What Constitutes Moderate Anabaptism?

[silentreader]

These are born again Christians making these judgements I presume?

I have yet to meet members in a CA church who don’t think they’re born again.

Opinions seem to be a dime a dozen

[Aurien]

There seems to be a pretty strong consensus at this point (which is moderately surprising to me) that the Biblical Moderate Alliance is the dividing line between "conservative" and "liberal". This would indicate that the Moderator of BMA, who I believe is currently J. Mark Horst, is doing at least a moderately effective job.

The poll also indicates (as I thought might be the case) that most of us consider ourselves to be moderates. After all, if "conservative" and "liberal" are often used as moderately disparaging epithets, why would we want to be one of Them? We all want to think that we are at the finely honed peak of ecclesiastical perfection (even if you disagree with Gene about where that is).

How long has J. Mark been the Moderator of BMA? I know him and his family but haven't seen them in years and didn't realize they were even BMA.

[Aurien]

The thread What Constitutes Conservative Anabaptism? sort of needs a poll but doesn’t have one, so I’ll approach that question from a slightly different angle.

The poll is intended for those who are (or have been) members of an Anabaptist church.

The first 7 choices assume a linear continuum between “conservative” and “liberal”, and that we can agree Old Orders are the conservative end and MCUSA is the liberal end of the spectrum. Yes, I know, that's oversimplified. The question then is, where is the dividing line between conservative and liberal? Let’s call that “moderate”. Vote for the group that best represents your opinion of the moderate position on the spectrum. If you think there’s a tie, choose just one. The groups listed are intended to be representative of other groups at a similar place on the spectrum, but I’m not using Stephen Scott’s classifications because his category for “Moderate Conservatives” would confuse the question and influence the answer.

The last 3 choices are about your relationship to the group you’ve identified as moderate. Do (or did) you belong to that group, or to one more conservative, or more liberal?

I sorta didn't think about a poll and sorta don't know how to make one.

[ohio jones]

I sorta didn't think about a poll and sorta don't know how to make one.

I can't help with the first part of that, but for the last bit, when starting a thread, in the area below the "Submit" button there's a "Poll creation" tab.

[Aurien]

I sorta didn't think about a poll and sorta don't know how to make one.

I can't help with the first part of that, but for the last bit, when starting a thread, in the area below the "Submit" button there's a "Poll creation" tab.

That's good to know. I had been trying to find a way to create a poll but obviously missed that. Thanks.

[Admiral Acbon]

How long has J. Mark been the Moderator of BMA? I know him and his family but haven't seen them in years and didn't realize they were even BMA.

The official changing-of-the-guard ceremony happened at the 2018 BMA convention.

[Beeply]

Followers are lead into apostasy by their leaders, and that apostasy spreads to generations following.

1Kings 14:15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.
16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.[/u][/u]

[justme]

Followers are lead into apostasy by their leaders, and that apostasy spreads to generations following.

1Kings 14:15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.
16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.[/u][/u]

huh?
i'm not sure how your statement, (which i can accept at face value) ties into this thread.
obviously i'm a bit dense.
can you please explain it for me?
thanks much
-jm

[JimFoxvog]

Followers are lead into apostasy by their leaders, and that apostasy spreads to generations following.

Is this expressing your opinion that moderate Anabaptists are apostates?

[DrWojo]

Followers are lead into apostasy by their leaders, and that apostasy spreads to generations following.

Is this expressing your opinion that moderate Anabaptists are apostates?

Moderate (adjective): 4. Not extreme in opinion; as a moderate Calvinist or Lutheran.

5. Placed between extremes; holding the mean or middle place; as reformation of a moderate kind.

6. Temperate; not extreme, violent or rigorous; as moderate weather; a moderate winter; moderate heat; a moderate breeze of wind.

How close do the above definitions come to Revelations 3:15:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Oh, I apologize, I forgot; wonder how soon (and how many) posters will come forward with perversion versions and commentaries to prove that the original language and interpretation of those verses mean something entirely different. And if not, perhaps someone else can be sure to remind us the traditional Mennonite interpretation of eschatology is Ammilennialism and if not, the Preterists can help out.

Since my Uncle, who usually attends a CMC (London Christian Fellowship) Church in Ohio, but has been visiting us this weekend, has been able to put a nice, hot (NOT lukewarm ) cup of coffee in my hand this morning, I’m no longer feeling as ultra-pious as when I first made the post. Seriously though, I love and appreciate his inter-faith prison ministry and our family has been blessed by his visit. Personally, I don’t believe moderate is synonymous with apostate as was used in this thread, but Beeply will have to come forward to answer the question. As far as nefarious ways and means to explain away Scripture; that’s a different story, but I obviously haven’t had enough coffee yet!