1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith

[Ernie]

Is there anything you disagree with or would like to word differently in this confession of faith? Suggested additions can also be mentioned, but the focus is on whether you disagree or dislike any of the wording of this confession.
https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Menno ... aith,_1963

If you consider yourself a Plain Anabaptist* or uphold the practices of Plain Anabaptists, you are welcome to participate in this thread.

*Plain Anabaptist is defined here as believing in and practicing non-resistance, non swearing of oaths, women covering their head and men not covering their head in worship, church authority, permanence of marriage, and modesty {covering basically everything above the calves, below the neck, and above the elbows}.

[Josh]

My biggest disagreement is that I think it is too soft on the area of serving in elected office, voting, jury service, and so on. (The 1995 Confession) actually is a bit stricter than this; it states that a Christian can't serve in any public office that would result in them violating other Christian principles. The 1963 confession simply says Christians can't serve in law enforcement, which seems a bit narrow.)

[Soloist]

We regard this present confession as a restatement of the Eighteen Articles adopted at Dordrecht in the Netherlands in 1632 and of the other statements adopted by our church

That is interesting, the Dordrecht confession on the ban. compared to the new one. Seems to me that it isn't a restatement but a lessening of what the Dordrecht said.

XVI. Of the Ecclesiastical Ban, or Separation from the Church
We also believe in, and confess, a ban, separation, and Christian correction in the church, for
amendment, and not for destruction, in order to distinguish that which is pure from the impure:
namely, when any one, after he is enlightened, has accepted the knowledge of the truth, and been
incorporated into the communion of the saints, sins again unto death, either through willfulness,
or through presumption against God, or through some other cause, and falls into the unfruitful
works of darkness, thereby becoming separated from God, and forfeiting the kingdom of God,
that such a one, after the deed is manifest and sufficiently known to the church, may not remain
in the congregation of the righteous, but, as an offensive member and open sinner, shall and must
be separated, put away, reproved before, and purged out as leaven; and this for his amendment,
as an example, that others may fear, and to keep the church pure, by cleansing her from such
spots, lest, in default of this, the name of the Lord be blasphemed, the church dishonored, and
offense given to them that are without; and finally, that the sinner may not be condemned with
the world, but become convinced in his mind, and be moved to sorrow, repentance, and
reformation.
(Jer. 59:2; I Cor. 5:5, 13; I Tim. 5:20; I Cor. 5:6; II Cor. 10:8; 13:10).
Further, concerning brotherly reproof or admonition, as also the instruction of the erring it is
necessary to exercise all diligence and care, to watch over them and to admonish them with all
meekness, that they may be bettered, and to reprove, according as is proper, the stubborn who
remain obdurate; in short, the church must put away from her the wicked (either in doctrine or
life), and no other.
(Jas. 5:19; Titus 3:10; I Cor. 5:13). XVI. Of the Ecclesiastical Ban, or Separation from the Church
We also believe in, and confess, a ban, separation, and Christian correction in the church, for
amendment, and not for destruction, in order to distinguish that which is pure from the impure:
namely, when any one, after he is enlightened, has accepted the knowledge of the truth, and been
incorporated into the communion of the saints, sins again unto death, either through willfulness,
or through presumption against God, or through some other cause, and falls into the unfruitful
works of darkness, thereby becoming separated from God, and forfeiting the kingdom of God,
that such a one, after the deed is manifest and sufficiently known to the church, may not remain
in the congregation of the righteous, but, as an offensive member and open sinner, shall and must
be separated, put away, reproved before, and purged out as leaven; and this for his amendment,
as an example, that others may fear, and to keep the church pure, by cleansing her from such
spots, lest, in default of this, the name of the Lord be blasphemed, the church dishonored, and
offense given to them that are without; and finally, that the sinner may not be condemned with
the world, but become convinced in his mind, and be moved to sorrow, repentance, and
reformation.
(Jer. 59:2; I Cor. 5:5, 13; I Tim. 5:20; I Cor. 5:6; II Cor. 10:8; 13:10).
Further, concerning brotherly reproof or admonition, as also the instruction of the erring it is
necessary to exercise all diligence and care, to watch over them and to admonish them with all
meekness, that they may be bettered, and to reprove, according as is proper, the stubborn who
remain obdurate; in short, the church must put away from her the wicked (either in doctrine or
life), and no other.
(Jas. 5:19; Titus 3:10; I Cor. 5:13).

