Proverbs 8:22-31 (DNKJB)
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
This passage offers a glimpse of the preexistence of Christ with His Father Jehovah prior to the creation of the heavens and earth.
Verse 22, the word "possessed" comes from the hebrew (strongs 7069) word "qanah" which means "to erect, i.e. create by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own: - attain, buy (-er), get, possess, purchase, recover, redeem.
"Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way"
The early Church as well as many of the reformers and the general Protestant churches believed this passage to be about Christ. Ellen White also believed this. With Christ speaking as wisdom, He states that Jehovah possessed (erected, created in the begotten sense, as noted in several passages in the newtestament) Him in the beginning of his way. This clearly teaches that Christ had a beginning as a personality. In the beginning the Word was with God (John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:13-16, Revelation 3:14).
The bible clearly teaches the preexistence of Christ and that He was begotten of the Father in eternity past. What the bible does not specify is exactly how and when in eternity this took place. This is not for us to know, however we do have an example in the bible of one being coming out from another's substance and that is Eve coming out from Adam. It is interesting to note that Jehovah told His Son "Let us make man in our image" before creating Adam and Eve. Eve coming out from Adam's substance could have been a human example of Jesus being begotten from the Father's substance.
Verse 23, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was". The phrase "Set up" comes from the Hebrew word "nacak" (Hebrew Strongs 5258) which means "to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy to anoint a king: - cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up).
Christ as wisdom says He was poured out from the times of eternity (everlasting), see Micah 5:2. What was Christ poured out from? Well from verse 22 and several new testament passages, we know that Christ was poured out from the Father. This confirms that Christ was begotten from the Father's substance and not just created out of nothing.
Verse 24-29, before there were the depths of waters, mountains, the earth in general, the heavens, the clouds, appointing of the foundations of the earth and sea boundaries etc. , Christ was brought forth. The phrase "brought forth" comes from the Hebrew word "chuwl" which means "to twist or whirl, to writhe in pain, bear, bring forth, form".
Christ was brought forth (formed) from the Father. The word "from" is important here as this denotes that Christ came from the Father's substance and was not created independent of it. Christ came out from and was formed by the Father.
Verse 30, the phrase "brought up" comes from the Hebrew word "amown (Hebrew Strongs 526) and means "skilled, i.e. an architect: - one brought up". This passage could also be rendered "Then I was by him as a master craftsman: and I was daily his delight".
Wisdom here is described as a skilled architect, a master craftsman. This indicates that this passage is about a person and not a mere attribute of the mind (wisdom).
Remember that Christ is called the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:24 (KJV)
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
We see from the above passage that Christ is called the power and wisdom of God.
Here are some new testament passages regarding Christ coming forth, out from the Father.
John 16:27-28 (KJV)
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Hebrews 1:3-5 (KJV)
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Colossians 1:15 (KJV)
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1 John 4:9 (KJV)
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 5:1 (KJV)
5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
The beliefs of Seventh Day Anabaptists
Seventh-day Anabaptist doctrine is based on the Anabaptist protestant tradition. The Apostolic doctrine of the "priesthood of all believers" is so central to the thinking of Seventh-day Anabaptists that they have always been encouraged to study the Bible to discover truth for themselves guided of the Holy Spirit. This may explain their reluctance to establish a creed...."
Now they spread and split into many groups, but their doctrines on the whole seem to have developed into the following basic beliefs:
Seventh Day Anabaptists maintain that a loving God created the universe and everything in it. Marred by sin, the cosmos now stands in need of redemption, which God has offered through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Anabaptists believe in a Sovereign God- Jehovah God the Father, they believe in the literal begotten Sonship of Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Anabaptists believe in a personal archenemy of God called "Satan" or "the Devil."
Anabaptists believe that human beings were created to glorify and live in relationship with God. Since all humans break that relationship through sinful actions, they are faced with a choice: to continue their rebellion against God or repent of their sins and place their faith in God's saving grace.
Anabaptists believe that, although God created the world good, human sinfulness has resulted in great suffering. Many Anabaptists have interpreted some forms of suffering as a mark of faithfulness, befalling those who choose to "carry the cross" of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant.
