Where do I belong?

[intheway]

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[FONT=&quot]I am very torn by all the struggles on these boards.

I am extremely conservative and I have not really found anywhere on these boards that I feel comfortable posting in. I am not officially an Anabaptist, but I hold to the tenants of the Schleitheim confession. I also stand upon the tenants and doctrine of the early church and the Nicene Creed. I believe that we should interpret the scripture literally. That God created the earth in 6 days. That Jesus was born of a virgin, died and physically rose again, and that he will return to judge the quick and the dead. I believe that Jesus is still alive today and that the Holy Spirit resides within me. I believe that God is present in the Eucharist, in some way, of which I do not know nor do I understand.
I believe that only those who believe and trust in Jesus as Lord will be saved into eternal life. I believe that all other religions are false. I believe in separation from the world, in the two kingdoms and that we, as believers, are part of a real kingdom of God on earth right now. I believe we are saved by grace alone, but somehow baptism is more than just a symbol. I believe that we should try our best to live as Christ asked us to, if we truly love him. I believe that Railing, lying and cheating is sin. I believe that being drunk is sin. Homosexuality is sin. Adultery is sin. (Wrong) divorce and remarriage is sin.
I believe that Abortion is murder, no different than killing any other baby. I believe Women teaching men issues of doctrine and theology and placed in authority over them is wrong, and that woman should be silent in the meetings. I believe that Jesus is coming soon, and that every generation including the Apostles believed that as well. I believe that soon to me and soon to God, may not be the same...and that our lives are but a mist.

I believe these things, and though that may sound harsh to some of you....
I also believe that Christians should not take one another to court, should give freely to those that ask, that we should help the poor, widows and orphans. That we should love one another as we love ourselves and that we should love the Lord God above all else. That if we love one another we should hold them to task, forgive them and always continue to love them. I believe that when two or more are present, than he is with us and we are an ecclesia, a Church. I believe that Christians should meet in their homes, just as the early church did. That we should eat and break bread together. I believe that we should live in a community of believers, just as the early Church did. And that we should not be involved in trying to further our kingdom, but only His.
I believe that we are to turn the other cheek, that we are to be non resistant. That it is wrong for a Christian to go to war, and that war is nothing less than whole scale murder. I believe it is wrong for followers of Jesus to be involved with government, or voting, or protesting. But that we are to pray. We are to show Honor to the King, for they are put in place by God. And we are to pray for the protection of the State we live in, whatever that State may be, the USA, Canada, Turkey or even Iran. Christians are but ambassadors to another kingdom, and as such, are to show loyalty only to Jesus.
I believe that I should accept all those that God accepts into his kingdom as well. Anyone in the more than 28,000 denominations that proclaim Jesus the Messiah, the only Son of God! But I also wish to try and avoid those who speak and teach heresy.
And while I believe that I am correct, I also know I am wrong. Somewhere I am missing it. I also believe that all Christians are wrong. I am wrong. All of us are missing it. All of us are human. None of us have it all correct. There is no perfect position, no perfect doctrine, no perfect Christian. What I believe to be correct today is not what I believed to be correct last year. It is far away from 25 years ago. I seriously doubt it will be the same next year. God speaks to us and teaches us and helps us to understand. But we are nothing, and he is everything.

I believe that denominations separate us, and cause division and are wrong. I also believe that the can give us strength and identity and keep us together and are okay.

So I am conservative to some, liberal to others. Right on target to some, lost to others. Where do I belong? I do not know only He knows.
I know I do belong to God. I am his servant, He is my Master. I deserve punishment. He gives me grace. I deserve war, He gives me peace. I deserve nothing and he gives me everything. I deserve utter Darkness and Hellfire...He gives me light eternal life in Him!
So I love him, and I will continue to love him. I will try my utmost to be faithful and to endure to the end. Holding fast to his promises and his unending and incomprehensible love for me.

What’s next? I do not know. Where do I belong. Who would accept me but Him?

In Peace and Grace, ITW
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[WayneinMaine]

Sounds pretty Anabaptist to me. A lot of members of "Anabaptists" churches don't even know Schleitheim.
How is it that you don't consider yourself "Anabaptist"?

 

[intheway]

Sounds pretty Anabaptist to me. A lot of members of "Anabaptists" churches don't even know Schleitheim.
How is it that you don't consider yourself "Anabaptist"?

Well, most conservative Anabaptists have a problem with the following;
[FONT=&quot]I believe that God is present, in some way, in the Eucharist, and that it is not just a symbol. Let me be clear... I do not believe that the elements become Christ, just that he is present there in some way...a mystery.

I believe that Baptism is part of our salvation in some way. We must believe AND be baptized. I am considering that it may well be something that God does, and not that we do, and as such am wondering if infant baptism would not then be valid. Although I am not yet convinced.

Although I am not convinced on these issues, there is enough doubt that I am considered heretical by some Anabaptists.
As I mentioned I also have some problems with denominations. I suppose I am , however mostly Anabaptist, I consider myself a follower of Jesus, a Christian.

Besides, as Groucho Marx once said "[/FONT]I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members."

ITW
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[WayneinMaine]

Well, most conservative Anabaptists have a problem with the following;
[FONT=&quot]I believe that God is present, in some way, in the Eucharist, and that it is not just a symbol. Let me be clear... I do not believe that the elements become Christ, just that he is present there in some way...a mystery.[/FONT]

Anabaptist do not believe in the doctrine of "the real presence" but I have heard your last point made -ther perhaps there is some sort of mystical presence which we cannot fully understand.

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I believe that Baptism is part of our salvation in some way. We must believe AND be baptized. I am considering that it may well be something that God does, and not that we do, and as such am wondering if infant baptism would not then be valid. Although I am not yet convinced.

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Anabaptists believe in the necessity of believer's baptism. They do not assign to it any mystical transfer of grace. It is an act of obedience as a testimony of faith, so it is more important than what many Evangelical churches would have it, becasue commitment to obedience is important among Anabpatists.

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Although I am not convinced on these issues, there is enough doubt that I am considered heretical by some Anabaptists.

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There's quite a variety of Anabpatists. THere are a few key ideas that distinguish Anabptism as a whole from other strains of Christianity. Within thouse bounds you might find common speculation (thugh not hard and fast doctrine) on some of these other ideas you mention.[/FONT]

 

[intheway]

Well then, Wayne, perhaps I am closer to being an Anabaptist than I ever realized. I shall continue in prayer over these matters.

 

[WayneinMaine]

Well then, Wayne, perhaps I am closer to being an Anabaptist than I ever realized. I shall continue in prayer over these matters.

I was just reading accounts of some of the court testimomies of the early Anabpatists. They universally denied the the bread and wine became the actual body and blood of Christ, but in any cases I've read about affirmed His presence.