Signtist wrote:A lot of folks born and raised as Mennonites (I know, I know, nobody is born mennonite) actually have no clue what some people from other backgrounds have gone through. Walking away from any culture and trying to fit into a new culture is hard enough. If someone goes from a non-Christian to Christian culture it's hard for us to grasp just what they had to all walk away from.
Failing to grasp the magnitude of the changes that people have gone through, or are going through, can lead to problems. Failing to appreciate just how far someone has come while focusing on where we think they should be also leads to problems. While we give lip service to our trust in the Holy Spirit's direction, far too often in our Mennonite culture we use rules as a vehicle to facilitate sanctification in others. When we top this off with "standard vs.reality", nothing but confusion will be forthcoming. And yes, there are churches where this double standard exists. I have witnessed it first hand. There are also many where it does not, for which I am grateful. Another point I believe to be true is that a church that has this disparity will also hold a newcomer with no Mennonite history to a different standard than "their own." In addition to this, there will be different standards for different of "their own."
God is not the author of what?
I came from another Christian background way more conservative in dress than Mennonites. It is actually a bit entertaining when I show them how my culture dressed because Mennos don't know what to do with it. Mennos judge a lot on dress, yet we were way more conservative than Amish in many ways.
But yes, I don't expect MB people to understand how far and how much pain goes into making the decision.
But I CAN'T STAND far beyond anything else a stigma that people are just "wanting Menno culture" when they come to Mennonites. In fact, I've had people say "I concerned you came here for our culture" - gut wrenching. No, I had cutlure, I had a ton of culture, even a culture more detailed than Mennonite.... You guys and your cute bonnets. :p
What I wanted was theological truth. The culture itself is different, but not nearly as extreme.
The biggest shock: People don't just come to church. Members are expected to participate in all aspects of the church itself. I know that sounds a bit weird to say. No probs helping church clean ups / construction / maint / and such, that's normal. Other stuff such as any member brother can give a message (and is sometimes asked to), brothers giving devotions (expected to)... Some of that goes a bit far I think, or at least it is unknown to NMB folks. Just because somebody wants to go to a Menno church doesn't mean they want to become a preacher. It doesn't mean they want to be a bench warmer either.... I don't know how to explain it -> my tone of voice is not ugly in typing this btw, it is just kind of like "what?? - I didn't come here to preach". This is baked in with several Menno cultures apparently, and some not. I just tell my wife "Apparently Mennonites love speeches".