Ernie wrote: ↑Fri Oct 23, 2026 7:21 pm
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 don't think that's a correct interpretation.
I've don't think that blood drives, firefighting, picking up trash, or drilling wells are an attempt to reform society. They are an attempt to provide aid and assistance.
Things like protest marches, WCTU meetings, Temperance Pledges, Labor Unions, etc on the other hand were in fact aimed at reforming society.
Some groups of Christians and some Christian 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 reforming their communities and making them a better place to live.
What about things like this?
0 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
I teach my kids why we should follow traffic laws. The goal isn’t to reform society, but is rather not to become lawbreakers ourselves.
Likewise I don’t think serving the fire department will reform society, but rather is an opportunity to show that Christians can and will serve without ulterior motives.
My denomination keeps international aid and mission programmes separate and indeed this is an ongoing challenge as missionaries often want to help people who have been attending church etc.
JayP wrote: ↑Sat Oct 24, 2026 11:08 pm
I am flabbergasted. Discussing the Seven Mountains within a historically critical Anabaptist position like separation demonstrates how many who claim Anabaptist are indeed infected with fundamentalist thinking.
I don't think it is new for you to be flabbergasted by something you read on Mennonet.
But maybe in this case you missed the punchline...
0 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
JayP wrote: ↑Sat Oct 24, 2026 11:08 pm
I am flabbergasted. Discussing the Seven Mountains within a historically critical Anabaptist position like separation demonstrates how many who claim Anabaptist are indeed infected with fundamentalist thinking.
I don't think it is new for you to be flabbergasted by something you read on Mennonet.
But maybe in this case you missed the punchline...
I find myself rarely flabbergasted at stuff on Mennonet, but I have been flabbered occasionally.
barnhart wrote: ↑Fri Oct 23, 2026 7:41 pm
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 don't think that's a correct interpretation.
I've don't think that blood drives, firefighting, picking up trash, or drilling wells are an attempt to reform society. They are an attempt to provide aid and assistance.
Things like protest marches, WCTU meetings, Temperance Pledges, Labor Unions, etc on the other hand were in fact aimed at reforming society.
Some groups of Christians and some Christian 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 reforming their communities and making them a better place to live.
What about things like this?
I am of the impression that that is the kind of thing the Separation article is saying it is our duty to remain aloof from. It is an attempt to make people into "good people" while ignoring the true source of "goodness."
There were plenty of Mennonites in the early 20th century who were actually excited about things like supplemental schooling for underprivileged children, sewing and canning classes for mothers, etc but they thought the Gospel should be part and parcel of any civic improvement attempts.
That concept of remaining aloof from secular societal reform efforts still affects how some of the Conservative Mennonites think about relief work and community service efforts, and a related concept is why some churches are hesitant or negative toward interdenominational or interfaith relief organizations.
barnhart wrote: ↑Fri Oct 23, 2026 7:41 pm
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 don't think that's a correct interpretation.
I've don't think that blood drives, firefighting, picking up trash, or drilling wells are an attempt to reform society. They are an attempt to provide aid and assistance.
Things like protest marches, WCTU meetings, Temperance Pledges, Labor Unions, etc on the other hand were in fact aimed at reforming society.
Some groups of Christians and some Christian 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 reforming their communities and making them a better place to live.
What about things like this?
To me there is a danger of creating so much separation that the salt and light aspect of Jesus' teaching is minimized. God bless those who keep everything in balance.