, when she gave ALL HER SAVINGS in the collection plate that day Jesus pointed her out to His Apostles and disciples.

If I can't get to a Mennonite or other anabaptist church, what kind of church could I go to that would be most similar in belief and lifestyle and worship style?

< shrugs > every day seek the Father , in frequent prayer, and put the decision in His lap (or upon His Shoulders). Let Him Decide, and tell Him so.

Meanwhile, daily at home, continue in much and frequent prayer, concerning all things that He directs in His Word (don't worry like the gentiles do, nor about the things they are concerned about, as Jesus says not to).

Meditate on His Word Day and Night.