On being liberal and our diversity (poll)

[Fidelio]

I don't really see these as liberal so much as matters of personal choice (but for the television being IMO more of a moral issue).

A big part of conservative/plain Anabaptism is that we don't really view anything as a "personal choice", but rather we always evaluate how what we are doing will affect the whole group.

That is an excellent point and I think that for a community like the Amish such a philosophy will definitely expand well beyond what people wear to church and into the whole community. It is more likely IMO to be more focused at the church meetings in an urban community where the members are scattered among the world. That's not to say they should sin as they are not likely to be seen, but that in that scattered community, you are far less likely to offend a brother by not being in conformance.

I do find that the conformity to standards/traditions in the ACCA church service has been a huge encouragement to me. I don't know how much that type of conformity extends to home life in the ACCA, but would guess much more than what I found in the Lutheran Church. That was one of my complaints about the Lutheran Church, that many did not seem to understand Christians are supposed to dress modestly. We had women coming in improperly dressed. My mother-in-law just mentioned how some ladies at her church (Lutheran) came last Sunday in sleeveless dresses and had tattoos on their arms.

[Fidelio]

Owning a red vehicle: I once wanted a fire engine red pickup truck but it got sold before I could buy it. I ended up with dark red. My father always said a bright color care was more likely to be seen and so less likely for someone to run into it.

Oh, ha ha, I just realized my current pickup is bright red. I guess I did finally get that red truck but 35 years later it mattered so little that it totally slipped my mind when I made the above post. Actually, I think I'd like green now, but take what color I get because in a used vehicle color is the least concern.

[puttincomputers]

Profound euphemisms escape me! I just saw this poll. #Hilarious #Pharisees

Oh, and I should note that I am so happy Jesus led me out of the mire and into "liberalism."

[Josh]

Profound euphemisms escape me! I just saw this poll. #Hilarious #Pharisees

Oh, and I should note that I am so happy Jesus led me out of the mire and into "liberalism."

I’m glad Jesus led me out of the mire and into “conservative Anabaptism”. But perhaps we should both endeavour to follow Christ, instead of praying, “God, I thank you that I am not like that Pharisee”.

[Josh]

I don't really see these as liberal so much as matters of personal choice (but for the television being IMO more of a moral issue).

A big part of conservative/plain Anabaptism is that we don't really view anything as a "personal choice", but rather we always evaluate how what we are doing will affect the whole group.

That is an excellent point and I think that for a community like the Amish such a philosophy will definitely expand well beyond what people wear to church and into the whole community. It is more likely IMO to be more focused at the church meetings in an urban community where the members are scattered among the world. That's not to say they should sin as they are not likely to be seen, but that in that scattered community, you are far less likely to offend a brother by not being in conformance.

I do find that the conformity to standards/traditions in the ACCA church service has been a huge encouragement to me. I don't know how much that type of conformity extends to home life in the ACCA, but would guess much more than what I found in the Lutheran Church. That was one of my complaints about the Lutheran Church, that many did not seem to understand Christians are supposed to dress modestly. We had women coming in improperly dressed. My mother-in-law just mentioned how some ladies at her church (Lutheran) came last Sunday in sleeveless dresses and had tattoos on their arms.

Yes, the ACC is one of the very few groups that has retained a plain Anabaptist philosophy despite being basically urban/suburban at this point. The Nazareans (East) even more so. The West conference has lost their plain identity.

[aussieandy]

Other signs of liberalization:

• Serving in the military or police force
  Swearing oaths
  Divorcing
  Living in a decked-out home
  Amassing significant wealth
  Wearing or driving luxury/status brands
  Instigating a personal lawsuit
  Voting in national elections
  Wearing jewelry and other (male/female) decorative adornment
  Pouring money into collector cars, guns, figurines, etc.
  Wielding political power

I actually had a few of them on my list but the poll is limited to 10 choices. I do agree with some of your list, and could debate one or two.

I would see all of these as liberalisation and not good in my books.

[JimFoxvog]

I decided to search the good old KJV for what is liberal. I found 8 matches:

Deut 15.12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

Isaiah 32.1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.... 5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.... 8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.5

(HCSB translates this as "noble" rather than "liberal".)

Prov 11.25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

1 Cor 16.3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

2 Cor 8.2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2 Cor 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

James 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

I conclude the biggest signs of liberality would be generously giving to others.

[Dan Z]

That’s the kind of liberal I want to be.

[temporal1]

Page 2

So you truly are a liberal.

Quite honestly, I cringe whenever I hear the term. When we judge a person by the condition of their appearance instead of the condition of their heart, we walk a fine line.

Hey, you started the thread, using the term. I just used your term.

I just figured if he doesn't want to call any of them liberal, he must be a liberal that doesn't want to be seen as a liberal. Something like Josh's word play with Facebook in another thread.
A liberal is always someone who is more liberal than we are, regardless of who we are.

i miss Hats Off.