Anabaptists contend that salvation is not earned by one's works, but rather comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who place their trust in Christ enter into eternal life with God, a life that extends beyond the grave.
Here is a partial list of Seventh Day Anabaptist beliefs:
1. Infant baptism is a false baptism. Moreover, baptism does not save. One has to be saved in order to be baptised, i.e. the condition for baptism is to be a follower of Christ by having a living belief in Christ (cf. Acts 8:36-38).
2. Church and the State should be separated. Church is a Body of followers of Christ who respect the Laws of the State as long as it doesn't contradict with the Law of Christ. Church is not a political institution having any political power in the State. Church should not have any support from the State.
3. The Roman Catholic Church is not the true Church of Christ.
4. Calvinist theology of God's election is wrong. God does not unconditionally reprobate people to Hell. Rather, God's Manifested Wrath is conditional, and the condition is of not being in Christ. God will show His wrath only to people who are not in Christ. Likewise, God's election is conditional, and the condition is being in Christ. God elects only people who are in Christ.
5. Lutheran theology of salvation is wrong. Faith in Christ should be a living faith, faith which is confirmed in the fruits of Spirit. People who are living sinful life, without true repentance, will end up being destroyed in the Lake of Fire. Living in sin and occasionally falling in sin are not the same thing. All children of God can fall in sin because of our weaknesses, but they do not live in sin.
6. Worshiping God is a very serious thing, and we ought not to introduce new things in our Worship, of which the Bible doesn't say anything about.
7. The Bible is a closed canon of holy books, it is infallible. We believe in the continued gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift of tongues were actual languages used to preach the gospel to the utter most parts of the earth. We believe the outpouring of the latter reign will be given to those faithful Christians who preach the Three Angels messages. The Bible is our necessary and sufficient supreme authority in our lives.
Now they spread and split into many groups, but their doctrines on the whole seem to have developed into the following basic beliefs:
Seventh Day Anabaptists maintain that a loving God created the universe and everything in it. Marred by sin, the cosmos now stands in need of redemption, which God has offered through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Anabaptists believe in a Sovereign God- Jehovah God the Father, they believe in the literal begotten Sonship of Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Anabaptists believe in a personal archenemy of God called "Satan" or "the Devil."
Anabaptists believe that human beings were created to glorify and live in relationship with God. Since all humans break that relationship through sinful actions, they are faced with a choice: to continue their rebellion against God or repent of their sins and place their faith in God's saving grace.
Anabaptists believe that, although God created the world good, human sinfulness has resulted in great suffering. Many Anabaptists have interpreted some forms of suffering as a mark of faithfulness, befalling those who choose to "carry the cross" of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant.
Anabaptists contend that salvation is not earned by one's works, but rather comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who place their trust in Christ enter into eternal life with God, a life that extends beyond the grave.
Here is a partial list of Seventh Day Anabaptist beliefs:
1. Infant baptism is a false baptism. Moreover, baptism does not save. One has to be saved in order to be baptised, i.e. the condition for baptism is to be a follower of Christ by having a living belief in Christ (cf. Acts 8:36-38).
2. Church and the State should be separated. Church is a Body of followers of Christ who respect the Laws of the State as long as it doesn't contradict with the Law of Christ. Church is not a political institution having any political power in the State. Church should not have any support from the State.
3. The Roman Catholic Church is not the true Church of Christ.
4. Calvinist theology of God's election is wrong. God does not unconditionally reprobate people to Hell. Rather, God's Manifested Wrath is conditional, and the condition is of not being in Christ. God will show His wrath only to people who are not in Christ. Likewise, God's election is conditional, and the condition is being in Christ. God elects only people who are in Christ.
5. Lutheran theology of salvation is wrong. Faith in Christ should be a living faith, faith which is confirmed in the fruits of Spirit. People who are living sinful life, without true repentance, will end up being destroyed in the Lake of Fire. Living in sin and occasionally falling in sin are not the same thing. All children of God can fall in sin because of our weaknesses, but they do not live in sin.
