This is an independent blog and is not affiliated with any particular church, group or conference. The term Bruderthaler refers to a specific ethnic or cultural Mennonite heritage, not to any particular organized group. All statements and opinions are solely those of the contributor(s). Blog comprises notebook fragments from various research projects and discussions. Dialogue, comment and notice of corrections are welcomed. Much of this content is related to papers and presentations that might be compiled at a future date, as such, this blog serves as a research archive rather than as a publication. 'tag

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Cautious Friends

    A good Mennonite friend of mine from Buhler, Kansas, posted the attached video onto her Facebook™ Timeline.  



   Obviously, I have disclosed that I fellowship with a Roman Catholic group on Saturday evenings when in Chicago (no – I am Mennonite, not Catholic).  I fellowship with them because I enjoy the method by which they delve into the scripture readings for the service and because I have found within the Roman Catholic church a continued, obstinate dedication to old Mennonite values such as Communitarianism, Pacifism, Social Outreach, personalism or Pietism in one’s relationship to Christ, and Grace – especially amongst the orders (Franciscans, Jesuits, Vincentians and the Poor Claire’s).
   Having similarly attended numerous fellow Evangelical services, I have found myself all too often discouraged that while many churches share a commitment to Biblicism and the Evangelical message, I have left too many of these services feeling that the fruits from that service were negative, judgmental or counter-productive – or just as often, having experienced what I often refer to as Evangelical-lite – meaning that I experienced Truth but was leaving the service still spiritually hungry.  I have found certain Roman Catholic services and a few Evangelical Free Services to be a better mix for my own personal spiritual needs and “character.”   So I am a bit ecumenical by nature.  (Clarification, in saying this, I am stating that I believe that each individual has different needs and will find those needs met in different settings.  The characteristics and needs of the New Testament churches were likewise greatly divergent and relative to their situation.)
   That is not to say that I agree with fellow Catholic Christians regarding infant baptism – but even in that regard, I have found my former understanding of their theology to be a bit over-simplified and am comfortable that a Roman Catholic who has completed the Catechistic process to be potentially every bit as much the adult believer as are Mennonites.  That being said, I have wondered about the very close political ties between groups such as the Southern Baptist Conference and certain Anglican, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches – how can they, and we, cooperate so closely when the latter three churches also practice or do not exclude infant baptism.  Our Mennonite churches in Congo / Zaire are part of the same ministerial structure as the pedo-baptists.  How can one group be judged so harshly and the others just as easily forgiven?  I have not yet received a great explanation in that regard.

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