What Mennonites Believe
(This article focuses on what conservative Mennonites believe, and all verses are KJV)
In 1527, a number of Anabaptist leaders met in Schleitheim, Switzerland, where they compiled seven points they held in common. Conservative Mennonites still hold to these seven pillars of the Anabaptists:
- – Believer’s baptism
- – Church discipline
- – Simple communion among the faithful
- – Separation from the world
- – Each congregation calling its own pastors
- – Rejection of the sword
- – Refusal to take oaths
Although all of these pillars were considered revolutionary (and heretical) at the time, most evangelical churches in the United States today would hold to three of these seven points: (1) believer’s baptism, (2) each congregation calling its own pastors, and (3) a simple communion service (in contrast to the Catholic Mass).
Let’s now examine the four Anabaptist pillars that differentiate the conservative Mennonites from other churches.
Church Discipline:
During the 1500s and 1600s, the church discipline practiced by most Calvinistic churches was as strict as that practiced by the Mennonites. However, over the centuries, the vast majority of churches – Calvinistic or not – have relaxed their discipline to the point that it is practically nonexistent today.
In contrast, conservative Mennonites still practice strict church discipline. Communion in their churches is limited to members in good standing. To be in good standing, a member has to be living by the standards of conduct taught by their church.
Separation from the World:
Nearly all evangelical churches in America today would believe in the separation of church and state. However, for many centuries, evangelicals joined the Roman Catholics in persecuting the Mennonites for their belief in separation of church and state.
However, for the Mennonites, separation from the world means more than separation of church and state. It means living a life that is not conformed to this world. We take very seriously the Scriptural injunction given by Paul: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 This does not mean merely a change in mental disposition. For the Mennonites, it means not following the world’s fashions and fads in dress. It means rejecting much of the world’s entertainment – such as theatres, television, sporting events, and radio.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:17-18
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2Co 7:1
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil 2:15
Rejection of the Sword:
One of the foundational teachings of the Mennonites from the very beginning was rejection of war and use of the sword.
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight… John 18:36
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Mt 5:44
Conservative Mennonites do not join peace marches or try to dictate to governments what they should do in government affairs. Mennonites recognize that God has given earthly governments the right to use the sword. But they believe there is a distinction between citizens of God’s kingdom and citizens of this world.
Jesus commanded His disciples: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Mt 5:39
From the very beginning, Christians understood Jesus’ commandment to rule out Christians going to war. The entire Church held to that position until the time of Constantine in the fourth century.
Refusal to Take Oaths:
Based on Jesus’ teachings, Mennonites also refuse to swear or to take oaths. Jesus told His followers:
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt. 5:34,35,37
Refusal to take oaths is not as much of an issue today as it was at the time of the Reformation. Much of society at the time of the Reformation revolved around swearing oaths: oaths to tell the truth, oaths of loyalty, etc. Protestants and Catholics alike explained away Jesus’ words, for they thought society would unravel without oaths. Again, the Mennonites proved them wrong.
Swearing oaths is no longer viewed as essential for human society, and in the United States, normally a person can simply affirm a statement without having to swear an oath.
I. Basic Principles
1. The Triune God:
We believe there is but one true and living God, who is eternal, infinite, perfect and unchangeable; that he is the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe and all that is therein, and that He will be the final Judge of all; that He exists and reveals Himself in three persons with perfect harmony; the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT. Mk. 12:29, Ps 18:30, Mal. 3:6, Gen. 1:1, Neh. 9:6, Isa. 47:7,12, 18, John 1:3, 10, Gen. 1:26,27, Matt. 28:19, John 15:26.