Concerning the withdrawing from, or shunning the separated, we believe and confess, that if any
one, either through his wicked life or perverted doctrine, has so far fallen that he is separated
from God, and, consequently, also separated and punished by the church, the same must,
according to the doctrine of Christ and His apostles, be shunned, without distinction, by all the
fellow members of the church, especially those to whom it is known, in eating, drinking, and
other similar intercourse, and no company be had with him that they may not become
contaminated by intercourse with him, nor made partakers of his sins; but that the sinner may be
made ashamed, pricked in his heart, and convicted in his conscience, unto his reformation. (I
Cor. 5:9-11; II Thess. 3:14).
Yet, in shunning as well as in reproving, such moderation and Christian discretion must be used,
that it may conduce, not to the destruction, but to the reformation of the sinner. For, if he is
needy, hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or in any other distress, we are in duty bound, necessity
requiring it, according to love and the doctrine of Christ and His apostles, to render him aid and
assistance; otherwise, shunning would in this case tend more to destruction than to reformation.
Therefore, we must not count them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren, that thereby they
may be brought to a knowledge of and to repentance and sorrow for their sins, so that they may
become reconciled to God, and consequently be received again into the church, and that love
may continue with them, according as is proper. (II Thess. 3:15).

Discipline
We believe that the Lord Jesus has given authority to His church to exercise discipline. The purposes of discipline are to lead each member to full stature in Christ, to restore to full fellowship the members who fall into sin, to clarify for all members the meaning of Christian discipleship, to promote the purity of the church, to warn the weak and immature of the serious character of sin and disobedience to God's Word, and to maintain the good name and witness of the church before the world. In this work the church employs public teaching, private counseling, intercessory prayer, earnest warning and rebuke, and sympathetic encouragement. If disobedience persists, the church may withhold the right to commune until the individual repents. And the church must, with a deep sense of loss, recognize that the one who goes on to full apostasy and spiritual ruin has severed his relation with Christ and His body. The standard in church discipline is the Word of God as interpreted by the brotherhood. The entire congregation should share in the work of discipline and seek earnestly to win the fallen member.

It seems to me that the 1963 confession is fairly different in the teaching on the ban/excommunication. I will read it further and comment on others I have thoughts on.

[Soloist]

Article 18. Love and Nonresistance
We believe that it is the will of God for His children to follow Christian love in all human relationships. Such a life of love excludes retaliation and revenge. God pours His love into the hearts of Christians so that they desire the welfare of all men. The supreme example of nonresistance is the Lord Jesus Himself. The teaching of Jesus not to resist him who is evil requires the renunciation by His disciples of all violence in human relations. Only love must be shown to all men. We believe that this applies to every area of life: to personal injustice, to situations in which people commonly resort to litigation, to industrial strife, and to international tensions and wars. As nonresistant Christians we cannot serve in any office which employs the use of force. Nor can we participate in military service, or in military training, or in the voluntary financial support of war. But we must aggressively, at the risk of life itself, do whatever we can for the alleviation of human distress and suffering.

Matthew 5:38-48; John 18:36; Romans 5:5; Romans 12:18-21; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8; 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4; James 2:8; 1 Peter 2:23; 1 Peter 4:1.

As regards revenge, that is, to oppose an enemy with the sword, we believe and confess that the
Lord Christ has forbidden and set aside to His disciples and followers all revenge and retaliation,
and commanded them to render to no one evil for evil, or cursing for cursing, but to put the
sword into the sheath, or, as the prophets have predicted, to beat the swords into ploughshares.
(Matt. 5:39, 44; Rom. 12:14; I Pet. 3:9; Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3; Zech. 9:8, 9).
From this we understand that therefore, and according to His example, we must not inflict pain,
harm, or sorrow upon any one, but seek the highest welfare and salvation of all men, and even, if
necessity require it, flee for the Lord's sake from one city or country into another, and suffer the
spoiling of our goods; that we must not harm any one, and, when we are smitten, rather turn the
other cheek also, than take revenge or retaliate. (Matt. 5:39).
And, moreover, that we must pray for our enemies, feed and refresh them whenever they are
hungry or thirsty, and thus convince them by well-doing, and overcome all ignorance. (Rom.
12:19, 20).
Finally, that we must do good and commend ourselves to every man's conscience; and, according
to the law of Christ, do unto no one that which we would not have done to us. (II Cor. 4:2; Matt.
7:12).

Seems to me the focus is different here, both are very strong on not fighting, the first expresses more about legal side, the second more direct reference to Scripture. The spot that popped out to me on both is the bolded.

[Soloist]

We believe that Christ as Lord and Saviour does His work through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. Through the Holy Spirit those who believe are born again. The supreme ministry of the Spirit is to lead men to Christ and His salvation. As Christians yield to Christ and obey His Word, the Holy Spirit transforms them into the spiritual image of Jesus Christ, and enables perseverance in faith and holiness. He empowers them as effective witnesses to Christ and His salvation, fills their hearts with love for all men, and moves them to practice Christian discipleship. The Holy Spirit bestows upon each believer such gifts as He wills for the building up of the body of Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is God's seal of ownership of the Christian believer. He is God's guarantee that He will also redeem the bodies of believers on the day of Christ.

John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:11-13; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Ephesians 5:30.

Interesting enough, the Dordrecht doesn't have a section on the Holy Spirit and very little is said related to the Holy Spirit.

Concerning baptism we confess that ~l penitent believers, who, through faith, regeneration, and
the renewing of the Holy Ghost,

[Soloist]

I really don't like confessions that much... they are very lengthy... I really like the Schleitheim Confession.

I think these are really too big to discuss as a whole...