I agree with having a 'deep sense of brotherhood and fellowship' just not in a way that isolates Christians from reaching the lost. I believe one of the biggest challenges for those brotherhoods that are primarily people from German and Russian roots is to reach those who are of different background.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:10 pmI think Josh was pointing to a deeper fellowship in brotherhood than you find in churches you describe who loose their way after a generation or two.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 11:13 amI have trouble with this one if I'm understanding it correctly. I don't believe God wants His people to live in 'ethno-religious communities' but rather to live amongst those Jesus came to save and be lights in this world of darkness. There is a gathering of believers to fellowship and learn but I believe salvation is spread through, as Jesus demonstrated, mingling with the lost. When any church only or primarily grows through having babies and raising them to believe the same, to me, that is not what it means to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.Josh wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:48 am Of note is that the 7 points above are virtually nonexistent outside of plain Anabaptism, and when you do find them, they often come with a group that (a) lacks multigenerational ethos and (b) has additional, questionable doctrines.
I would argue the 16th century Anabaptists weren’t aware of something that 21st century Anabaptists are. Namely:
8. God’s design for man is to live in ethno-religious communities that fully integrate peoplehood, family, and lifestyle with Anabaptist doctrines and values, and in so doing create a multigenerational church. Without this, a church is merely an assembly of people with similar intellectual ideas but otherwise disintegrates into the next generation.
I don't see plain Anabaptists growing the Church of Christ much outside of their own families. The group of Anabaptists I was part of (MB) had this evangelical view of reaching beyond their ethnic boundaries but they are likely considered today far from plain Anabaptists and quite worldly. I am not saying these approaches to reach the lost through modern means is all perfect and doesn't need constant considering and adjusting where needed but the attempt to get beyond ethnic barriers, imo, is the way of the Master. Jesus demonstrated mingling with sinners and certainly didn't isolate Himself from those He came to save.
But perhaps I mis-understood what you are saying.
I think “having things common” was key in the original Anabaptist’s and brotherhood. They also had something most Mennonites have never experienced in literally forsaking all to follow Christ and be the church, which I believe helped them relate more helpfully and readily to each others needs physically and spiritually. Brotherhood and aid could be more expanded on in your list Ernie. I think it is inferred but not quite clear enough to see the deep sense of brotherhood and fellowship they experienced.
Some Anabaptists have dropped the 'Mennonite' identification in their church titles as a step toward breaking down the barrier of what people associate in this title. This has occurred to some degree with other faith groups also that change their name from a doctrine label (i.e. Pentecostal, Baptist, Anabaptist, Brethren). The early churches were known only by their geographical location. Our local Mennonite Brethren church and the Pentecostal church have dropped the Mennonite and Pentecostal identifiers and have changed it to geographical location names.
Just saying when church is all about 'us' and little about 'them' (not yet believers), something is messed up. Jesus did not promote this kind of focus.