(a) The Father: “Blessed be God, even the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” II Cor. 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Pet. 1:3
(b) The Son: “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Heb. 1:8a
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”. Isa. 9:6
“Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.” John 20:28
(c) The Holy Spirit: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ….Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” Acts 5:3,4
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16, 17
“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” I John 5:6
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8:16
2. Inspiration of the Scriptures:
We believe in the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Bible as the Word of God. That the Old Covenant was in effect until the fulness of time; when Christ fulfilled the Law, established and set forth the New Covenant. We believe the New Testament is authentic in its matter. The only infallible rule of faith and practice, and that the precepts of the New Testament supercede all other writings or commands.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” II Tim. 3:16
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Pet. 1:19-21
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matt. 5:17
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:4
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24.
3. The New Birth:
We believe in the New Birth as the only means of entrance into Eternal life, which is manifest by change of heart, life and nature, making the individual a child of God.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” John 1:18
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” I Pet. 1:23.
4. Discipleship:
We believe that God expects His children to literally follow the teachings of the New Testament, faithfully to the end of life.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” II Pet. 1:19
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matt. 10:37-39.
5. Church and State:
The Scriptures teach that church and state are distinct and separate.
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36
We believe that as Christians we cannot participate in military service or politics, either by holding public office, by voting, or in applying pressure upon the government in the regulation of their affairs, but rather that we should give ourselves to prayer on their behalf.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Tim. 2:1-2
We further believe that we should keep aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experience of the New Birth.
II. Ordinances
1. Baptism:
We believe the Scriptural mode for water baptism is pouring, and is a type of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt. 3:11
“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5, also Acts 2:1-22,
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 10:44-48,
“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 11:15,16. (KJV)
We expect an applicant for baptism to give evidence of repentance and expression of his faith.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38
“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:37,
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
2.Communion:
We believe the communion service, which signifies the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His coming again, also the unity of the believers, is to be literally carried out by partaking of the breaking of bread and the cup (the fruit of the vine) often enough to keep these truths vividly before our minds.
Members should endeavor to be at peace with God and their fellowmen at all times, and especially when taking part in the communion service. If peace is not accomplished till then, they should stay back from communion.
We believe in close communion, only with those who are of like faith and practice with us; neither shall our members commune with church groups not in harmony with our faith and practice.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matt. 26:26-28
“I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” I Cor. 10:15-22
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” I Cor. 11:23-26,
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Lk. 22:19-20
3. Feet Washing:
We believe feet-washing is to be an humble service, literally carried out by washing one another’s feet, in connection with the communion service, as taught and exemplified by Jesus. John 13:1-17, If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
4. Devotional Covering:
A headship prayer-veiling is to be worn by our sisters while praying or prophesying, and is to be a sign of her relationship to God, in God’s order, (God, Christ, Man, Woman). We expect our sisters to wear the headship prayer-veiling at all times, making it neat, and large enough to cover most of the hair (head).
“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” I Cor. 11:2-16
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” 1 Cor 14:3
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Eph. 5:23
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” I Tim. 2:11-14
5. The Holy Kiss:
This salutation is meant to express Christian love and peace, and is to be taught and practiced.
“Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” Rom. 16:16
“Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Pet. 5:14
6. Anointing With Oil:
We encourage our members to call for anointing with oil for the healing of the body in time of sickness, as taught in James 5:13-16, Mk. 6:13. This ordinance shall be administered by the ministry.
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:13-16
“And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6:13
7. Marriage:
a. Marriage is an institution ordained of God and is binding for life, and should be only in the Lord. It is expected of our members, when seeking a life companion, to select or accept one from those of like faith, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3, and never for a child of God to marry an unbeliever. “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” I Cor. 7:39.
Young people are expected to seek counsel and advice from their parents and/or the ministry concerning courtship and marriage. Also, we expect couples planning to be married to arrange an interview beforehand with the church leaders in charge.
b. Church leaders shall not officiate at marriages where either one or both are not of the Christian faith, neither where one or both do not uphold the doctrines of non-conformity and non-resistance.
c. The bride shall not adorn herself according to the fads and fashions of the world, but shall keep herself in harmony with the practice of the church and the teachings of the New Testament.
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” I Pet. 3:1-6.