6. Worshiping God is a very serious thing, and we ought not to introduce new things in our Worship, of which the Bible doesn't say anything about.
7. The Bible is a closed canon of holy books, it is infallible. We believe in the continued gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift of tongues were actual languages used to preach the gospel to the utter most parts of the earth. We believe the outpouring of the latter reign will be given to those faithful Christians who preach the Three Angels messages. The Bible is our necessary and sufficient supreme authority in our lives.
The way of the Anabaptists
Below are the three core Anabaptists beliefs. Seventh-Day Anabaptists adhere to these principles of brethren who were our forerunners in the faith.
1. Believer's Baptism
Anabaptists teach a person must first believe the gospel before accepting baptism. This based on the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ which placed believing ahead of baptism. For this reason, they do not baptize infants.
2. Non Violence
Anabaptists do not believe in obtaining or protecting rights through use of force. They are committed to nonviolence per teachings of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament to turn the other cheek.
3. Community of Goods
Anabaptists believe all property should be shared in common with fellow believers in Christ. This is in accordance with Christ's command to rich young ruler to give up all of his possessions and follow him.
4. A few key differences exist between Anabaptists and much of Christendom in their core doctrines. One major difference is the emphasis on salvation by Protestants versus an emphasis on discipleship by Anabaptists.
Much of Christendom doesn't believe that a person can fall from grace after accepting Jesus Christ as their savior. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention states that "Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end."
Anabaptists, on the other hand, believe that mere faith alone is not enough. True believers in Christ must show their faith through living what the Bible teaches. As Christians of the Seventh Day Anabaptist faith, we declare that "The Bible's position is that mere faith in Christ's sacrifice is not enough. The Bible teaches clearly that saving faith produces — and needs— good works."
As indirect spiritual descendants of the Anabaptists, the Seventh-day Anabaptists strive to exhibit many of the same ideals as their spiritual forefathers. As time went on, the various groups of Anabaptists became like any other Protestant denomination and strayed away from the apostolic model of Christianity. Heirarchal centralized leadership, promotion of the buildings and institution as the "church", conformity to the world's principles and union with the State via the 501 C 3 tax exempt non profit Corporation status. Also, forming an image of the beast to persecute brethen by participating in the ecumenical movement headed by the Vatican.
Much of the modern day Anabaptists churches no longer have the spirit of their Pioneers and now have blended in of the Protestants.
We as Seventh Day Anabaptists are returning to 1500's Anabaptist principles. We are not Protestants but rather Restorationists. Just as our spiritual predecessors in the Anabaptist movement, we desire new testament apostolic Christianity. We consider the Apostles, the Waldenesians, the Anabaptists as our spiritual heritage.
A true Christian is willing to bear the burden of his fellow brother and sister in Christ. Doing this at times will require us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross. A true Christian will share his material blessings with his brethren and give to those who have need, first within the community of faith and then with those in need outside the Christian Congregation.
A true Christian will be willing to give shelter to those within the community of faith who are in need of housing. Of course, this would be a brother or sister that the Christian knows to be a faithful brother or sister.
A true Christian does not participate in the political process either by voting for candidates nor entangling themselves in the political world in general. Anabaptists know that they are sojourners and pilgrims in this world and that their citizenship is in heaven.
A true Christian doesn't not pick up the sword of civil power, whether it be state or federal. We also do not join the military and participate in it's wars. We do not take our brothers and sisters to court. That brings a reproach on Jehovah. We practice non violence and seek non violent solutions. We do believe that we can use reasonable self defense to protect our family but not our property nor our material goods. Rather, we take the loss and joyfully accept the plundering of our goods.
A true Christian gives without expecting anything back. In the event we ever lend money in a business venture to an unbeliever, provided it is a venture that does not bring reproach to Jehovah, we do not charge usury (interest), if the borrowee cannot pay back, we forgive all debts. We don't sue them or take them to court but rather we show the example of Christ who canceled our debts at the cross.
A true Christian keeps themselves unspotted from the world. This relates to entertainment, politics and cultural conformity in any way.
