Progressive Conservative Mennonite Churches

[Dan Z]

The younger crowd I think it still remains to be seen. Many of them are going to EBI which is more fundamentalist and reformed in influence so I think Sproul, Piper, MacArthur, Mohler, Grudem, would be more the influencers.

I don't understand the appeal of reformed theology. I'm guessing BMA doesn't believe in Calvinism. If BMA isn't Calvinistic, what part of Reformed theology do they keep?

I think a big part of the appeal is a sense of security. The sovereignty of God and Divine Command Theory of reformed theology offer the appearance of a stabilizing factor in the current search for authenticity.

I think the reformed theology that is consistently present in many current Christian radio preachers has aided the appeal.

For many conservative-minded Mennos I think the way the Reformed folks like Piper and Begg handle and exegete scripture is appealing. They speak from a place of biblical authority, and that makes sense to us. However, the reformed folks use a very different core hermeneutic than Anabaptism, that was one of the points I was trying to make at the BMA convention.

What feels like common ground is, in reality, quite different - and generally speaking, evangelicals want to "fix" conservative Anabaptists by moving them into reformed theology, and helping them "break free" of their "legalism" and "works salvation," enticing them to join dominant American evangelical culture and leave their backward ways behind.

[QuietObserver]

Besides BMA, Martinsdale district of LMC, and Keystone what other groups would be considered progressive conservative?

South Atlantic (I think, I get them mixed up with Southeastern) and various unaffiliated churches. For example, Pickens in Pickens, SC.

I guess I would consider South Atlantic moderate conservative. I think they would still require cape dresses and plain suit.

[AnthonyMartin]

I don't understand the appeal of reformed theology. I'm guessing BMA doesn't believe in Calvinism. If BMA isn't Calvinistic, what part of Reformed theology do they keep?

I think a big part of the appeal is a sense of security. The sovereignty of God and Divine Command Theory of reformed theology offer the appearance of a stabilizing factor in the current search for authenticity.

I think the reformed theology that is consistently present in many current Christian radio preachers has aided the appeal.

For many conservative-minded Mennos I think the way the Reformed folks like Piper and Begg handle and exegete scripture is appealing. They speak from a place of biblical authority, and that makes sense to us. However, the reformed folks use a very different core hermeneutic than Anabaptism, that was one of the points I was trying to make at the BMA convention.

What feels like common ground is, in reality, quite different - and generally speaking, evangelicals want to "fix" conservative Anabaptists by moving them into reformed theology, and helping them "break free" of their "legalism" and "works salvation," enticing them to join dominant American evangelical culture and leave their backward ways behind.

DanZ. Would you clarify what you mean by "legalism"? There are aspects of my experience with Conservative Anabaptism that I would like to see break free from legalism.

Additional Edit:. I very much appreciate the orthopraxy of Anabaptism.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I don't understand the appeal of reformed theology. I'm guessing BMA doesn't believe in Calvinism. If BMA isn't Calvinistic, what part of Reformed theology do they keep?

I think a big part of the appeal is a sense of security. The sovereignty of God and Divine Command Theory of reformed theology offer the appearance of a stabilizing factor in the current search for authenticity.

I think the reformed theology that is consistently present in many current Christian radio preachers has aided the appeal.

For many conservative-minded Mennos I think the way the Reformed folks like Piper and Begg handle and exegete scripture is appealing. They speak from a place of biblical authority, and that makes sense to us. However, the reformed folks use a very different core hermeneutic than Anabaptism, that was one of the points I was trying to make at the BMA convention.

Wish I would have been there to see it. I would have been shouting AMEN from the cheep seats. Reformed theology, as it is currently defined by the so-called "New Calvinism" bears little in common with. Actually, the way they understand concepts like "The Kingdom of God" and "The Church" are totally given different meanings than when we use those those words. For some, even their understanding of the Trinity is generally a bit different than ours, a number of them (Grudem and Ware in particular) hold eternal subordination of the Son. I call that near heresy. It was bad enough for Millard Erickson, from up your way, to write a book about it. The do this, IMHO to buttress their views related to the Danvers statement.

Reformed theology is by and large Theocentric. Anabaptist theology is Christocentric. There is little in common between them.

J.M.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I think a big part of the appeal is a sense of security. The sovereignty of God and Divine Command Theory of reformed theology offer the appearance of a stabilizing factor in the current search for authenticity.

I think the reformed theology that is consistently present in many current Christian radio preachers has aided the appeal.

For many conservative-minded Mennos I think the way the Reformed folks like Piper and Begg handle and exegete scripture is appealing. They speak from a place of biblical authority, and that makes sense to us. However, the reformed folks use a very different core hermeneutic than Anabaptism, that was one of the points I was trying to make at the BMA convention.

