why

[dogs4thewin]

Could someone explain why anabaptists are generally considered to be pacifists?

 

[MrJim]

They take a very literal interpretation to Gospel passages regarding how to treat one's enemies...particularly from the Sermon on the Mount. They point to the behavior of the ante-nicene church. It is their practice from the beginning of the Radical Reformation (apart from the Münsterites of course). It is in the writings of most of the early anabaptists like Menno Simons, Pilgram Marpeck, and others.

Many would differentiate between being pacifist and being nonresistant.

 

[JoanOfArcInvestigator]

Article 22. Peace, Justice, and NonresistanceWe believe that peace is the will of God. God created the world in peace, and God's peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world. Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance even in the face of violence and warfare. Excerpt from the Mennonite Confession of FaithI would post the link but my post count is too low

 

[dogs4thewin]

Article 22 of what ( honest question)

 

[MrJim]

Article 22 of what ( honest question)

He said it was from Mennonite Confession of Faith ~ check this: http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/

http://www.christianforums.com/t3226012/

above is a list of links of old and new Anabaptist confessions, definitely not an exhaustive but a fair representative listing.

 

[dogs4thewin]

so honest question do you all have a problem with other people serving in the military or practicing self-defense?

 

[JoanOfArcInvestigator]

I don't know. My pacifist beliefs are really underdeveloped. I would say violence should be avoided.

 

[dogs4thewin]

I don't know. My pacifist beliefs are really underdeveloped. I would say violence should be avoided.

that is what I am saying do you have an issue with me or anyone else using violence to defend myself my family or this country IF nothing else would work? My family for example, and most around here will not be the first to draw a gun, but as we live in a rural area most people HAVE them primary use is hunting, but you can bet your last dollar that if we had to use it to defend our family or our property so be it.

 

[JoanOfArcInvestigator]

I not be upset if you did that. If somebody did not have an opposition against using guns to protect their family, it makes sense that they would use it then. I don't know about how those with strong beliefs would feel.

Also, I have not learnt very much about the Mennonite faith because I usually go to the non-denominational church. If I knew more about my family's (some of their) beliefs my view could be different. I do wish I went to a Mennonite church.

 

[WayneinMaine]

Could someone explain why anabaptists are generally considered to be pacifists?

Anabaptists emphasize discipleship and seek to do all things Jesus commanded. Jesus said to love our enemies and to do good to them, and in many other ways Jesus taught His disciples (us who would follow Him) a way of life and manner of relating to people that precludes violence and warfare.

 

[WayneinMaine]

that is what I am saying do you have an issue with me or anyone else using violence to defend myself my family or this country IF nothing else would work? My family for example, and most around here will not be the first to draw a gun, but as we live in a rural area most people HAVE them primary use is hunting, but you can bet your last dollar that if we had to use it to defend our family or our property so be it.

Do you believe in Jesus, that He is who He said He was? Do you believe the things He said?

 

[dogs4thewin]

Do you believe in Jesus, that He is who He said He was? Do you believe the things He said?

Yes however personally I MAY be willing to let you attack me it probably would depend on the reason I would NOT allow people to abuse me just cause for Christ yes I would hope anyway but otherwise no I would either rat to the police or use enough force to get it to cease HOWEVER I would NOT allow anyone to abuse or attack another particularly a child or other defenseless person (keep in mind I am disabled myself) I also believe in serving this country and using deadly force when called to. ( I was going to enlist but various health problems mean I am not qualfied but I would if I could. I feel so strongly about that that this would turn into a debate if I stated them but they are STRONG views.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Could someone explain why anabaptists are generally considered to be pacifists?

Could be that it's because they are very simply pacifists, like the early believers were. They would not harm anyone, not even in self defense (they could not - the spirit in them is different from the world).
The best example I've seen in my life publicly available is the movie "conscientious objector" --- a true story of ONE PERSON who stands for what is right, in spite of continued and forceful harassment for it (as the Master jesus received, as all of Jesus' Disciples receive today, even in the usa)...

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Oh, and another wonderful and more widely known example ---- "corrie ten boom", who learned from God and from her sister who they killed how to truly love the nazis who persecuted and murdered her family and millions others.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

You , like most people of the world, will do what you believe.
(I read this post after responding to the opening post)

So see the lives of corrie ten boom , and the conscientious objector for recent living examples of NOT defending youself, instead trusting the Creator no matter what happens, like the believers in the New Testament most certainly did (and many of them died for their faith, and their families died for their faith, without defending themselves - the "resist not evil persons" but trusting God even unto death.

If a person doesn't trust God (yet), then it doesn't matter what they do - eternally they are still lost.
All through scripture and through history God has protected those who are His, and when their life is taken,
it is like Stephen when he was stoned to death - he trusted God, and prayed that those throwing the stones and approving of his death may be forgiven .

so honest question do you all have a problem with other people serving in the military or practicing self-defense?