My recent article, "A Mennonite View of Work in the Story of Noah and the Ark", concluded with the opinion that "many Mennonites have long considered that Christians should work diligently...as a response to the unearned grace of salvation...". That opinion is supported in this article.
A Source for these Mennonite Beliefs
Mennonite denominations derive from the Anabaptist movement of 16th century Europe. Therefore Anabaptist beliefs are significant in understanding Mennonite doctrines and practices.
Helmut Harder's 1989 essay, " Salvation ", provides an excellent summary of the main Anabaptist beliefs concerning salvation from the 16th century through the present.
A Brief Summary of Christian Beliefs of Salvation
Mennonite and Anabaptist beliefs are best understood by comparison with other Christian dogmas.
A general Christian view of salvation is that every person needs salvation from eternal punishment for sin. The "original sin" committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden caused the "Fall" of humanity. (Gen. 3). Each person then commits sins and is individually worthy of being condemned. The death of Jesus Christ, the only sinless person, by crucifixion is the "perfect sacrifice" that redeems each person who responds correctly to God's grace. (Rom. 5).
Martin Luther, a contemporary of the Anabaptists, launched the Protestant Reformation by arguing that salvation was a matter of personal faith without "works". Luther implied that the Catholic view was that salvation required a series of actions by the Christian. The first was to be baptized as an infant; another sacrament for salvation is the Eucharist. The latter is known as communion or the Lord's Supper in other denominations. Luther was famous for opposing the Catholic Church's practice of selling "indulgences": another example of "works".
Modern evangelical churches emphasize the moment of being "born again" as the dividing line. A person is "lost" before that event but "saved" ever afterwards. Some denominations, such as the Christian and Missionary Alliance, distinguish being born again from later "sanctification" characterized by increasingly holy living.
Summary of Anabaptist Beliefs of Salvation
Harder argues that the Anabaptists put their emphasis on the "appropriate human response" to God's grace. While salvation is needed, and faith and repentance are important, the person's life must thereafter exhibit obedient discipleship. Good works do not earn salvation, but they do demonstrate it. In some sense, the believer's good deeds are performed by God through the Anabaptist Christian, extending or demonstrating God's grace to other people.
Harder claims that there is a "typical Protestant distinction between justification and sanctification". He implies that evangelical churches expect that some believers might be saved but continue to struggle with sinful actions. The Anabaptists, instead, expected that "justification" (or being "born again", in evangelical terms) would necessarily lead to sanctification as evidenced by a righteous life.
Anabaptists also placed great store in local congregations as communities where believers were held accountable to one another. To live as a Christian meant to live in communion with fellow believers, both during worship services and throughout their mundane lives as farmers.
A Variety of Modern Mennonite Views of Salvation
Harder notes later Mennonite versions of the confession of faith made a greater emphasis on the requirement for "grace". This makes explicit the notion of "works" as an outward sign of the inward salvation through the grace of God. Pietism and Fundamentalism both influenced Mennonite beliefs. The first placed the emphasis on the need for personal holiness throughout the Christian life. The second led to stronger statements of the human need for grace and forgiveness, and the inability of a person to earn for his or her own salvation.
The Church of the Brethren blended Pietism and Anabaptism. They had been accused of preaching that salvation comes through works, although their view was that good behaviour was the evidence required to demonstrate pious Christianity.
The Amish, who had broken from Mennonites, deny the "assurance of salvation" because this would be a sign of pride. The Amish hope they are saved, and in the meantime live righteously, do good and follow the tenets of the church.
Summary of Mennonite Beliefs on Salvation, Grace and Works
The apostle Paul should take credit for launching the debate concerning salvation in three brief verses. In Ephesians 2: 8-10, he wrote, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any many should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...". (King James Version).
Mennonites take the Bible seriously. They agree with the majority of Christians that salvation is God's gracious gift. This grace cannot be earned by works. Yet a Mennonite then feels obliged to respond to God's grace by doing good works in all aspects of life. Doing so fulfills the purpose in God's original creation of humanity and in redeeming the individual.
Disclaimer: This article is the author's opinion. While he is a Mennonite Christian, his views do not necessarily represent that of any Mennonite denomination.
References:
Helmut Harder, in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online: " Salvation ", (1989, online version 2011), referenced Nov. 5, 2011.
Floyd E. Mallot, in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online: " Church of the Brethren ", (1953, online version 2011), referenced Nov. 5, 2011.
John A. Hostetler, in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online: " Old Order Amish ", (1956, online version 2011), referenced Nov. 5, 2011.
Stephen Kreis, The History Guide, "Lecture 3: The Protestant Reformation", (2002, rev. 2009), referenced Nov. 5, 2011.
Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, "Statement of Faith" (2010), referenced Nov. 5, 2011.
Most Bible references are from the " New International Version 1984 ", referenced Nov. 11, 2011.
Mike DeHaan - Copyright (c) Mike DeHaan, B. Math., of DeHaan Services. Well written and well researched freelance articles; ghost writing for clients.
Join the Conversation