faith
There are many various church groups in present day Southern Alberta among the Low German Mennonites having returned to Canada. The most common churches include the Old Colony, Sommerfelder, Reinlander, Friedensfelder, Kleine Gemeinde, Evangelical Mennonite Church (EMC) and the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference Church (EMMC). Old Colony and Sommerfelder are very traditional in regards to clothing, spirituality and general way of life. Reinlander, Friedensfelder and Kleine Gemeinde are less traditional than Old Colony and Sommerfelder, but not as liberal as EMC and EMMC. The more traditional churches have their worship services in the High German language, and have no Sunday School, or youth group. Less traditional churches use the Low German language or a mixture of Low German and English for their worship services, and do have Sunday School and youth events. Liberal groups use mostly English in church and have multiple opportunities for their attendees beyond Sunday School and youth events. Although each church group differs one from the other, and indeed, each family as well, regardless of church denomination, the majority of Mennonites place a high value on family and have the same fundamental beliefs.
Many Mennonite churches require baptism prior to marriage so that couples can forge their new lives together on a spiritual foundation. Baptismal classes, which consist of fundamental spiritual teaching and growth opportunities in the faith, are a prerequisite to baptism. Most liberal Low German Mennonites do not have their women cover their heads with a scarf, but more traditional Mennonites do. This practice is based on 1 Corinthians 11:3-5: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying of prophesying, having his head covered, dishonours his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” (NKJV) (The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
Many Mennonite churches require baptism prior to marriage so that couples can forge their new lives together on a spiritual foundation. Baptismal classes, which consist of fundamental spiritual teaching and growth opportunities in the faith, are a prerequisite to baptism. Most liberal Low German Mennonites do not have their women cover their heads with a scarf, but more traditional Mennonites do. This practice is based on 1 Corinthians 11:3-5: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying of prophesying, having his head covered, dishonours his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” (NKJV) (The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
While most Mennonites believe that the church of God can be found around the globe, some of the traditional Mennonites believe that the Mennonites are God’s chosen people, based on verses which address a “special” or “peculiar” people (Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9). Certain groups of conservative Mennonites also believe they need to firmly adhere to the teachings and traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. This lends a semblance of understanding to conservative Mennonites’ steadfastness toward issues such as placing a low value on education, or traditional clothing styles (which can be traced back to the mainstream styles of 19th century Europe). Children and teens from conservative families are highly discouraged from wearing mainstream clothing styles and participating in particular activities because to them it is evidence of following the ideals of “the world” rather than those of God, and is often seen as the first step toward abandoning the Mennonite faith and culture. While there are varying degrees of traditionalism among the Mennonites and they openly practice their faith to varying degrees, their spiritual belief principles are foundationally grounded upon the following articles of faith:
1. God is the Creator of all things.
We believe that God created heaven and earth, and everything visible and invisible, as is written in Genesis one. He sustains, rules over, and keeps all things in motion with His almighty word. He is a holy and mysterious Spirit (John 4:24 and Acts 11: 25). He alone is God and all of mankind will one day kneel before Him. We should abide in our Lord and God with a living and everlasting faith, be obedient to Him, love Him and serve Him with our whole heart and soul and mind (Psalm 3:9, Isaiah 45:23-24 and Matthew 22).
2. Jesus is the Son of God.
We believe that Jesus Christ, who is called the Word and has been with God since the beginning, is the true Son of God (Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 3:9). There is no other Salvation by which we can be saved. “Yes, we confess that he is the true God and the eternal life, our own Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, and our salvation” (John 20 and Acts 4:12).
3. The Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father”. The Holy Spirit leads us in all truth, and all He guides are His children (John 15 and Luke 24).
4. The Holy Trinity.
We believe that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one almighty and sovereign God.
5. The Birth of Jesus Christ.
We believe, as the entirety of the Scriptures testifies, that Jesus Christ came from eternity with God and was born of God. But at the preordained time chosen for the salvation of the world, God sent his Son, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:35). He came from heaven to earth as God in human form (1 Corinthians 15, John 1, John 6 and 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus was pure and without sin (Hebrews 4). He remained the true God and human in one entity and has saved us through His sacrificial blood, His suffering and His death on the cross. Only through belief in Jesus do we attain heaven (Colossians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Philippians 2:10-11).
6. The Church of God.
We believe that God has had, from the very beginning, a visible church or a people, whom he loves (Acts 1).
7. Teachers and Servants (of the church).
We believe that the Lord Jesus has ordained shepherds, teachers and deacons to lead the church of God with exemplary teaching and conduct (Matthew 10 and 2 Timothy 2:1).
8. The Holy Baptism.
We believe that Jesus Christ instituted baptism upon confession of faith (Matthew 28 and Mark 16).
9. The Lord’s Supper.
We believe that our Lord Jesus ordained a communion of bread and wine for His followers in remembrance of His great innocence, suffering and death, done for sinful mankind. It was out of His true love that He allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the cross and gave His life as a willing Lamb to carry the sins of the world (1 John 1 and Colossians 1).
10. The Washing of Feet.
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, lay His robe aside and washed His disciples‘ feet as a symbol of servanthood, whereby He saved us and purified us from all sins. Therefore, as His followers, we should also serve one another with this same humility and love (John 13).
11. Marriage.
We believe that God ordained marriage when He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and blessed them. Jesus also spoke various words regarding marriage (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 19, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 1 Timothy 2:15 and Matthew 19:6).
13. The Government and Authority.
We believe that God has ordained the government and placed it in power, and all that oppose the government also oppose God’s ordination. However, in matters that go against the Scriptures, we are to obey God rather than men (1 Peter 2:14, Romans 13:4 and Acts 5:29).
