Questions about Mennonitism

It is difficult to say anything at all that could be construed as critical when there are so many positives about the group. Over the years, I’ve seen how a certain group shines out in splendor in a world of evil and wickedness. In fact, there are so many aspects of certain groups that are unbiblical in this world that this denomination stands out with many positive aspects and we do appreciate and laud this group for their insistent witness to righteousness while there are so many elements that are unbiblical in fellow churches in the world.

Some of these positive aspects are open for the world to see. I personally appreciate many of the written literature for children and adults, many of the children’s books produced, some of the missionary programs around the world, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves to persecution in various countries. These elements are a clear demonstration of eccleslesiological willingness to undergo pain and death for what they deem to be God’s will.

We are aware that there are many different Mennonite churches and sects as well as different Mennonite customs and practices. As of 2003, there were some 1,300,00 Mennonites in 65 countries, especially the United States and Africa. It has been said that there are twelve branches, but there are many more smaller sects and groups. (newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mennonite). I am more acquainted with the conservative groups, such as the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites, the Beachy Amish groups, and the like. The following comments pertain to such groups, although some of them may be appropriate to others within the Mennonite fold.

  1. Is it right and godly to call ourselves after any human being, however worthy—Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Menno Simons, Bishop Moses Beachy, Jacob Amman, John Haldeman, etc.? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

 

  1. Is it right to be part of a group that fully acknowledges being a denomination—when this demonstrated spirit is condemned in the New Testament? New Testament congregations were merely scattered home groups of saints (Acts 12:12; cf. 2:42-46)

 

  1. Is it right to substitute pouring or sprinkling for Biblical immersion? Early Christians practiced an action in which one person immersed the convert in water (cf. Acts 8:38-39; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; cf. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23).

 

  1. Is it right to make baptism into a church ordinance rather than allow baptism to be the simple means through which faith brings us to Christ? (Acts 8:12; 18:8; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12).

 

  1. Is it right to make “baptism” (assuming that it is baptism/immersion) into a ritualized ceremony rather than a simple means of accessing the grace of God through an act of faith and repentance (Acts 2:36-41; 8:12, 36-39; Luke 7:29-30)?

 

  1. Is it right to merely observe the breaking of bread one or two times a year rather than each Lord’s day? (Acts 20:7; cf. 2:42).

 

  1. Is it right to make foot washing into a church ritual, practiced only twice a year, when in the early community of saints it was practiced in a home setting in an informal way in the N.T.—only whenever needed? (John 13:3-17; 1 Timothy 5:10).

 

  1. Is it right to formulate written creeds, confessions, disciplines, and manuals when the early Christians only had the inspired Scriptures for their guide—as well as the Apostles’ guidance? (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Acts 17:11).

  1. Is it right to place an overseer (bishop) over multiple congregations instead having a plurality of overseers in each developed congregation? (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 20:17; cf. Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-7).

 

  1. It is right to split the NT position of overseer (bishop), elder (presbyter), or shepherd (pastor) into two—making two different positions—the bishop and the pastor instead of keeping this position open as a single work? In the New Testament, these different terms were used in regard to the same position or function (cf. Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

 

  1. Is it right to organize congregations into districts, synods, and conferences when in the N.T. each local assembly was autonomous? (Acts 14:23).

 

  1. Is it right to make an inferior translation with archaic language (the KJV) into the official and sole translation allowed in a congregation and condemn more accurate renderings of the Word of God? (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12).

 

  1. Is it right for multiple congregations to send representatives to a central location to vote on policies for the denomination (Acts 15)?

 

  1. Is it right to take a quality or value and call it a fruit that “evidences salvation” when we know that certain cults and sects also display—in a measure—certain qualities: zeal and diligence in study (Witnesses), willingness to face persecution (Witnesses and early Catholic missionaries), charity and interest in the downtrodden (certain Catholics), courage (early Baptists, Moravians, etc.), evangelism (Mormons, Witnesses), separation (Mormon sects, Witnesses), and others. If such groups can exhibit persecution, zeal, diligence, suffering, charity, humility, courage, evangelism, separation, and others and still not be saved, why do we insist that “evidences” today necessarily mean salvation? (Acts 10:2, 22, 30; 11:14; 28:2, 7).

  1. It is right to dictate precise details on clothing and demeanor instead of allowing the liberty to follow God in equally righteous ways? (E.g., patterns for dress, coverings, shoes, cars, etc.) (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4).

 

  1. Is it right for church leaders to require that children be educated in a church school and not allow home schooling? We surely can understand why people would avoid secular, humanistic, and worldly public schooling, and even much of the religious schooling, but why not allow parents to teach their own children in the ways of God? (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

 

  1. Is it right for a congregation to initiate “withdrawal of fellowship” for unbiblical reasons and make this an official church doctrine or practice instead of actively seeking to carry on a Biblical withdrawal of fellowship for a member’s unruly behavior and unbiblical beliefs? (Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; etc.)

 

  1. Is it right to actually acknowledge and actively pursue a fellowship that openly professes to be a denomination or a sectarian group (Matthew 18:15ff; 16:15-19; Acts 2:42)

 

  1. Is it right for a religious body to teach a salvation that has no Biblical foundation? (Acts 5:29-42)

These are some of the reasons why we would be slow or even refrain from joining with an acknowledged denominational group, especially one that has certain unscriptural elements. Some may question this and say that there are not as many outstanding unbiblical aspects to the Mennonites. In fact, there are some admirable elements related to this denomination. However, until we find a stronger stand against these unbiblical attitudes and aspects, we must oppose membership in this contemporary denomination.