Forgotten Word Ministries Blog

wordworker · Lifelong Friend of the Ministry

RE: Business associate attends Mennonite Church

lookup · Newbie

Previously I simply said... "Ask them to pray with you.. Ask them if they think any other type of Follower of Christ is going to Heaven.. you'll be surprised."
"I love all of mankind including the mennonites, but, my past experience leads me to call them a cult."
As you can see my statements lead to my personal belief from those I have dealt with and know well. Simply put, a cult is as defined:

1.

religion: a system of religious or spiritual beliefs, especially an informal and transient belief system regarded by others as misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false, and directed by a charismatic, authoritarian leader

2.

religious group: a group of people who share religious or spiritual beliefs, especially beliefs regarded by others as misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false

I cannot apologize for the fact I believe we are to defend ourselves in times of turmoil and danger any way we can. I never once said they are heading for Hell, but, misquoting scripture, holding onto many old Testament practices, on and on does not help anyone in or out of their church. The principles of "nonresistance" and "relation to civil government" is extremist and unorthodox to the very meaning. Look at the "Introduction to Mennonite Doctrine and Practices", ch 6 and 7, it's an interesting read when they are great in number and choose not to vote. I personally cant help but think if they, and many like them would have voted we would not be in the very state we are in now.

I do pray we all find TRUE holliness, not a extreme indoctrination that is more work than Christ Jesus made it for us. He made it simple, its not seperating our wives from our husbands in church, treating the wives and children as lower beings when Jesus lifted them up.

In Christ,
lookup

wordworker · Lifelong Friend of the Ministry

Wow!
I've known and worshipped with MANY Mennonites ... (and more importantly they have worshipped with me!)
I think it's sad that they believe in pacifism (no war) but THAT is not something that's going to keep them from Heaven. They have a right to hold that belief (after all, did the Lord not say to "turn the other cheek"?) Yes. I think they take it too far but that is between THEM and their LORD Jesus.
My sister-in-law was raised a Christian in the Mennonite church and to announce that they don't believe any other church is going to heaven is just wrong.
The only thing that makes a "church" a "cult" is if they deny the deity, the virgin birth, miraculous life, atoning death and conquering resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and Mennonites hold all these things dear.
My previous post still stands. Mennonites are a good, Christian organization ... especially compared to many "mainline" churches whose ministers doubt all of the above attributes of Christ (ask Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or even some Baptist ministers ... and others as well! ... what they believe about Jesus ... YOU will be surprised to find that depending on the denomination the reported number of ministers who do NOT believe the basic tenets or orthodox Christianity range from 9% to 70%! ) disbelief

lookup · Newbie

Sadly, the belief is decieving in many ways. The Mennonite's say in their statements that if a man lifts arms(weapons or fists) for his, his families safety or his country he is going to Hell. To me that means any of our HONORABLE military, as well as any that defends his family. In order to live in this FREE COUNTRY we must defend it to keep it FREE.
Also, Ask them to pray with you.. Ask them if they think any other type of Follower of Christ is going to Heaven.. you'll be surprised.
I love all of mankind including the mennonites, but, my past experience leads me to call them a cult. Many times I have prayed before I could bring myself to that point, but the Word of God says to expose the darkness, not join it! I could go on..

In Christ's love,
lookup

wordworker · Lifelong Friend of the Ministry

Please don't pass up a good partnership because of a difference of dogma that is not at all a "do-or-die" issue even to most Mennonites themselves.
Mennonites (who are named for their founder, Menno Williams who taught adult baptism) come in a variety of extremes from the so-called "House Amish" (who drive buggys and have no telephones, electricity or other modern conveniences) to a reformed type of Mennonite (not called reformed) where women ONLY wear little caps and ONLY during church services.
The main distinctive of all Mennonite groups is the firm belief in adult baptism, the choosing of group leaders commonly by lot (as seen in Acts with the choosing of Matthias to replace Judas) and the heavy reliance on modesty of dress.
They trust in Jesus Christ as their personal savior just as all evangelicals do.
Mennonites also believe in strict honesty, morality and business ethics in all their dealings.
If your Mennonite friend truly practices the tenets of the Mennonite faith, you can rest assured you will never have to "count the till" to make sure the money is there. To a Mennonite, a handshake and your word is better than a written contract.
As far as ethics and honesty go, you couldn't find a better business partner! smile

As far as the "prophesying" goes, you needn't worry about that either ... like many evangelical groups, the word prophesy is used interchangeably with preaching.

-- Edited by wordworker on Sunday 29th of March 2009 04:24:16 PM

Big-Hoov · Newbie

A business associate I sometimes do work for and sometimes sends me work. Wants to work together more. His business is plumbing, the part of my business he's interested is drain & sewer cleaning. I know he attends a Mennonite Church and is very active in the church. I found a brief summary of Mennontie beliefs online: http://www.anabaptists.org/history/cof-1963.html
Items# 14; We believe that God has established unique roles for man and woman, symbolized by man's bared head in praying and prophesying, and by woman's veiled head.
That doesn't make any sense to me? Prophesying?
I'm seeing deal breakers in the first piece of literature I've read?
Help please, I think I better pass on this deal?