Josh wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:13 am
FotW isn’t really “conservative Anabaptist”, though, they are trying to do something new.
Basically a Stoney-Campbellite edition of Anabaptism with a lot of obscure historical stuff thrown in. Conservatives will be uncomfortable with this. Most CAs are trying to conserve what was mainstream in 1950 (Nationwide, Eastern) or 1980 (BMA), etc.
I do not ordinarily comment here, but my Pastor told me that this was happening, so here goes. Josh has hit the nail on the head, I will drive it further.
1. The FOTW church is NOT Anabaptist, it is actually a "Stone-Campbell" type church, in the stream of that moment that began about 1832. In particular their view of salvation, that it involves Baptismal Regeneration, is contrary to any Mennonite theology, dating back to Schlictheim. and including both the 1963 and 1921 confessions of faith. If you want more information on why their view of salvation and baptism is contrary to that taught in the New Testament, I could refer you to an article in Sword and Trumpet, November 2021, page 15. I believe I make a solid case therein. The problem is, that IF you send young people to a school that teaches this, that in absence of competing views, they are likely to be indoctrinated with those views. Coupling this with the view that FOTW seems to take that baptisms done before the age of accountability are invalid, means that you have young people that are likely to question their salvation based on the age at which they were baptizes. The FOTW video that I saw placed that age as in the early 20s. (And yes, I have discussed the issue of Baptism, with Finney, we disagree)
This view places them clearly outside of the Conservative Mennonite movement, which they have very heavily recruited from. I find this VERY problematic.
2. Their social constructs remind me of something right out of Bill Gothard's movement, which had it's most recent entry into the Anabaptist movement in the form of Charity. I have spent enough time there, seen and read enough of FOTW's output to know. they have every intention of pushing their members towards their view of family life. I doubt you would see as much of this in conservative Mennonite churches, other than perhaps pressure to use the church school if you were in Intermediate or more conservative churches, or not to use public schools.
3. Their "origins" are more ICOC than anabaptist in any respect. ICOC was largely regarded as a cult like group with Restorationist doctrine when I was in grad school. ICOC had a "locality" doctrine during that period, whee there could be only one "true" church in any city. (I am sure that ICOC has backed of of that, at least what is left of it). The aversion towards "another" church may stem from this view (Best Case) or from the goal that Sattler become a recruiting ground for workers in FOTWs "movement." (Worse case)
4. They do not seem to have a statement of faith that is available to anyone who asks. I asked for one, and was told none has been written. If you walk into just about any conservative Mennonite church and ask for one, you will soon have a "1963 Confession of Faith" or some similar document in your hand, many are, in fact, available online. So why is theirs not available?
My only answer is "What are you hiding?"
I have made my concerns known, up to the Bishop level.
Judas Maccabeus
