On being liberal and our diversity (poll)

[QuietObserver]

And then there are theological liberals (according to the Evangelicals) who are conservative (according to folks like Scroll Publishing, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.).

It's interesting you group Scroll and SDA together. Perhaps Bercot's JW background (SDA roots) influences his thinking? Or are these views influenced by the Early Church fathers? I didn't think annihilation, for example, was the mainstream view of the Early Church.

[Josh]

In all seriousness, whiteness as a social construct didn't exist then.

I wonder if you can bring up “whiteness” in every thread. It would give a new meaning to the term “white supremacy”.

[Josh]

And then there are theological liberals (according to the Evangelicals) who are conservative (according to folks like Scroll Publishing, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.).

It's interesting you group Scroll and SDA together. Perhaps Bercot's JW background (SDA roots) influences his thinking? Or are these views influenced by the Early Church fathers? I didn't think annihilation, for example, was the mainstream view of the Early Church.

Probably both. The early church certainly was open to the apocrypha (but so were early Anabaptists).

The thinking process that leads to SDA, Christadelphian, Church of God General Conference, biblical Unitarian, etc. type of thinking is also active in circles like the Milioni-Kiravilla group, certain wings of Old Brethren background people (such as the Bayer community of goods group), and (right here in my home in Wayne County) the Rufener group. One thing all these groups have in common is a heavy Anabaptist influence or background.

In all those circles, discussion about the eternal state, level of inspiration of scripture, etc would be welcome.

[ohio jones]

In all seriousness, whiteness as a social construct didn't exist then.

I wonder if you can bring up “whiteness” in every thread. It would give a new meaning to the term “white supremacy”.

As a modification of Godwin's Law ... Good's Law?

[steve-in-kville]

Wow. 35 total votes and its obvious we don't care for women to wear pants

Your statement assumes we all see liberal as bad or undesirable.

I've said it before, I'll say it again:

More conservative doesn't equal "more saved."

We have to get over the mind-set that just because I don't go to The Buck to see the truck pulls, doesn't mean I am better than you.

(Actually, given the opportunity, I would go!)

[steve-in-kville]

There is a Mennonite man who dresses very conservatively; black hat, black car, etc. He believes that the way you know if God is blessing you is if you have material blessings and things are going well for you. He says God has abundantly blessed him with money. I thought that was called the prosperity gospel.

So is he conservative or liberal? The two are often mixed in the same person. I think many of these questions are answered in knowing which kingdom we are a part of and then deciding if the particular practice promotes His kingdom.

Honestly, Ms. Izzie, from my experience, this guy is hiding something. He is over compensating to make up for some other moral failing.

[JimFoxvog]

I don't use the word "liberal" in the sense it is being used in this poll.

To me, liberal theologically means holding lightly to biblical authority and traditional basic doctrines. (I'm not liberal theologically.)

Liberal politically means thinking the government should be involved in care for the poor, the disadvantaged, the environment and such. (I'm liberal politically--and believe supporting abortion is contrary to the liberal value of protecting the helpless.)

Liberal personally means generous. (I should be more liberal.)

Would you describe this use of "liberal" as mennoculturally?

[steve-in-kville]

Would you describe this use of "liberal" as mennoculturally?

In my experiences working among conservative Mennonites, there was a fine line between the term "liberal" and "wordly."

Is the wearing of a printed t-shirt wordly or liberal? Just because a man wears long-sleeve button up shirts all year round doesn't make him a saint. But does the man wearing a t-shirt with his employer's logo make him a sinner?

[JimFoxvog]

In my experiences working among conservative Mennonites, there was a fine line between the term "liberal" and "wordly."

Thanks, Steve. That helps my understanding. I've only been a Mennonite for about 19 years and am still learning.

[steve-in-kville]

In my experiences working among conservative Mennonites, there was a fine line between the term "liberal" and "wordly."

Thanks, Steve. That helps my understanding. I've only been a Mennonite for about 19 years and am still learning.

I was in it for nearly 25 years and towards the end, nothing made sense.