Wife: would JWS be considered protestants?Ernie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:53 pmNor one who thinks that Christians should not involve themselves in civil government and not support the veterans and troops. There are probably a few here and there that are anomalies.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 pmYou maybe right but I have never met one Protestant yet who is preaching the kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel.
Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
No. They deny the deity of Jesus. Hence they are not Protestant.Soloist wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:28 pmWife: would JWS be considered protestants?Ernie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:53 pmNor one who thinks that Christians should not involve themselves in civil government and not support the veterans and troops. There are probably a few here and there that are anomalies.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 pmYou maybe right but I have never met one Protestant yet who is preaching the kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel.
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
Are you talking about people like Greg Boyd and Bruxy Cavey?Bootstrap wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:12 pmI agree with that. I would also add:NedFlanders wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:55 pm Mennonites believe in the gospel that Jesus preach - the gospel of the Kingdom of God. They aren’t lost in a salvation or a social justice gospel. Being citizens of the heavenly country Mennonites don’t join in an unequal yoke with kingdoms of this world and so have a drastically different view than Constantine and nearly all Protestants. I think it is that simple.
1. There actually are more and more Protestants who are preaching the Kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel, and doing it well.
2. Not all Mennonites are doing a good job of holding onto this focus.
3. The Kingdom of God does involve justice, and it is social, it's just different from the social gospel we see in most liberal churches and in the world around us.
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
Well, their lineage is from the Adventists who came from the Baptists. So they are definitely of Protestant origin.Judas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:30 pmNo. They deny the deity of Jesus. Hence they are not Protestant.
And to be fair, the United Methodists now tolerate pastors who also deny the deity of Jesus, yet we still call them “Protestant”.
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
I hear Mennonites say this kind of thing, and it always surprises me, because I have met quite a few Protestants who preach the Kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel. And there is a long tradition of this.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 pm You may be right but I have never met one Protestant yet who is preaching the kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel.
Jeremy Treat's book "Seek First" is a good, easy read on the subject:
Seek First: How the Kingdom of God Changes Everything
The Bible Project has a series called The Gospel of the Kingdom that clearly teaches this as the core of the Gospel:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/gospel-kingdom/
N.T. Wright's video "How Should We Define Salvation" is about as clear as it gets:
John Piper clearly links the Kingdom of God to salvation:
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/ ... dom-of-god
Saving Sinners
Since God’s purpose for the world is to save a people for himself and renew the world for that people, his kingly rule implies a saving and a redeeming activity on their behalf. This is why the coming of the kingdom in the New Testament is called good news.
In and through Jesus, God, the king, is coming in a way — a new way — into the world to establish his saving rule. First, in the hearts of his people and in their relationships by triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Then by the exercise of his reign, gathering a people for himself in congregations that live as citizens of a new allegiance of the kingdom — not of this world. Then Christ comes a second time and completes the reign by establishing a new heavens and a new earth.
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Is it biblical? Is it Christlike? Is it loving? Is it true? How can I find out?
Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
An earlier message from Tim Mackey - check out the video.
https://bridgetown.church/teachings/gos ... dom-of-godContrary to popular opinion, the central message of Jesus wasn’t social justice, community, or even love. It was the kingdom of God. But what is the kingdom? And how do we live into its reality? And what will the kingdom do to reshape our life from the ground up?
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
I think that's the bigger one. Many do teach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. But many who do still do not actively preach against military involvement. Except for liberals on the social justice end of things.Ernie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:53 pmNor one who thinks that Christians should not involve themselves in civil government and not support the veterans and troops. There are probably a few here and there that are anomalies.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 pmYou maybe right but I have never met one Protestant yet who is preaching the kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel.
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
Then they aren’t preaching it accurately or preach one way but live another.Bootstrap wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 5:50 pmI think that's the bigger one. Many do teach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. But many who do still do not actively preach against military involvement. Except for liberals on the social justice end of things.Ernie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:53 pmNor one who thinks that Christians should not involve themselves in civil government and not support the veterans and troops. There are probably a few here and there that are anomalies.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 pmYou maybe right but I have never met one Protestant yet who is preaching the kingdom of God as the core of the Gospel.
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Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
But I think Mennonites can sometimes underestimate the extent to which we do the same. I think we do get this right when it comes to military involvement. In general, if all of God's children who understand the core message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God would learn from each other, that would be a good thing. When we point to others as proof that we are the ones getting it right, that usually leads to blind spots.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:33 pmThen they aren’t preaching it accurately or preach one way but live another.
Who is currently doing the best job of teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God among Mennonites and Anabaptists? What would you turn to? Most of my Mennonite sources are older sources, things I read a long time ago that were formative. I'm not sure who is preaching this well these days.
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Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
I think John D. Martin and David Bercot do a pretty good job. Our local minister is probably one of the best but he isn’t into being broadcasted like these men have been. I’ve heard some visiting preachers and our bishop also do an amazing job but you’d have to look into churches much more conservative than where you are at currently to find them.Bootstrap wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:51 amBut I think Mennonites can sometimes underestimate the extent to which we do the same. I think we do get this right when it comes to military involvement. In general, if all of God's children who understand the core message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God would learn from each other, that would be a good thing. When we point to others as proof that we are the ones getting it right, that usually leads to blind spots.NedFlanders wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:33 pmThen they aren’t preaching it accurately or preach one way but live another.
Who is currently doing the best job of teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God among Mennonites and Anabaptists? What would you turn to? Most of my Mennonite sources are older sources, things I read a long time ago that were formative. I'm not sure who is preaching this well these days.
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Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.