A true Christian is willing to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ anywhere and everywhere at anytime. This could be personal evangelism, door knocking, street witnessing and open air preaching.
A true Christian isn't ashamed of his faith in Jesus Christ and what the bible teaches. He believes in the true literal Sonship of Jesus Christ.
A true Christian doesn't seek the riches of this world but rather the treasures that are in heaven. He/She is willing to preach the gospel free of charge. A true Christian seeks a simple and humble life. He/She doesn't seek position in this life but rather seeks the crown reserved for overcomers who inherit heavenly Zion.
A true Christian realizes his own need for Christ and thereby is gentle when correcting a brother or sister who falls into temptation. He/She doesn't put heavy burdens and yokes on others in regards to rules and regulations, but lets the brethren work out their own salvation in fear and trembling when it comes to the less weightier matters.
A true Christian esteems others higher than himself/herself. He/She is willing to go the extra mile to help out others.
A true Christian doesn't judge others unrighteously either by outward appearance or assuming the worst of someone else's intentions. He/She will practice mercy, love, patience, kindness and all attributes associated with the fruit of the spirit. A true Christian seeks to take the plank out of His/Her own eye before taking it out of the eyes of others.
A true Christian isn't a fashion policeman or woman but rather if needed will give gentle counsel on modesty. A true Christian isn't nitpicky on these things and he/she is more concerned with the inward part of a man/woman.
Of course we all will fall short of these principles at times but we strive for perfection. Our High Preist Christ Jesus mediates for us when we fall short of exhibiting his character. Thank Jehovah for such a merciful High Preist.
This what we as Seventh Day Anabaptists believe.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Doctrines of the Anabaptists influence continue in the heart of bible believing Christians
The Anabaptists were far from uniform among their different groups on doctrine. As I mentioned before, there were Sabbath keeping Anabaptists who even died for it. The same goes with non trinitarian Anabaptists who primarily were Unitarian but there some who were also Arian and even some who were trinitarian but not of the Nicene but rather the simpler and more biblical Apostles creed.
So where do I stand on doctrine and what will be taught at our home fellowship? This is where I draw from the Anabaptist heritage. Seventh Day Anabaptists are really an indirect offspring of Oswald Glait and Andreas Fischer who pioneered Sabbath keeping Anabaptism. Anabaptism is the offspring of Apostolic Christianity. Why do I say this? Because Anabaptism is more Restorationist in doctrine and application than say Protestantism. Make no mistake though, Anabaptism initially gleaned from Protestantism but then broke away over doctrinal issues. However, Seventh Day Anabaptism draws more from the Apostolic Church than they do from the magesterial reformers (Protestants).
I look at Anabaptists as the restoration of the original Church. The Anabaptists during the 1500 andn1600's were fervent in evangelism. Some of that fire is still there but nowhere like it was in those early years. The Anabaptists restored many of the precious truths of scripture that mainstream Christendom didn't have.
The Anabaptists had already restored some of these precious truths during their intial break from the magesterial reformers by the time Andreas Fischer and Oswald Glait restored the Seventh day Sabbath to the flock. At least a few of the groups kept the Sabbath, most didn't. What were some of these doctrines that Anabaptists restored?
Again not all Anabaptists restored these doctrines but some of the groups did:
The Sabbath
Non trinitarianism
The Premillennial return of Christ (literal millennium)
Soul Sleep (conditional immortality of the soul).
Of course as the light of truth gets brighter the completed Restoration of the Christian Congregation will,take place before Christ return. The early Anabaptists gave it a good jumpstart.
I adhere to all of the above doctrines mentioned. As far as non trinitarianism goes, I believe in the Godhead Trio which really identifies the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in detail rather than the superficial identification of them as being co eternal and co eqaul and all making up one Almighty God.
The Godhead Trio in simple terms is:
The Father Jehovah is the Almighty God, Unbegotten and uncreated.
Jesus Christ our Lord is the true Son of God, uncreated but begotten from the Father's substance.
