Mennonites

[KingsGambit]

What are your thoughts on Mennonite Christianity?

I have felt increasingly drawn in this direction in the last couple years, though I am not fully convinced of all of what they claim.

[Sparko]

wasn't one of our staff members a mennonite?

[Darth Executor]

I think pacifism is evil so I take a dim view of Christians who make it one of their doctrines.

[Teallaura]

They make good chocolate pie!

Sorry, the only Mennonites I knew ran a restaurant - I never got past the pie to discuss theology...

Good pie, however, so if you are ever in Livingston...

[Thoughtful Monk]

Mot too many. I liked what Richard Foster wrote in Celebration of Discipline. I think they do make some important points about the place of technology in our lives. In this sinful world, I think pacifism is too idealistic. Last I remember seriously looking into them, their pacifism was a major reason I didn't go further with them.

[KingsGambit]

Pacifism is really one of the main draws for me; as I've mentioned elsewhere, the early Christians were almost overwhelmingly pacifist, and they took their reasoning for this directly from the Sermon on the Mount. I fear that not being pacifist would be claiming I know better than all these.

I do struggle to reconcile this with the fact that John the Baptist did not condemn the centurions which is why I'm not 100% convinced.

[Darth Executor]

Pacifism is really one of the main draws for me; as I've mentioned elsewhere, the early Christians were almost overwhelmingly pacifist, and they took their reasoning for this directly from the Sermon on the Mount. I fear that not being pacifist would be claiming I know better than all these.

I do struggle to reconcile this with the fact that John the Baptist did not condemn the centurions which is why I'm not 100% convinced.

Shouldn't the old testament be far more convincing? Claiming God's morality changed between the old and new would be straight up heresy.

Although in my case the issue with pacifism is that it breaks one, if not both of the Greatest Commandments.

[KingsGambit]

Shouldn't the old testament be far more convincing? Claiming God's morality changed between the old and new would be straight up heresy.

Although in my case the issue with pacifism is that it breaks one, if not both of the Greatest Commandments.

It could be that OT violence was an accommodation (as Jesus noted Moses's teaching on divorce was). One doesn't need to actually claim that morality changed to maintain a discontinuity.

[Darth Executor]

It could be that OT violence was an accommodation (as Jesus noted Moses's teaching on divorce was). One doesn't need to actually claim that morality changed to maintain a discontinuity.

Not credible. God repeatedly pushed the Israelites to violence even when they weren't inclined to engage in it.

And given that there is no accommodation mentioned on the issue it seems extremely dangerous to assume one anyway, even if the above wasn't the case. You could claim just about everything was an accommodation.

[DesertBerean]

wasn't one of our staff members a mennonite?

I keep think Rayado....

[DesertBerean]

I keep think Rayado....

No! Rando!

[Bill the Cat]

Yeah. I think you are right DB. Amazing Rando.

[Sparko]

yep Amazing Rando

[Littlejoe]

How does a Mennonite use the internet to post on a theology board... and stay "true" to their doctrine?

[Sparko]

How does a Mennonite use the internet to post on a theology board... and stay "true" to their doctrine?

mennonites can use technology and drive cars. they are not the same as Amish.

they even have a website: http://mennoniteusa.org/