Mennonites

 

Mennonites have a long heritage of standing firmly for their convictions and, in the face of intense persecution, remaining peaceful.  These are beautiful character qualities that only come with the fruits of the Spirit.  However, some Mennonite beliefs are inconsistent with Scripture and prevent Mennonites from the most intimate walk with Yah that only pure truth brings.  Following is a list of some of the errors that are entwined with the truths held by these sincere Christians.

• Mennonites worship the Creator on Sunday.  This practice is based on the assumption that the law was nailed to the cross, thus doing away with the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment.  Sunday is honored as the day of Yahushua's resurrection.  Such a practice, however, contradicts Scripture.  Yahuwah declares: "I am Yahuwah, I change not."  (Malachi 3:6)  What He required of His people in ancient times, He requires still.  Furthermore, Sunday is not the true day of the resurrection because Sunday did not exist in the eight-day week of the Julian calendar at that time.  Only the luni-solar calendar of creation can determine the true seventh-day Sabbath.

• For all their dedication to demonstrating their love for Yahuwah by living a highly moral life, Mennonites unintentionally dishonor Him by their observance, on the one hand, of Christmas and Easter and, on the other, by their disregard for Heaven's appointed holy days.  Although Christmas and Easter ostensibly commemorate the birth and death of the Saviour, they are, in reality, pagan observances.  Just as Yahuwah is eternal, so is His law.  To truly honor Him, the holy convocations, the anniversaries of important events in salvation history, should be commemorated instead of the pagan festivals.

• The majority of Mennonites no longer practice the Meidung, or shunning, but some the more conservative groups do.  This practice is based on a misunderstanding of Scripture:

  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.  (Matthew 18:15-17)

  The way in which believers are to treat the “heathen and publicans” is taught by Yahushua’s own example.  He was criticized for befriending them, socializing and eating with them, not shunning them.  Love draws, so Yahushua accepted sinners, He did not reject them.

• Mennonites believe in the Trinity as "three aspects of the Divine, all in one."  Scripture teaches there are many different aspects to Yahuwah's character and, in fact, lists 360 different names for Yahuwah.  This does not, however, make a three-in-one godhead with the Holy Spirit as the third person of that godhead.  Concerning the nature of the Eternal, Scripture declares: "Hear O Israel: Yahuwah our Eloah is one!"  (Deuteronomy 6:4)  The Bible makes plain that Yahushua, while born of a virgin, is a human being - not a diety.

• Mennonites teach that the redeemed will inherit Heaven. Scripture, however, teaches the immortality in the earth made new is the reward of the saints.

Yahuwah invites Mennonites to lay aside the errors, embrace the purity of truth and enjoy a oneness with the Creator that will be their deepest joy.