Wade wrote:
I talk to people often asking if they are a Christian and whatever I can to lead into spiritual discussion. The excuse by far over anything else why people tell me they are "sort of a Christian" or not at all is because; Christians aren't Christ-like. What I read about how Mennonites live is part of what lured me to the kingdom.
However, do I see this happening where more people enter the kingdom because of a good witness? No. But my main experience is very limited to a church that had many internal struggles.
I do have people often ask about my demeanor. Which one gentleman after a few weeks of talking told me a couple days ago that he talked to his wife about moving to the nearest town I told him has Mennonites. She told him that he was crazy...
I have had older(mid-fifties) hardened men in tears when sharing about the love I have seen in one Mennonite Church.
We all need to get over "I" to be that witness to reach these people and expand to places where there are not options of Anabaptist churches.
Regarding what I bolded above and thinking about how to respond. Thoughts that come to mind - If someone said to me 'Christians aren't Christ-like' as a reason they are not a Christian, I would want them to give examples of what they see as not Christ-like and what they think a Christ-like person should be like. Try to draw them into further discussion to get beyond this stumbling block. Jesus pointed out that not all who profess to be a Christ follower are truly following Him. Why should they allow what someone else professes to be hinder them from considering what Jesus is all about. Don't allow them to side-track on the failings of professing Christians who either have never been born again or are possessing Christians with imperfections in their Christ following, as we all are. So, up front Christians are not perfect people and some have never been made spiritually alive by God. Then go into what the scripture says about us being spiritually dead, etc, etc.
This is just an example of trying to move away from a 'bad story' about a professing Christian to how I might approach moving to the 'good story' of salvation in Jesus. Others would have their way but I think we really should be into discussing these 'fishing techniques'. I have found the JWs and Mormons are way ahead of most Christians in the area of 'making converts' even though they may be making converts to a religion and not to Christ. And Mennonites might do the same. It isn't about converting folk to Anabaptism but rather to Christ.
Wade, I, too, have been in churches of internal conflict and at one point, felt no church attending would be better than running into it again. But it seems to be a fact we have to live with. Hoping you find a group you can work in to further God's Kingdom. I've been around and imo, Anabaptism, in various forms, is lacking in some of the most important areas of furthering God's Kingdom in today's world. I'm thankful I have access to a church with basic Anabaptist beliefs and heavily involved in growing the Kingdom using modern means. Hope you find something even if you must keep certain Anabaptist beliefs to yourself. Others here are doing just that.