The Holy Spirit is the actual Spirit (power, presence, breath, mind, personality) of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is uncreated, unbegotten but proceeding from the Father and then to the Son and then is sent to the Church.
I'll share more in terms of doctrine as time goes on.
So where do I stand on doctrine and what will be taught at our home fellowship? This is where I draw from the Anabaptist heritage. Seventh Day Anabaptists are really an indirect offspring of Oswald Glait and Andreas Fischer who pioneered Sabbath keeping Anabaptism. Anabaptism is the offspring of Apostolic Christianity. Why do I say this? Because Anabaptism is more Restorationist in doctrine and application than say Protestantism. Make no mistake though, Anabaptism initially gleaned from Protestantism but then broke away over doctrinal issues. However, Seventh Day Anabaptism draws more from the Apostolic Church than they do from the magesterial reformers (Protestants).
I look at Anabaptists as the restoration of the original Church. The Anabaptists during the 1500 andn1600's were fervent in evangelism. Some of that fire is still there but nowhere like it was in those early years. The Anabaptists restored many of the precious truths of scripture that mainstream Christendom didn't have.
The Anabaptists had already restored some of these precious truths during their intial break from the magesterial reformers by the time Andreas Fischer and Oswald Glait restored the Seventh day Sabbath to the flock. At least a few of the groups kept the Sabbath, most didn't. What were some of these doctrines that Anabaptists restored?
Again not all Anabaptists restored these doctrines but some of the groups did:
The Sabbath
Non trinitarianism
The Premillennial return of Christ (literal millennium)
Soul Sleep (conditional immortality of the soul).
Of course as the light of truth gets brighter the completed Restoration of the Christian Congregation will,take place before Christ return. The early Anabaptists gave it a good jumpstart.
I adhere to all of the above doctrines mentioned. As far as non trinitarianism goes, I believe in the Godhead Trio which really identifies the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in detail rather than the superficial identification of them as being co eternal and co eqaul and all making up one Almighty God.
The Godhead Trio in simple terms is:
The Father Jehovah is the Almighty God, Unbegotten and uncreated.
Jesus Christ our Lord is the true Son of God, uncreated but begotten from the Father's substance.
The Holy Spirit is the actual Spirit (power, presence, breath, mind, personality) of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is uncreated, unbegotten but proceeding from the Father and then to the Son and then is sent to the Church.
I'll share more in terms of doctrine as time goes on.
Being an Anabaptist in 2016
I have chosen the label "Seventh Day Anabaptist" to represent my faith as a Christian. My hope is to grow a fellowship of like minded believers who will share in my desire to return to Apostolic Christianity.
Why the label "Anabaptist"? My inspiration comes from the movie "The Radicals". I feel that the Anabaptists best represented what the New Testament Congregation is supposed to look like.
They believed in the seperation of Church and State. They didn't believe in picking up the sword of politics or war. They believed that when a Christian got baptized that it was a seal of their entrance into the Kingdom of God and leaving the Kingdom of this world. They didn't believe in the Catholic/Protestant doctrine of water regeneration but rather that it was a symbol and seal of their confession in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and dying to this world and walking in newness of life with Christ.
The Anabaptists believed in the preisthood of all believers unlike the Catholic Church and Protestant Church. Even though most Protestant denominations give lip service to the "preisthood of all believers" concept for the most part they don't put this in practice. The Anabaptists were zealous evangelists unlike their Protestant contemporaries. Even today nary a Protestant denomination is known for fervent evangelism especially within the United States.
Even though many of the various Anabaptists sects had leadership they didn't have hierarchical Nicolatian type leadership. It was more of a flat structure of leadership with Pastor's operating as true sheperds rather than overlords. Also, each believer was encouraged to operate in the gifts that Jehovah blessed them with.
The definition of Church was understood differently by Anabaptists than their Protestant counterparts. The Church to Anabaptists was the people themselves not a building or institutional organization.
