Do Reformed Anabaptists exist?

[Neto]

Wife: As a sidenote, I think you would do well to get in contact with some Anabaptist communities, because as helpful as Mennonet can be sometimes, it does not always accurately reflect Anabaptist values, and the nature of online forums in general can end up with unnecessary discouragement from constant debating and the temptation for people to be ruder to faceless usernames than they would in person. I actually know very few people in real life that use Mennonet because of the divisiveness that can sometimes pop up.

Doesn’t mean it’s always the case, and there have been a lot of good things that we’ve gotten out of it, but I just wanted to let you know that you might get a completely different feel from visiting an anabaptist community than you would see from a forum.

Much appreciated, Brother and Sister! We see a similar phenomena in Reformed circles with PuritanBoard.

If you (or others!) have recommendations for congregations close to us here in Greenville, SC; we would be quite willing to contact and visit with communities, particularly those that practice mutual aid and may have the ability to house guest families, as we’re presently in a fairly dire financial situation that would preclude us from paying for lodging and that sort of thing.

Wife: you can use https://churchindex.org to search in your area. I looked, and in a 50 mile radius, there are 8 Mennonite chuches listed, including unaffiliated, BMA (Biblical mennonite alliance), Beachy Amish, and Nationwide. Nationwide would probably not like the idea of working a tech job, not sure if Beachy is on the conservative or more relaxed end, and BMA would be more likely to not require cape dresses or capps, but would wear skirts/dresses/veils on their women. You can get phone numbers on the website and ask more detailed questions. The church JohnH mentioned is unnaffiliated, so I don't know their stances. Some of the unaffiliated/BMA allow homeschooling. Don't know their stances on mutual aid, maybe someone else does. I know Nationwide, a lot of beachys, and some unaffiliated do it in regards to medical ect. All of them would likely be able to set you up with lodging though, since hospitality seems to be a big thing among Mennonites. We got 3 lunch invitations our first Sunday visiting a BMA church, and have stayed in many homes across the country with Mennonites, Amish, and other Anabaptist churches when we are on trips.

I have communicated with a programmer who is a member of a Nationwide congregation. He was formally educated in computer science, and he & his wife later joined a conservative group in (I think) Wisconsin. He wrote the software called Fahrenheit Accounting.

[ohio jones]

I have communicated with a programmer who is a member of a Nationwide congregation. He was formally educated in computer science, and he & his wife later joined a conservative group in (I think) Wisconsin. He wrote the software called Fahrenheit Accounting.

That type of thing does require several degrees, and Nationwide tends to be rather chilly toward higher education. Reformed Mennonites, on the other hand, encourage it.

[barnhart]

The opening post seems to be about the degree to which Reform theology has influenced Mennonites. Any thoughts about this?

[Ernie]

The opening post seems to be about the degree to which Reform theology has influenced Mennonites. Any thoughts about this?

I know of various folks with a progressive-conservative view who have accepted some parts of Reformed doctrine. But I can't say to what extent. I just know that you'll hear some Calvinistic devotionals and maybe even teaching in some congregations.

[barnhart]

The opening post seems to be about the degree to which Reform theology has influenced Mennonites. Any thoughts about this?

I know of various folks with a progressive-conservative view who have accepted some parts of Reformed doctrine. But I can't say to what extent. I just know that you'll hear some Calvinistic devotionals and maybe even teaching in some congregations.

I've seen Grudem's systematic theology held up a little higher than I would. A few years ago the Fellowship of concerned Mennonites published papers about the benefits of substitutionary atonement, which raised my eyebrow.

[JohnH]

I've seen Grudem's systematic theology held up a little higher than I would. A few years ago the Fellowship of concerned Mennonites published papers about the benefits of substitutionary atonement, which raised my eyebrow.

PSA seems to be found in any place that embraced fundamentalism-modernism, that is, any place that isn't Old Order or somewhat Old Order.

Some of the less-conservative groups are open to new ideas from other circles and so will step away from PSA. Ironically, these are also the same circles where you will find people promoting 4-point Calvinism, although this trend seems to have completely died off in BMA as of late.

[Esdras]

I've seen Grudem's systematic theology held up a little higher than I would. A few years ago the Fellowship of concerned Mennonites published papers about the benefits of substitutionary atonement, which raised my eyebrow.

PSA seems to be found in any place that embraced fundamentalism-modernism, that is, any place that isn't Old Order or somewhat Old Order.

Some of the less-conservative groups are open to new ideas from other circles and so will step away from PSA. Ironically, these are also the same circles where you will find people promoting 4-point Calvinism, although this trend seems to have completely died off in BMA as of late.

I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine how the gospel works apart from PSA. Christ Jesus took the wrath of God that I deserved upon Himself on the Cross, and I’m forever grateful.

[barnhart]

I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine how the gospel works apart from PSA. Christ Jesus took the wrath of God that I deserved upon Himself on the Cross, and I’m forever grateful.

I believe in substitutionary atonement as it is presented in the scripture, as one illustration among others also found there. I'm more reluctant with the penal part of PSA since it seems clear that God is gracious and can forgive sin.

[Esdras]

I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine how the gospel works apart from PSA. Christ Jesus took the wrath of God that I deserved upon Himself on the Cross, and I’m forever grateful.

I believe in substitutionary atonement as it is presented in the scripture, as one illustration among others also found there. I'm more reluctant with the penal part of PSA since it seems clear that God is gracious and can forgive sin.

Then why did He die? Or stipulate that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin? Forgiveness didn’t have to be a bloody business. God could’ve chosen to abide by a different set of rules.
He didn’t have to promise to return and have blood up to the horse’s bridle and tread the winepress in His wrath (it’s where we get the English “orgy” from, reflecting the unbridled nature of the outpouring of his fierce wrath upon the wicked with the righteous as judges, witnesses, and if Luke 19:27 is to be believed, even participants) either, but He did.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to debate the point, this is just an eye opening exchange for me with respect to prevalent Anabaptist beliefs.

[JohnH]

I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine how the gospel works apart from PSA. Christ Jesus took the wrath of God that I deserved upon Himself on the Cross, and I’m forever grateful.

This would be another very large gap between Anabaptism and Reformed thinking.

Penal substitutionary atonement, as taught in the Reformed view, makes the claim that God was very angry and full of wrath because of men's sin, and he just had to take it out on someone.

So somehow he took it out on himself and this satisfied his wrath, in some kind of oddball exercise in self-flagellation.

Some of us find this not only doesn't make very much sense but we do not find this to be supported in scripture.