What interpretations would lead to someone receiving "the ban" or excommunication from your church?

[readrevelations1to22]

Wife: it really depends on what you mean by non-Trinitarian View. If you don’t believe in the deity of Jesus, I don’t think any of the churches that we’ve gone to would allow you to be a member. Oneness or threeness ect would probably not be as big of a deal as long as you don’t think that He was just another angel/brother of Satan, etc.,and you believe in His deity. The other stuff they might talk to you about if it seems like you’re trying to save yourself through doing those things. Sabbatarian ism might be an issue. If you try to change the church service schedule, or are attending a non-Mennonite church on Saturdays (they might wonder why you’re going to two different churches and wanting to be a church member). Other than that if you don’t want to work on a Saturday, it would probably be OK as long as you don’t holier than thou about it. I don’t know if they would excommunicate for those things or not, but I think they would allow for personal conscience as long as you don’t think that’s what saves you or try to push it on other people.

Most Mennonite groups are different than Amish in that they don’t practice the ban to where they shun you. if you got excommunicated, you would not be able to take communion or have a part in church/ministry ect. You would probably just be treated like a nonmember although different people might have different convictions about hanging out with you. it’s hit or mess with different Anabaptist groups from Charity, etc..


It would probably be helpful to find a church and ask them because individual leadership will apply things differently. most Mennonite churches you cannot just walk in and become a member right away because they want you to know what you’re getting into and they also want to get to know you. most also don’t allow non-members to take communion.

I sincerely view the gospel as the truth, and I desire to do what is correct, that is to do the will of God. I don't like to take a strong stance on that which I cannot comprehend. When I read verses in the Gospel such as these:
- "And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." -Mark 10:18
- "“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." -Mathew 24:36
- "You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." -John 14:28
I read these and conclude from the above that God alone is good, only God knows the hour not the son, and that God is greater than Jesus as Jesus said "the Father is greater than I" (these views do not mean that I don't love Jesus)

Since God is all powerful, the fact that Jesus said he does not know the hour but only God knows it makes me think he is not God.

I only desire to understand the truth here and I'm not trying to offend, this is just my understanding and I hope this doesn't mean I couldn't join any low tech Anabaptist group. As I am in much agreement with such groups on many other things. (And have not learned of any other communities in all of America that are as close in agreement so far in my research)

Also yes it seems talking to each individual community leadership would be a helpful way to gain clarity on this

[readrevelations1to22]

Horse and buggy groups generally have a much higher level of integration and community - that means a far less room to hold oddball doctrines.

I advise people with such doctrines to simply go to a church that teaches and encourages them.

So what church teaches or tolerates such doctrines while also genuinely separating themselves from the high tech, sinful and corrupt modern world?

If I take a look at the combination of declining human physical/mental health, the rise of broken families, collapsing fertility rates, skyrocketing chronic health conditions, the rising disconnect between nature and childhood, the increasingly tech addicted society and all of the sinful addictions I need not name which consume them... What church is actually putting it's foot down and protecting it's members? The vast majority of churches allow or even encourage the social media, phones, and other tech behind this.

So for someone who read the Gospel and came to a few unconventional conclusions, and also realizes the importance of a healthy low tech community to protect their children, where should they turn?

[readrevelations1to22]

So I hold an obscure view on the Trinity that was talked about in the Ancient church and eventually branded heretical. The Mennonite churches I have been in have all accepted me but I know one pastor here in a less conservative church would strongly object to me being part.
I don’t believe it to be the only valid interpretation but more that I believe trinitarianism isn’t the right hill to die on. If you are curious you can either pm me or hunt down the threads on the Trinity where I’ve commented on it.
I also don’t make a deal of it and I don’t and can’t say the Trinity is wrong.

It's nice to hear that they accepted you! Reading about the ancient church and the changes after the Council of Nicaea is very interesting

[barnhart]

...I also don’t make a deal of it and I don’t and can’t say the Trinity is wrong.

It's nice to hear that they accepted you! ...

I suspect a key component is Soloist's willingness to forgo changing the church. To often people who feel the church doesn't accept them don't really accept the church and are trying to change it on some level. Acceptance is a two way street.

[Ernie]

You’ll notice that guy got shunned after joining a new church. He probably wouldnt of gotten shunned if he just privately held seventh day adventist views.