In my research of the Anabaptists there were many that were Sabbath keepers and some that Non trinitarian. There was a sizable Unitarian Anabaptist community in Transylvania. There were also strains of Arian Anabaptists. Some of the Sabbath keeping Anabaptists were martyred for not keeping Sunday which they viewed as the holiday of the antichrist. Many of them also refused to celebrate other Catholic holidays.
Doctrinally, they varied from community to community. Most important to them was in how they practically lived out their Christian life according to word of God.
Some of the modern day descendants of the Anabaptists are the Mennonites and Amish. The Mennonite is the largest and they vary from very conservative to very liberal.
We are not direct descendants of the Anabaptists, however we have adopted many of their principles in order to carry the torch of Apostolic Christianity that for the most part has died out. The descendants of the Anabaptists are hardly recognizable to the original movement of the 1500's. Some have become more insular whereas some have become all about social justice. Make no mistake about it, the original Anabaptist was about preaching and living the Kingdom of God and Christ.
I think all of us outside the institutional Church system have some Anabaptist in us. They would have been the group we would have joined if alive during the Reformation era. Unlike the often hateful Protestants and Catholics, the Anabaptists were not about devouring each other over disagreements about doctrine that were not salvational. They were also not persecutors of others. They believed in freedom of conscience.
The Anabaptists brought back the truth of the premillennial return of Christ and believed in the teaching of a literal millennium. The Protestants and Catholics were amillennial deriving this from the gnostic Augustine who taught that the material world was evil. The Anabaptists were very much into bible prophecy. Many considered both or either the Papacy and the Protestants as the antichrist.
My position is that the Papacy is the antichrist system and that Protestant America is the false prophet and that the image of the beast will be a Church-State union of Protestants/Evangelicals and the United States of America and the United Nations. The World's false religions will also be part of this Church-State Union. In America, the Protestants and Evangelicals will lead the charge to unite with State. The U.N will provide the international aspect of this union with the world's false religions heavily involved. This will include the New Age movement.
We believe that bible believing Christians much like the Anabaptists during the Reformation era, will be persecuted in America by Protestants and Catholics as a repeat of what happened in 1500's and 1600's. Of course persecution will be worldwide and all the false religions untied with State will engage in the persecution of the saints.
So living in a 2016 context, how do we apply Anabaptist living today? We return to the old paths. These radical reformers probably lived closest to the way new testament Christians lived in the apostolic times. They had all things in common sharing their goods with each other and giving to each other as each had need. This is more than possible today, it's just most of today's professing Christian Churches have been so influenced by materialism that they make every excuse in the world to not let go of their precious possessions.
As Anabaptists today, we don't seek to emulate outward forms of dress such as the Amish but rather to live a simple and modest life in all areas. It's not about the outward dress or appearance but rather the heart and how you live out your walk with Christ. When we do this then temperance in all things naturally follows. As Seventh Day Anabaptists in our community, we visibly are not much different than our neighbor. We are not seeking to stand out visually in appearance but rather stand out in our witness of Christian daily living.
The most important thing is to fufill the gospel commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and preach the Kingdom of Jehovah to a dying world. We have the sermon on the mount as the core of our statement of faith. We feel that it is not enough to believe but to actually live out our faith in a real way instead of just theory.
We want to do our part in restoring Christianity to it's primitive apostolic roots. This was the goal of the Anabaptists which since has been left behind by it's descendants. We seek to return to the original ideals of that Radical Reformation led by those brave men and women who carried that torch of precious truth.
Why the label "Anabaptist"? My inspiration comes from the movie "The Radicals". I feel that the Anabaptists best represented what the New Testament Congregation is supposed to look like.
They believed in the seperation of Church and State. They didn't believe in picking up the sword of politics or war. They believed that when a Christian got baptized that it was a seal of their entrance into the Kingdom of God and leaving the Kingdom of this world. They didn't believe in the Catholic/Protestant doctrine of water regeneration but rather that it was a symbol and seal of their confession in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and dying to this world and walking in newness of life with Christ.
The Anabaptists believed in the preisthood of all believers unlike the Catholic Church and Protestant Church. Even though most Protestant denominations give lip service to the "preisthood of all believers" concept for the most part they don't put this in practice. The Anabaptists were zealous evangelists unlike their Protestant contemporaries. Even today nary a Protestant denomination is known for fervent evangelism especially within the United States.