What feels like common ground is, in reality, quite different - and generally speaking, evangelicals want to "fix" conservative Anabaptists by moving them into reformed theology, and helping them "break free" of their "legalism" and "works salvation," enticing them to join dominant American evangelical culture and leave their backward ways behind.

DanZ. Would you clarify what you mean by "legalism"? There are aspects of my experience with Conservative Anabaptism that I would like to see break free from legalism.

Additional Edit:. I very much appreciate the orthopraxy of Anabaptism.

Verses Reformed Theology where if you check all the 129 boxes on the Heidelberg Catechism you are good to go, even if you have moved in with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

J.M.

[AnthonyMartin]

There are aspects of my experience with Conservative Anabaptism that I would like to see break free from legalism.

Additional Edit:. I very much appreciate the orthopraxy of Anabaptism.

Verses Reformed Theology where if you check all the 129 boxes on the Heidelberg Catechism you are good to go, even if you have moved in with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

J.M.

No, I believe the Christocentric reading of scripture that calls us to actually live what Jesus taught is absolutely key. It must go far beyond believing the right thing or checking the boxes of a catechism. The legalism I've experienced has seen many close family members reject Christ, aided by refusal of a conservative legalism that would not accept them by holding the color of their nylons and the size of their coverings as inadequate to meet the church discipline. In my mind, very much a praxis that was not Christocentric, but instead focused on a legalistic tradition.

[Dan Z]

There are aspects of my experience with Conservative Anabaptism that I would like to see break free from legalism.

Additional Edit:. I very much appreciate the orthopraxy of Anabaptism.

Verses Reformed Theology where if you check all the 129 boxes on the Heidelberg Catechism you are good to go, even if you have moved in with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

J.M.

No, I believe the Christocentric reading of scripture that calls us to actually live what Jesus taught is absolutely key. It must go far beyond believing the right thing or checking the boxes of a catechism. The legalism I've experienced has seen many close family members reject Christ, aided by refusal of a conservative legalism that would not accept them by holding the color of their nylons and the size of their coverings as inadequate to meet the church discipline. In my mind, very much a praxis that was not Christocentric, but instead focused on a legalistic tradition.

That's the ditch on the other side of the road...and our tradition has been in it enough to know it too well.

Ironically, often the most legalistic among our tribe are those who have bought into Fundamentalism - which is not an Anabaptist construct.

[Judas Maccabeus]

There are aspects of my experience with Conservative Anabaptism that I would like to see break free from legalism.

Additional Edit:. I very much appreciate the orthopraxy of Anabaptism.

Verses Reformed Theology where if you check all the 129 boxes on the Heidelberg Catechism you are good to go, even if you have moved in with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

J.M.

No, I believe the Christocentric reading of scripture that calls us to actually live what Jesus taught is absolutely key. It must go far beyond believing the right thing or checking the boxes of a catechism. The legalism I've experienced has seen many close family members reject Christ, aided by refusal of a conservative legalism that would not accept them by holding the color of their nylons and the size of their coverings as inadequate to meet the church discipline. In my mind, very much a praxis that was not Christocentric, but instead focused on a legalistic tradition.

They need to change conferences. I would have problems with that as well. Mind telling me which conference they are in?

I will acknowledge that these corners of the Mennonite world exist. I would have never joined that, but hey, since I come in from the outside, I had a choice. Those places exist, we have people in our church that have come from more conservative backgrounds, they seem to do well.

J.M.

[AnthonyMartin]

Verses Reformed Theology where if you check all the 129 boxes on the Heidelberg Catechism you are good to go, even if you have moved in with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

J.M.

No, I believe the Christocentric reading of scripture that calls us to actually live what Jesus taught is absolutely key. It must go far beyond believing the right thing or checking the boxes of a catechism. The legalism I've experienced has seen many close family members reject Christ, aided by refusal of a conservative legalism that would not accept them by holding the color of their nylons and the size of their coverings as inadequate to meet the church discipline. In my mind, very much a praxis that was not Christocentric, but instead focused on a legalistic tradition.

They need to change conferences. I would have problems with that as well. Mind telling me which conference they are in?

I will acknowledge that these corners of the Mennonite world exist. I would have never joined that, but hey, since I come in from the outside, I had a choice. Those places exist, we have people in our church that have come from more conservative backgrounds, they seem to do well.

J.M.

It was Eastern. Unfortunately they fully rejected Christianity, most have passed away at a young age. I observed it in my preteen and teen years and spent a lot of time with anger at any church leadership. By God's grace I've learned to know Jesus Christ and have the chance to interact with many today who have been similarly wounded. Trying to navigate and avoid the ditch DanZ describes.

But, I do understand the reformed appeal.

[Ms. Izzie]

I think that most conservative Mennonite churches have bought into Fundamentalism and have legalism of one form or another. (This is something that saddens me and I would be glad to know of groups that prove I am mistaken.) Christocentric wouldn't really describe them. In fact, believing the right thing and checking their own type of catechism is a much better description.