This is the key point. If the Amishman had quietly observed the Sabbath and also attended church on Sunday, he would not have been shunned, especially if he kept his views to himself. If he told others, he may lose some friends, depending on how he went about it, but he would not have been excommunicated/shunned. Many folks who come to a different conclusion about something feel a need to convince others as well, and that is when it causes unrest in the community.

Depending on which Amish church this was, they would have been excommunicated and shunned regardless of which other church they joined. Even if it was another Amish church and they kept the same doctrine as the former church.

[Ernie]

Horse and buggy groups generally have a much higher level of integration and community - that means a far less room to hold oddball doctrines.

I advise people with such doctrines to simply go to a church that teaches and encourages them.

So what church teaches or tolerates such doctrines while also genuinely separating themselves from the high tech, sinful and corrupt modern world?

So for someone who read the Gospel and came to a few unconventional conclusions, and also realizes the importance of a healthy low tech community to protect their children, where should they turn?

I'm interested in hearing if there are churches that fit this description.

[Neto]

I also do not ascribe to the trinity doctrine, but when talking about this question it is extremely important to separate questions about the deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit from questions about Scripture texts where the Father and the Son speak of their relationship one with another, especially in respect to the further development of the trinity doctrine in the Athanasian Creed. Like Soloist, I do not make a claim about this doctrine, either for, or against, as far as it being heresy or not. There is simply no Scriptural support to maintain it, and not enough Scriptural evidence to entirely disprove it. (This leaves an open question: Is it heretical or not? I do not know, but I also believe it is extremely dangerous to make doctrinal claims that are not supported by Scripture, so I regard it as very unwise to claim that it accurately describes 'the nature of God'.)

But there are no questions in my mind that Jesus is Deity, God. There are also serious questions related to the language in that creed that describes the Holy Spirit, and His relationship to the Father and the Son. It uses very exacting terminology that goes way beyond anything that can honestly be derived from Scripture.

Someone may ask, What does it matter? My feeling is that it adds additional 'stumbling blocks' or offences to the Gospel, especially for people coming to salvation from either Judaism, or Islam. I also feel that it damages clear teaching in the Scripture regarding the oneness we ought to all have with one another, as part of the Body of Christ, the Congregation of God.

[Neto]

Horse and buggy groups generally have a much higher level of integration and community - that means a far less room to hold oddball doctrines.

I advise people with such doctrines to simply go to a church that teaches and encourages them.

So what church teaches or tolerates such doctrines while also genuinely separating themselves from the high tech, sinful and corrupt modern world?

So for someone who read the Gospel and came to a few unconventional conclusions, and also realizes the importance of a healthy low tech community to protect their children, where should they turn?

I'm interested in hearing if there are churches that fit this description.

My feeling is that this sacrifices doctrine, the Scripture, and the very relationship with God itself, for what? For a way of life on this earth, which is not our permanent home.

[Wesleyb]

One word of caution from personal experience. As mentioned above many churches will tolerate some divergent views as long as they are held quietly, but it can be a little sticky if members are expected to be involved in teaching especially if you have that gift. It's hard to stand in front of a group and teach something you don't believe. The types of churches you are considering may restrict all teaching to ordained leaders so you wouldn't face that problem.

[Ernie]

I also do not ascribe to the trinity doctrine, but when talking about this question it is extremely important to separate questions about the deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit from questions about Scripture texts where the Father and the Son speak of their relationship one with another, especially in respect to the further development of the trinity doctrine in the Athanasian Creed. Like Soloist, I do not make a claim about this doctrine, either for, or against, as far as it being heresy or not. There is simply no Scriptural support to maintain it, and not enough Scriptural evidence to entirely disprove it. (This leaves an open question: Is it heretical or not? I do not know, but I also believe it is extremely dangerous to make doctrinal claims that are not supported by Scripture, so I regard it as very unwise to claim that it accurately describes 'the nature of God'.)

But there are no questions in my mind that Jesus is Deity, God. There are also serious questions related to the language in that creed that describes the Holy Spirit, and His relationship to the Father and the Son. It uses very exacting terminology that goes way beyond anything that can honestly be derived from Scripture.

Someone may ask, What does it matter? My feeling is that it adds additional 'stumbling blocks' or offences to the Gospel, especially for people coming to salvation from either Judaism, or Islam. I also feel that it damages clear teaching in the Scripture regarding the oneness we ought to all have with one another, as part of the Body of Christ, the Congregation of God.

This basically describes my thoughts as well and how I look at doctrinal matters such as these.