How could transitional Anabaptists stop being that way?

[mike]

This is a new booklet by John D. Martin that addresses the OP topic.

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Not-Plain-Ana ... 1680010360

It's $.99 on Kindle. I bought it and read it last night; it's a short booklet. I would recommend it to anyone trying to understand some conservative Anabaptist thinking. Knowing John for years, much of the content was familiar but it was interesting to see it put together so concisely. I would enjoy seeing the reaction of CAs to it, as I think he puts words and logic to ideas that many of them would share but probably would not know how to articulate.

[Sudsy]

How could transitional Anabaptists stop being that way?

Attend a Pentecostal church that doesn't have a whole bunch of extra-biblical rules to follow for fellowship.

Many Anabaptists do eventually transition to a Pentecostal church, although they rarely stay. I went to youth group with a few youth who did that step at one point.

The problem, Sudsy, is the “outflow” step. Eventually such a type of person leaves the Pentecostal church they are in for a less strict one; in the example I am thinking of, they wanted to cohabit yet still feel like a Christian so they ended up leaving the Pentecostal type of megachurch environment they had been for a year or so.

Yes, it is pretty common that believers will look for a church home that best fits with their lifestyle and where they can be accepted as part of that community. Our local main Pentecostal church and our local Mennonite Brethren church have quite a range of attenders when it comes to sanctification. They just don't follow the Anabaptist habit of splitting over issues they don't see as God requirements. Therefore, some Anabaptists regard them as liberal or worldly.

So, although I jokingly posted to attend a Pentecostal church, I think 'church hopping' to find a church that best suits with one's personal convictions on sanctification is a hopeless cause for many, as sooner or later, they will find the flaws in their new church group. Some just decide to conform even though some things are not their personal convictions. I have a cousin who has kept with the local Pentecostal church for some 75 years now and the changes have been a real test for him to keep living by his own convictions but he has.

Personally I have never looked for a home church that had strict requirements for fellowship. I would not be at home in the conservative type churches that some here attend. What has drawn me to other groups is their priority on evangelism. I guess this is due to my upbringing and view of what matters most.

It is truly remarkable when I read of all the various Mennonites there are and their practises and internal church focus. The 'Mennonite World' is quite a unique place. I have many Anabaptist leanings in my belief but only drawn to the evangelical groups which are usually not Mennonite in my opinion. There seems to be a competition in being not like the world which results in an isolation and has trouble reaching outside ethnic boundaries. I think this is a real problem and I don't know how or if it will ever change.

[Josh]

It is a phenomenon unique to Anabaptists that is worth discussing. It has almost nothing to do with spiritual renewal; a person who transitions from the Tobe Amish to Old Order Amish probably isn’t seeking spiritual renewal.

Likewise, a person who goes from Groffdale -> Weaverland probably isn’t seeking spiritual renewal. (Their doctrinal views are about the same, and from what I hear Groffdales generally have more spiritually minded preachers.)

What are they seeking?

In the Groffdale to Weaverland transition?

They are seeking to retain the benefits and comfort of a quite conservative church, such as German preaching services, traditional roles for men and women, a culture they are comfortable with Pa. Dutch vernacular is encouraged to be spoken, cousin marriage is acceptable, and so on. They also don’t wish to offend too much their parents and relatives who don’t want them to become more Weltlich.

But they also want to be able to drive black cars instead of needing a horse and buggy.

In the back of their minds, they might eventually want more “freedoms”, so they may be eventually planning to leave the Weaverland church. Perhaps to a place where they can buy other colours of cars.

They seek a transition to a worldly lifestyle but very slowly.

[Josh]

Yes, it is pretty common that believers will look for a church home that best fits with their lifestyle and where they can be accepted as part of that community. Our local main Pentecostal church and our local Mennonite Brethren church have quite a range of attenders when it comes to sanctification. They just don't follow the Anabaptist habit of splitting over issues they don't see as God requirements.

My church doesn’t do these “splits” either. One of my criticisms of “transitional Anabaptist churches” is that they make the church split problem significantly worse.

[Josh]

This is a new booklet by John D. Martin that addresses the OP topic.

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Not-Plain-Ana ... 1680010360

It's $.99 on Kindle. I bought it and read it last night; it's a short booklet. I would recommend it to anyone trying to understand some conservative Anabaptist thinking. Knowing John for years, much of the content was familiar but it was interesting to see it put together so concisely. I would enjoy seeing the reaction of CAs to it, as I think he puts words and logic to ideas that many of them would share but probably would not know how to articulate.

That was an excellent book and well worth 99¢ and the time to read it.

[Sliceitup]

It is a phenomenon unique to Anabaptists that is worth discussing. It has almost nothing to do with spiritual renewal; a person who transitions from the Tobe Amish to Old Order Amish probably isn’t seeking spiritual renewal.

Likewise, a person who goes from Groffdale -> Weaverland probably isn’t seeking spiritual renewal. (Their doctrinal views are about the same, and from what I hear Groffdales generally have more spiritually minded preachers.)

What are they seeking?

In the Groffdale to Weaverland transition?

They are seeking to retain the benefits and comfort of a quite conservative church, such as German preaching services, traditional roles for men and women, a culture they are comfortable with Pa. Dutch vernacular is encouraged to be spoken, cousin marriage is acceptable, and so on. They also don’t wish to offend too much their parents and relatives who don’t want them to become more Weltlich.

But they also want to be able to drive black cars instead of needing a horse and buggy.

In the back of their minds, they might eventually want more “freedoms”, so they may be eventually planning to leave the Weaverland church. Perhaps to a place where they can buy other colours of cars.

They seek a transition to a worldly lifestyle but very slowly.

Are you saying that Weaverland conference has German preaching? And that both Groffdale and Weaveland conferences condone cousin marriage? Because that is not my understanding.

[Grace]

Oops. Double post

[Grace]

Another post, same thing. Posting from my phone isn’t the greatest.

[Grace]

Are you saying that Weaverland conference has German preaching? And that both Groffdale and Weaveland conferences condone cousin marriage? Because that is not my understanding.

Weaverland Conference does NOT have German preaching. And they are slowly getting away from speaking PA. Dutch in casual conversations.

Groffdale Conference has some preaching in German, some in English.

Neither condone marriage between cousins. In fact here in PA it is illegal.

[Josh]

Are you saying that Weaverland conference has German preaching? And that both Groffdale and Weaveland conferences condone cousin marriage? Because that is not my understanding.

You're right, I was thinking of Groffdale (which, the last time I was around it, was either conducted in German, or they were Pentecostal Wengers who were speaking in tongues).

As far as "cousin marriage" goes, let's be realistic - people in these conferences are marrying relatives, because that's all there is to marry. Many people in these type of ethnic Anabaptist social circles prefer it that way. And that is one reason people prefer a transitional Anabaptist church - at least their children will still be marrying "in the family", so to speak.