Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Christian ethics and theology with an Anabaptist perspective
aussieandy
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 10:40 pm
Location: Australia
Affiliation: Nationwide (Seeker)

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by aussieandy »

From the nationwide perspective (it's the only one I really know well), we state that the externals are outward signs that a person is leading a godly life. We create the 'rules' to help steer and guide the spirit but it is ultimately the spirit that leads and the outward signs follow. Never the other way around.

Homesteading, is simply an outward sign of attempting to be more frugal and lead a simple life. Quilting and all that included.

Plain Dress, is an outward sign as well. It is a cultural outward sign but it is still there. 1) Separation from the World. 2). Communal equality under god 3). Modesty are just some of the virtues encapsulated in it.

Ultra conservatives don't seek to just be legalistic and that's often a common misconception of such CMs by less conservative groups. The rules help shape the direction the spirit goes but the motivation and desire, is driven by one's own spiritual drive to get closer to god.
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ohio jones

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by ohio jones »

For more on the Pros and Cons of the Kingdom Christian Movement, refer to this episode of Tat Jesus Podcast.
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mike

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by mike »

ohio jones wrote:For more on the Pros and Cons of the Kingdom Christian Movement, refer to this episode of Tat Jesus Podcast.
I knew that podcasts were hip and cool, but I didn't know they were "Tat Jesus" level of hip.

OJ, if you use your moderator powers to make it look like you didn't misspell that, I'm going to put a hair in your sandwich next time you stop by.
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Wayne in Maine

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Wayne in Maine »

The most striking distinction I find between the Kingdom Movement and (early) Anabaptism is that Anabaptism, as a restorationist movement, grounds itself solidly in the words of Jesus, giving them primacy and often taking them and practicing them in their most literal sense. The Kingdom movement seems to have a strong affinity for the primacy of the teachings of the ante-Nicene "church fathers", based on a few assumptions about the purity of their interpretation of scripture and Apostolic teaching. In many ways they seem to have a lot more in common theologically with The Stone-Campbell movement, and I have long wondered about it's relationship (in particular FotW) to the Boston Church of Christ (or the now ICOC).

I think their relationship to Conservative Mennonites is a result of their close association with David Bercot and Finney's previous involvement with the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites. It seems that they have drawn in a few ex-Mennonites - perhaps the sort of folks who would have been attracted to the "less legalistic" Charity movement of the last generation. I think the Kingdom movement is the "Charity" of the current young generation of Mennonites.

I was very interested in FoTW when I first heard of them, but after a visit and on-line interaction with some of members I would have to say that I am "alienated" from them.
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Ernie

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Ernie »

Wayne in Maine wrote:In many ways they seem to have a lot more in common theologically with The Stone-Campbell movement, and I have long wondered about it's relationship (in particular FotW) to the Boston Church of Christ (or the now ICOC).
Chuck Pike and his group attended FotW meetings at the beginning, in addition to their Sunday morning ICOC gatherings. I think Finny expected this group to join him when they left ICOC, but they did not.
Wayne in Maine wrote:I think their relationship to Conservative Mennonites is a result of their close association with David Bercot and Finney's previous involvement with the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites. It seems that they have drawn in a few ex-Mennonites - perhaps the sort of folks who would have been attracted to the "less legalistic" Charity movement of the last generation. I think the Kingdom movement is the "Charity" of the current young generation of Mennonites.
They have drawn in quite more than a few. I think that former Anabaptists are now the majority.
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ohio jones

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by ohio jones »

mike wrote:OJ, if you use your moderator powers to make it look like you didn't misspell that, I'm going to put a hair in your sandwich next time you stop by.
Image
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Wayne in Maine

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Wayne in Maine »

Ernie wrote:
Wayne in Maine wrote:In many ways they seem to have a lot more in common theologically with The Stone-Campbell movement, and I have long wondered about it's relationship (in particular FotW) to the Boston Church of Christ (or the now ICOC).
Chuck Pike and his group attended FotW meetings at the beginning, in addition to their Sunday morning ICOC gatherings. I think Finny expected this group to join him when they left ICOC, but they did not.
I assumed that Chuck Pike had some influence. I was, coincidentally, the one who introduced Chuck to Mennonites/Anabaptism.
Wayne in Maine wrote:I think their relationship to Conservative Mennonites is a result of their close association with David Bercot and Finney's previous involvement with the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites. It seems that they have drawn in a few ex-Mennonites - perhaps the sort of folks who would have been attracted to the "less legalistic" Charity movement of the last generation. I think the Kingdom movement is the "Charity" of the current young generation of Mennonites.
They have drawn in quite more than a few. I think that former Anabaptists are now the majority.
I should not be surprised. I've wondered what effect Sattler College will have on the CM churches. It's too bad that it is not an Anabaptist institution as its name would suggest.
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Soloist

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Soloist »

Ernie wrote:
Wayne in Maine wrote:In many ways they seem to have a lot more in common theologically with The Stone-Campbell movement, and I have long wondered about it's relationship (in particular FotW) to the Boston Church of Christ (or the now ICOC).
Chuck Pike and his group attended FotW meetings at the beginning, in addition to their Sunday morning ICOC gatherings. I think Finny expected this group to join him when they left ICOC, but they did not.
last I heard a few years back Chuck Pike's group wasn't allowed to take communion due to some distinct theological differences. I heard this second hand though so...
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Ernie

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Ernie »

Soloist wrote:last I heard a few years back Chuck Pike's group wasn't allowed to take communion due to some distinct theological differences. I heard this second hand though so...
I must be a moderate. Both invited me to commune at their gatherings. :-)
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Judas Maccabeus

Re: Kingdom Christian and Charity Movements

Post by Judas Maccabeus »

Ernie wrote:
Soloist wrote:last I heard a few years back Chuck Pike's group wasn't allowed to take communion due to some distinct theological differences. I heard this second hand though so...
I must be a moderate. Both invited me to commune at their gatherings. :-)
You must be quite special. I have been to Boston multiple times, and have received no such invitation. I suspect I am too "Mennonite."

J.M.
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