Hi!

[Zoe1188]

Just thought I'd pop in and say hi! I was brought to the Lord by a Mennonite church, and although I go to a Episcopal church now (there's No menno groups where I live) I still hold on to many Mennonite beliefs.

Blessings!

 

[BlueLioness]

What is an anabaptist?

 

[Unix]

Likewise none where I live! I live in a suburb. With suburbs this city has 2 million inhabitants. Not all that many tourists. A lot of immigrants from different denominations and religions, many of them Orthodox especially in one suburb on the other side of the city. A whole lot of Atheism and Agnosticism:

(there's No menno groups where I live)

 

[ParentofChildren]

I live in So Jersey. No Menno here, there are some, very liberal, in Phila so to far in more ways then one. I have read Menno confession and think about their principles. I respect the none violence, community, and simple principals they seek. I am not clear about there thoughts for salvation, they are not certain until death. My other learning has been grounded in assurance. If you can not worship Menno, you can study and live Menno.

 

[FreedByte]

What is an anabaptist?

Anabaptists (from Neo-Latin anabaptista, from the Greek ἀναβαπτισμός: ἀνά- "over again" and βαπτισμός "baptism") are Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, considered Protestant by some, although some consider Anabaptism to be a distinct movement from Protestantism. The Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites are direct descendants of the movement.

The name Anabaptist is derived from the Greek term anabaptista, or "one who baptizes over again." This name was given them by their enemies in reference to the practice of "re-baptizing" converts who "already had been baptized" (or sprinkled) as infants. Anabaptists required that baptismal candidates be able to make their own confessions of faith and so rejected baptism of infants. The early members of this movement abhorred the name "Anabaptist", claiming that since infant baptism was unscriptural and null and void, the baptizing of believers was not a "re-baptism" but in fact the first baptism for them.

As a result of their views on the nature of baptism and other issues, Anabaptists were heavily persecuted during the 16th century and into the 17th by both Magisterial Protestants and Roman Catholics.

While most Anabaptists adhered to a literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount which precluded taking oaths, participating in military actions, and participating in civil government, some who practiced re-baptism felt contrariwise. They were thus technically Anabaptists, even though conservative Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites and some historians tend to consider them as outside of true Anabaptism. Conrad Grebel wrote in a letter to Thomas Müntzer in 1524:

True Christian believers are sheep among wolves, sheep for the slaughter... Neither do they use worldly sword or war, since all killing has ceased with them...

Groups deriving from the Schwarzenau Brethren, often called German Baptists, while not directly descended from the 16th-century Anabaptists, are usually considered Anabaptist because of an almost identical doctrine and practice. The modern-day Brethren movement is a combination of Anabaptism and Radical Pietism.

Puritans of England and their Baptist branch arose independently, but were influenced by the Anabaptist movement.

-all taken from Wikipedia, permitted under the terms of the CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.

 

[Bramwell]

Just a question for thought... does God really care what church or denomination we belong to? If not, what is it which is most important to God in determining our salvation?

When I read passages like Matthew 25:31-46, it seems like God cares most about what individuals do in determining their salvation; e.g. whether or not they helped the poor, visited the sick and imprisoned, so on and so forth. Those are pretty universal acts which individuals from any and no denomination can perform.

Likewise Matthew 7:15-23 suggests that what Jesus is most looking for is individuals who will obey Him. Not prophesy in His name; not drive out demons in His name; not perform miracles in His name - just obey Him!

Is there any one denomination with a monopoly on obedience? Just a query.

 

[FreedByte]

- redacted -

 

[Bramwell]

Hi Freebyte,

Sorry, but I'm finding it a bit hard to follow your logic here. It's true that it's God (through Jesus) who saves us. But why should obedience and salvation not be equated?

It's like, we are not saved because of going to church; should we not go to church? We are not saved because of praying; should we not pray? We are not saved by being baptized; should we not be baptized?

I'm really struggling to see the crux of your point in relation to the point I was making. Maybe you can help me by clarifying. Thanks.

 

[FreedByte]

- redacted -

 

[Bramwell]

Okay, thanks for clarifying what you meant, FreedByte. It seems we agree that which denomination we belong to is not very significant to our salvation.

You are right that salvation and obedience are not equal. But they are directly connected. And that's not me jumping to conclusions, either; Jesus Himself showed their connection in the passage I quoted (Matthew 7:15-23).

So the point I'm trying to make, and which I'm hoping you agree with, is that we need to obey Jesus if we want to obtain salvation. It's just as (actually more) important as saying the sinner's prayer, being baptised, or any other action we can do to express our faith in Jesus.

 

[Sarah Sarah]

 

[freezerman2000]

Welcome to CF!
We hope your stay with us is truly edifying!

 

[FreedByte]

- redacted -

 

[Bramwell]

Hi FreedByte,

Is there anything we need to do to obtain salvation?

 

[FreedByte]

- redacted -

 

[Bramwell]

Thanks for answering my question, FreedByte. What do you think we must do to obtain salvation?

 

[WayneinMaine]

Thanks for answering my question, FreedByte. What do you think we must do to obtain salvation?

What do you mean by "salvation"?

 

[Bramwell]

Hi Wayne,

For this discussion, I mean whatever definition of salvation FreedByte had in mind when he said "yes" to my question above. (My question was whether we need to do anything to obtain salvation.)

 

[FreedByte]

- redacted -

 

[Bramwell]

Hi FreedByte,

Thanks for the link. Do you mind summarizing your position in your own words?