Baptists and Mennonites

[Rebel]

What would you say are main differences between Baptists and Mennonites?

 

[plain_n_simple]

What would you say are main differences between Baptists and Mennonites?

Mennonites live separately on earth, Baptists think they will have a separate place in heaven...:laugh:

 

[Walter]

Not sure about the differences, but like Baptists, Mennonites have a long, long history of splitting. Many of the Mennonite churches in the area of California I live in are 'gay affirming' churches which has led to a downward spiral in church attendance and more splits than you will see at a gymnastics event.

 

[Deacon]

Welcome Rebel!

There is a Mennonite congregation just around the corner from me.
One of our distinguished elders used to serve there years ago.

Mennonites are generally pacifists.

Here in southeast Pennsylvania they are often associated with the Amish, a different group but with similar separatist practices.
Rarely small groups still speak in a German dialect as the Amish.

They are quite a bit more open to the use of modern conveniences, (e.g. driving automobiles) than the Amish.

More liberal Mennonite groups are open to outsiders, They often follow baptistic traditions almost indistinguishable from conservative Baptist congregations.

Mennonites baptize by immersion, a practice which includes pouring.

In stricter Mennonite congregations the women wear simple white head coverings and bind their hair in buns.

In years past I believe the Baptistboard moderators allowed a Mennonite to post in the Baptist section.

Rob

 

[JonC]

Mennonites live separately on earth, Baptists think they will have a separate place in heaven

:applause::applause::laugh:

Mennonites would not disagree with the doctrines that form the Baptist distinctiveness. Baptists would have a more difficult time accepting some of the doctrines of the Mennonites. There is certainly less left to Christian liberty (holding public office, taking up arms, etc) and most if not all Baptists would view their legalistic ideas and separating (literally) from the world as community to be unbiblical.

John Smythe desired to be Mennonite and encouraged their belief in his Baptist (perhaps formerly Baptist) congregation. If I remember correctly he hadn’t been accepted into the Mennonite congregation when he died. Or poor memory could have me all mixed up...but I believe it was Smythe.

 

[Thousand Hills]

This might be helpful to the OP.

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/anabapt.htm

 

[Rebel]

This might be helpful to the OP.

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/anabapt.htm

Yes, thank you for that, and thanks to all of you who have replied so far.

I often think I might be more Mennonite/Anabaptist than Baptist on a lot of issues. I like their peace stance, too, although I wouldn't say I'm totally a pacifist. It just seems to me that the Christian religion as taught and practiced by too many has been a very bloody religion, and I just can't see that as characteristic of a loving God or what Jesus lived and taught.

Seems to me that Baptists while believing in religious liberty and church-state separation have been all too eager to give their bodies to the government (military) while giving their souls to Jesus.

 

[Salty]

...Seems to me that Baptists while believing in religious liberty and church-state separation have been all too eager to give their bodies to the government (military) while giving their souls to Jesus.

Could be we put a lot of stock in the First Amendment.

 

[Rebel]

Could be we put a lot of stock in the First Amendment.

How does that relate to the Sermon on the Mount?

 

[MNJacob]

They generally do not hold to "once saved always saved".

 

[Rebel]

They generally do not hold to "once saved always saved".

Right. I knew that. They are more like the Free Will Baptists on that doctrine.