15. Revenge, Enmity and Non-resistance.
We believe that Christians who have died to the world and were born again in God, should not exercise revenge but repay their enemies good for evil (Matthew 5:38 and Romans 12:19-21).
16. Man’s Freewill.
We believe that everyone has a free will, with which to choose between good and evil and death or life (in Christ) for him/her self (Deuteronomy 30:15 and Jeremiah 21:8). God will judge the world. The righteous will be rewarded and the unrighteous, who have not accepted Christ, will perish eternally (Titus 2:12 and Matthew 25).
** The articles of faith above have been summarized from the Catechism with Confessions of Faith of the Mennonites in Manitoba, (Altona, MB: Sommerfeld Mennonite Church, 1991) 117-177. **
We believe that God created heaven and earth, and everything visible and invisible, as is written in Genesis one. He sustains, rules over, and keeps all things in motion with His almighty word. He is a holy and mysterious Spirit (John 4:24 and Acts 11: 25). He alone is God and all of mankind will one day kneel before Him. We should abide in our Lord and God with a living and everlasting faith, be obedient to Him, love Him and serve Him with our whole heart and soul and mind (Psalm 3:9, Isaiah 45:23-24 and Matthew 22).
2. Jesus is the Son of God.
We believe that Jesus Christ, who is called the Word and has been with God since the beginning, is the true Son of God (Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 3:9). There is no other Salvation by which we can be saved. “Yes, we confess that he is the true God and the eternal life, our own Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, and our salvation” (John 20 and Acts 4:12).
3. The Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father”. The Holy Spirit leads us in all truth, and all He guides are His children (John 15 and Luke 24).
4. The Holy Trinity.
We believe that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one almighty and sovereign God.
5. The Birth of Jesus Christ.
We believe, as the entirety of the Scriptures testifies, that Jesus Christ came from eternity with God and was born of God. But at the preordained time chosen for the salvation of the world, God sent his Son, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:35). He came from heaven to earth as God in human form (1 Corinthians 15, John 1, John 6 and 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus was pure and without sin (Hebrews 4). He remained the true God and human in one entity and has saved us through His sacrificial blood, His suffering and His death on the cross. Only through belief in Jesus do we attain heaven (Colossians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Philippians 2:10-11).
6. The Church of God.
We believe that God has had, from the very beginning, a visible church or a people, whom he loves (Acts 1).
7. Teachers and Servants (of the church).
We believe that the Lord Jesus has ordained shepherds, teachers and deacons to lead the church of God with exemplary teaching and conduct (Matthew 10 and 2 Timothy 2:1).
8. The Holy Baptism.
We believe that Jesus Christ instituted baptism upon confession of faith (Matthew 28 and Mark 16).
9. The Lord’s Supper.
We believe that our Lord Jesus ordained a communion of bread and wine for His followers in remembrance of His great innocence, suffering and death, done for sinful mankind. It was out of His true love that He allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the cross and gave His life as a willing Lamb to carry the sins of the world (1 John 1 and Colossians 1).
10. The Washing of Feet.
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, lay His robe aside and washed His disciples‘ feet as a symbol of servanthood, whereby He saved us and purified us from all sins. Therefore, as His followers, we should also serve one another with this same humility and love (John 13).
11. Marriage.
We believe that God ordained marriage when He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and blessed them. Jesus also spoke various words regarding marriage (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 19, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 1 Timothy 2:15 and Matthew 19:6).
13. The Government and Authority.
We believe that God has ordained the government and placed it in power, and all that oppose the government also oppose God’s ordination. However, in matters that go against the Scriptures, we are to obey God rather than men (1 Peter 2:14, Romans 13:4 and Acts 5:29).
15. Revenge, Enmity and Non-resistance.
We believe that Christians who have died to the world and were born again in God, should not exercise revenge but repay their enemies good for evil (Matthew 5:38 and Romans 12:19-21).
16. Man’s Freewill.
We believe that everyone has a free will, with which to choose between good and evil and death or life (in Christ) for him/her self (Deuteronomy 30:15 and Jeremiah 21:8). God will judge the world. The righteous will be rewarded and the unrighteous, who have not accepted Christ, will perish eternally (Titus 2:12 and Matthew 25).
** The articles of faith above have been summarized from the Catechism with Confessions of Faith of the Mennonites in Manitoba, (Altona, MB: Sommerfeld Mennonite Church, 1991) 117-177. **
On the whole, Mennonites are a remarkably diverse and distinguished people. Ever since they arose up out of the times of Reformation, Mennonites have often been seen as unique and somewhat peculiar. The one thing that Mennonites have never let go of, throughout their trials, persecutions and resettlements, is the importance they place upon their faith. Although they may have lost sight of their original vision and passion for Jesus Christ and His Word at times, they never forgot the importance of scripture, prayer and spiritual songs. In the duration of 500 years and numerous migrations, the Mennonites have faithfully passed the foundation of their faith on to their children and have not allowed it to die out. Other life values, such as the importance of family, perseverance, hard work, and modesty, have also been passed on throughout the centuries, as a Mennonite legacy. They have established themselves as a strong, united and faithful people, and remain, as they were in the beginning, a unique and independent people.
Resources:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Catechism with Confessions of Faith of the Mennonites in Manitoba, (Altona, MB: Sommerfeld Mennonite Church, 1991) 117-177.
Photos retrieved from:
http://mcco.ca/lowgerman
http://www.emconference.ca/ministries/mexico-chihuahua-/
http://bancroftmennonite.wordpress.com/
http://www.stjacobs.com/quilt-fibre-festival