People call us Mennonites. We have been called Mennonites so long (since the 1600's) that it has become our denominational name. More important than being called Mennonite is the fact that we are Christians who seek to obey the entire Gospel.

You may have thought we are different. Some people think we are odd. But we are not ashamed to be different from most professing Christians, because we are serious about obeying God and His Word.

Our desire to obey God is born out of love for Jesus. He gave His life for us, and we want to live our lives for Him. Consequently, He has a right to tell us what to do in every area of life.

We believe the Bible—every word of it. The Bible explains itself, but not apart from Holy Spirit illumination and diligent study, plus a willingness to obey on our part. When we know what the Bible says, we want to do our best to live it.

The Biblical Christian is one who is obedient every day. This obedience is the result of having been born again (John 3:7). We are made new creatures in Christ through repentance and faith in the atoning blood of Christ (Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

We believe it is wrong for those who profess to be Christians to live in sin. God tells us to "follow . . . holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). We do not accept the doctrine that says, "Once you are saved, you are always saved." The Bible teaches that we must continue to make a sincere, conscientious effort to walk with God every day. Yielding to sin will destroy a person's relationship with God, and in the end damn his soul eternally.

We are so concerned about sin that we will not knowingly receive people into church membership who are not cleansed and freed from sin by Christ. Every member must give testimony to being at peace with God and man and must manifest new life in Christ before he may join us in the Communion service. (See 1 Corinthians 5:11; 11:28.) The Bible makes it plain that God is not going to let just anyone into heaven, and He expects us to limit membership to those who meet His requirements.

Our desire for holiness expresses itself in our church standards. We give attention to those areas where Satan is trying to bring special attacks on the church. Our churches have compiled a list of expressions of how Christians can realistically express Biblical Christianity in the twenty-first century. As a spiritual body of Christ, we agree to work together and to live by this standard. We do not claim that this discipline says it all, or that it will make anyone holy. Certainly not. Holiness originates from a new birth experience (John 3:7); yet, a group working together and submitting to one another in the fear of God finds a way to unitedly apply Bible principles to life today. (See Acts 15 for the apostolic precedent.)

We take a strong position against immorality and immodesty. Our church standards contain what we consider a safe application of the Bible principle of modesty in dress and in conduct in a society that knows no boundaries of indecency. People should think of God, holiness, and purity when they observe Christian men and women. A Christian woman's appearance should remind people of godliness and purity and not sensuality (1 Timothy 2:9).

Come and worship with us to find out more about us. See what we teach on the debated issues of today, and then search it out in your Bible, to see if that is what God wants you to believe.

Sometimes people ask us, "Why do you make the way so narrow, or so hard?" The reason is, if we tell you that sin is all right, and that bars you from heaven, we have made it hard. But if we tell you what is sinful and wrong, although you may think it is hard, the truth can make you free.

We want people to think of God and to see Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world when they see us.

Please come and worship with us. Or if you would like help on any subject, contact us.

Lingua

English

Numero di Pagine

2

Autore

Stephen Ebersole

Editore

Anabaptist Faith

Argomenti

Moralità

La Chiesa

Adorazione