Even though many of the various Anabaptists sects had leadership they didn't have hierarchical Nicolatian type leadership. It was more of a flat structure of leadership with Pastor's operating as true sheperds rather than overlords. Also, each believer was encouraged to operate in the gifts that Jehovah blessed them with.
The definition of Church was understood differently by Anabaptists than their Protestant counterparts. The Church to Anabaptists was the people themselves not a building or institutional organization.
In my research of the Anabaptists there were many that were Sabbath keepers and some that Non trinitarian. There was a sizable Unitarian Anabaptist community in Transylvania. There were also strains of Arian Anabaptists. Some of the Sabbath keeping Anabaptists were martyred for not keeping Sunday which they viewed as the holiday of the antichrist. Many of them also refused to celebrate other Catholic holidays.
Doctrinally, they varied from community to community. Most important to them was in how they practically lived out their Christian life according to word of God.
Some of the modern day descendants of the Anabaptists are the Mennonites and Amish. The Mennonite is the largest and they vary from very conservative to very liberal.
We are not direct descendants of the Anabaptists, however we have adopted many of their principles in order to carry the torch of Apostolic Christianity that for the most part has died out. The descendants of the Anabaptists are hardly recognizable to the original movement of the 1500's. Some have become more insular whereas some have become all about social justice. Make no mistake about it, the original Anabaptist was about preaching and living the Kingdom of God and Christ.
I think all of us outside the institutional Church system have some Anabaptist in us. They would have been the group we would have joined if alive during the Reformation era. Unlike the often hateful Protestants and Catholics, the Anabaptists were not about devouring each other over disagreements about doctrine that were not salvational. They were also not persecutors of others. They believed in freedom of conscience.
The Anabaptists brought back the truth of the premillennial return of Christ and believed in the teaching of a literal millennium. The Protestants and Catholics were amillennial deriving this from the gnostic Augustine who taught that the material world was evil. The Anabaptists were very much into bible prophecy. Many considered both or either the Papacy and the Protestants as the antichrist.
My position is that the Papacy is the antichrist system and that Protestant America is the false prophet and that the image of the beast will be a Church-State union of Protestants/Evangelicals and the United States of America and the United Nations. The World's false religions will also be part of this Church-State Union. In America, the Protestants and Evangelicals will lead the charge to unite with State. The U.N will provide the international aspect of this union with the world's false religions heavily involved. This will include the New Age movement.
We believe that bible believing Christians much like the Anabaptists during the Reformation era, will be persecuted in America by Protestants and Catholics as a repeat of what happened in 1500's and 1600's. Of course persecution will be worldwide and all the false religions untied with State will engage in the persecution of the saints.
So living in a 2016 context, how do we apply Anabaptist living today? We return to the old paths. These radical reformers probably lived closest to the way new testament Christians lived in the apostolic times. They had all things in common sharing their goods with each other and giving to each other as each had need. This is more than possible today, it's just most of today's professing Christian Churches have been so influenced by materialism that they make every excuse in the world to not let go of their precious possessions.
As Anabaptists today, we don't seek to emulate outward forms of dress such as the Amish but rather to live a simple and modest life in all areas. It's not about the outward dress or appearance but rather the heart and how you live out your walk with Christ. When we do this then temperance in all things naturally follows. As Seventh Day Anabaptists in our community, we visibly are not much different than our neighbor. We are not seeking to stand out visually in appearance but rather stand out in our witness of Christian daily living.
The most important thing is to fufill the gospel commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and preach the Kingdom of Jehovah to a dying world. We have the sermon on the mount as the core of our statement of faith. We feel that it is not enough to believe but to actually live out our faith in a real way instead of just theory.
We want to do our part in restoring Christianity to it's primitive apostolic roots. This was the goal of the Anabaptists which since has been left behind by it's descendants. We seek to return to the original ideals of that Radical Reformation led by those brave men and women who carried that torch of precious truth.
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