Mennonite Doctrine of Separation/Nonconformity

[mike]

I ran across this quote the other day, which reminded me of the traditional Mennonite doctrine of separation from the world/nonconformity.

Modern Christians hope to save the world by being like it, but it will never work. The Church’s power over the world springs out of her unlikeness to it, never from her integration into it.
-A. W. Tozer

My church uses the 1921 Garden City confession, which has an article titled "Of Separation."

Article X - OF SEPARATION

We believe that we are called with a holy calling to a life of separation from the world and its follies, sinful practices, and methods; further that it is the duty of the Church to keep herself aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experiences of the new birth. I Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:11-14;2:15; Mt. 28:19, 20; 18:15-18; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:17; Acts 14:21-23; 1:15-26.

Additionally, the concept of separation from the world comes up in our rules of discipline, in the section on dress and maybe elsewhere.

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the topic. In your church, how prominently does this idea feature in your church literature, teaching, practical applications, and real-life discussions?

[Ernie]

Article X - OF SEPARATION
it is the duty of the Church to keep herself aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experiences of the new birth.

I find this interesting.
This would preclude involvement in politics which most Plain Anabaptists teach to at least some degree.

Some organizations seek to teach good character to children, good community habits and skills, better ways to have conversations, etc. (without injecting Christianity into it) with the hope of making a difference in their communities.
If the above is taken literally, Christians should not be involved in such endeavors.

[Ernie]

In your church, how prominently does this idea feature in your church literature, teaching, practical applications, and real-life discussions?

Since everyone in our church is engaging with unbelievers and partial believers every week in our Bible studies and social activities, we get on this theme quite frequently. Sometimes we are explaining to them why we are separate from the world. Sometimes we are discussing among ourselves what it means to be in the world but not of the world. What it means to be a friend of sinners without condoning their sins, etc.

[Ernie]

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the topic.

I sometimes hear Christians say that Christianity should infiltrate the world at all levels. Politics, Art, Business, Education, Science, Entertainment, Military, etc.
This has not been the stance of Plain Anabaptists throughout the centuries. We have tried to stay aloof.

Some of us are trying to infiltrate all but the first and last, but it is really hard going. Others of us are trying to live our lives adjacent to the people serving in these fields, or are trying to provide good alternatives in these arenas (Art, Business, Education, Science, Entertainment) but the systems surrounding these fields are so tied into the world's philosophies that it can be hard to really hard to "not be a friend of the world" in these arenas.

[barnhart]

Article X - OF SEPARATION
it is the duty of the Church to keep herself aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experiences of the new birth.

I find this interesting.
This would preclude involvement in politics which most Plain Anabaptists teach to at least some degree.

Some organizations seek to teach good character to children, good community habits and skills, better ways to have conversations, etc. (without injecting Christianity into it) with the hope of making a difference in their communities.
If the above is taken literally, Christians should not be involved in such endeavors.

I wonder what movements or societies the writers had in mind. If taken literally I suppose it would disallow blood drives, volunteer firefighter brigades, picking up trash along the road, teaching in a public school, drilling public wells in dry areas, establishing health clinics in impoverished areas...

I'm guessing it was aimed at direct involvement in political parties, labor unions and maybe organizations like the Rotary Club.

[mike]

I find this interesting.
This would preclude involvement in politics which most Plain Anabaptists teach to at least some degree.

Some organizations seek to teach good character to children, good community habits and skills, better ways to have conversations, etc. (without injecting Christianity into it) with the hope of making a difference in their communities.
If the above is taken literally, Christians should not be involved in such endeavors.

I wonder what movements or societies the writers had in mind. If taken literally I suppose it would disallow blood drives, volunteer firefighter brigades, picking up trash along the road, teaching in a public school, drilling public wells in dry areas, establishing health clinics in impoverished areas...

I'm guessing it was aimed at direct involvement in political parties, labor unions and maybe organizations like the Rotary Club.

Whatever they had in mind, I think, is pretty much lost now. Maybe it was a reaction to ideas like social gospel. We certainly don't talk about what they meant here.

[mike]

It seems important to do things to separate oneself from the world. The idea of intentionally coming out from the world and being separate is truly biblical. At the same time, I also think separation should be a natural and logical effect of following Christ, which will naturally lead to separation from the world in many ways. I don't think that doing things solely for the sake of separation is always very compelling or effective. Separation from the world ought to come from a deep-seated loyalty to the kingdom of God above all else.

[R7ehr]

Bootstrap, where art thou? Do I have to point out that separation of the heart here myself?

[Silentreader]

It seems important to do things to separate oneself from the world. The idea of intentionally coming out from the world and being separate is truly biblical. At the same time, I also think separation should be a natural and logical effect of following Christ, which will naturally lead to separation from the world in many ways. I don't think that doing things solely for the sake of separation is always very compelling or effective. Separation from the world ought to come from a deep-seated loyalty to the kingdom of God above all else.

Separation from the world should be a logical consequence of following Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

[ohio jones]

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the topic.

I sometimes hear Christians say that Christianity should infiltrate the world at all levels. Politics, Art, Business, Education, Science, Entertainment, Military, etc.
This has not been the stance of Plain Anabaptists throughout the centuries. We have tried to stay aloof.

Some of us are trying to infiltrate all but the first and last, but it is really hard going. Others of us are trying to live our lives adjacent to the people serving in these fields, or are trying to provide good alternatives in these arenas (Art, Business, Education, Science, Entertainment) but the systems surrounding these fields are so tied into the world's philosophies that it can be hard to really hard to "not be a friend of the world" in these arenas.

I'm not quite convinced that Five Mountains are better than Seven. Maybe it's better to be nonconformed to NAR theology, and stick with one mountain and the Sermon preached thereon.