How to Challenge Conservative Superiority

[ken_sylvania]

One needs to no further than to visit a typical group of Mennonites and listen to their opinions on people more traditional than they are. If one is around Holdemans, suspicion will be shown for Wengers. If one is around Mid-West or Beachy type of people, there is a very, very poor opinion of ultra-conservatives who won't use smartphones.

If one is around ultra-conservatives, there is a quite poor opinion expressed of horse-and-buggy people.

If one is around Wengers, they are going to be sceptical of the Hoovers.

Note that all of these groups will express concern the people more conservative than they are have no spiritual life at all: so Mid-West or Beachy people will probably express they don't think the Wengers believe in born-again salvation. If one goes and visits Wengers, and discusses Hoovers, one will hear them likewise express concern the Hoovers aren't believing in salvation via faith. It is quite interesting to observe.

I guess I am fortunate that the group of Mennonites with whom I fellowship is apparently not a "typical" group. There seems to be a general appreciation for more conservative groups and a desire for them to flourish. There is concern about the "wild" young people of some more conservative groups but also a recognition that the parents of those young people are most times also distressed about that behavior and desiring improvement.

[Anthony]

I view more liberal groups with suspicion, for obvious reasons. Or atleast i dont have a favorable opinion of their lifestyle and church life.

Whats the justification for dropping this “shameful” opinion like the OP is talking about?

[JohnH]

I guess I am fortunate that the group of Mennonites with whom I fellowship is apparently not a "typical" group. There seems to be a general appreciation for more conservative groups and a desire for them to flourish. There is concern about the "wild" young people of some more conservative groups but also a recognition that the parents of those young people are most times also distressed about that behavior and desiring improvement.

That's great to hear.

[AnthonyMartin]

I view more liberal groups with suspicion, for obvious reasons. Or atleast i dont have a favorable opinion of their lifestyle and church life.

Whats the justification for dropping this “shameful” opinion like the OP is talking about?

Romans 12:3?

[Anthony]

I view more liberal groups with suspicion, for obvious reasons. Or atleast i dont have a favorable opinion of their lifestyle and church life.

Whats the justification for dropping this “shameful” opinion like the OP is talking about?

Romans 12:3?

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you”

What does this have to do with viewing liberal groups with suspicion? This is talking about inward pride, and the verses afterward talk about different roles of service in the church. I justify the attitude through many verses in the bible regarding how to deal with sin or disobedient christians. Thoughts on ephesisans 5:3-11?

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.“

I would not say liberal groups are all sinful, but they have lukewarm tendencies regarding morality and obedience to scriptural commands. This makes me suspicious of the group/institutions of liberal churches, even though individual members could be great.

[Ernie]

for whatever reason, you decided to publish one specific perspective on vaccines and then ignore all others. So the real question is why you are creating the perception that you are operating the Plain News in a manner to try to promote a view on vaccines specifically.

It would be nice if those making accusations would at least know what they are talking about.

Please feel free to correct me, then.

We repeatedly mentioned that we were simply providing public information on Covid vaccines, (showing whether fetal cells were used in production or testing) without suggesting whether people should or should not get vaccinated. We did not want to get into that debate. That is our "bias".
A few subscribers wished we would have published articles about the morality of getting vaccinated or not getting vaccinated, but the majority were glad for how we handled it.

[AnthonyMartin]

I view more liberal groups with suspicion, for obvious reasons. Or atleast i dont have a favorable opinion of their lifestyle and church life.

Whats the justification for dropping this “shameful” opinion like the OP is talking about?

Romans 12:3?

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you”

What does this have to do with viewing liberal groups with suspicion? This is talking about inward pride, and the verses afterward talk about different roles of service in the church. I justify the attitude through many verses in the bible regarding how to deal with sin or disobedient christians. Thoughts on ephesisans 5:3-11?

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.“

I would not say liberal groups are all sinful, but they have lukewarm tendencies regarding morality and obedience to scriptural commands. This makes me suspicious of the group/institutions of liberal churches, even though individual members could be great.

Inward pride is how I meant it. You see no superiority in your take? If so, good for you.

[joshuabgood]

Fortunately the Bible is always on our side. The other folks, either liberal or conservative, don't exegete it as faithfully as we do. If they did, they would be like us.

[barnhart]

Romans 14

1. Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

[JohnH]

Romans 14

1. Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

This is specifically about meat, vegetarianism, and having special sacred days.

It rather obviously doesn't apply to other areas - we wouldn't apply this to whether or not to take multiple wives for example.