Are Mennonites on the outside, of a vast, lost world looking-in; or are we on the inside of a small, enlightened world- looking out?
Can any church ever be cut-out to become, “Perfect”?
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;…”
ROMANS 3:23
As Mennonite men, we are not simply members of a congregation; we are a collective clergy!
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
PHILIPPIANS 2:2
It is our obligation to remain positive- to restrain our words, as recorded in the book of JAMES:
“… be not many masters, knowing that we a shall receive the greater condemnation”
JAMES 3:1
As members of a clergy, our words are judged more harshly than any other’s words! We must be mindful of our words, regardless of our intentions!
“Even the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how a great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
JAMES 3:5
“..warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men”
1 THESSALONIANS 5:14
Being critical is fine; and admonishment is a benefit of being fellow Christian men (a father only chastises children whom he loves,); however, how could any congregation ever be perfect?
I am in spirit to remind the congregation of Paul’s words in Romans, chapter 12.
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
ROMANS 12:16
This verse reminds me of David’s song:
“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from hence forth and forever.”
PSALM 131
We are all different members of the same body with different gifts. Not one of us have all of the gifts; and none of us are destitute by having none of His gifts.
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
ROMANS 12:4-12
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
or he that teacheth, on teaching;
or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:
he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
he that ruleth, with diligence;
he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; …”
That being noted,
Are we sharing within our church as Paul states in ROMANS?
Being members of one body, do we employ each, different office of our church efficiently, lovingly, with a giving spirit, or are we disambiguated by selling-out to a world which sells itself into the slavery of the master of evil, leaving the church of Christ in need?
Does our church have a blacksmith? An automotive mechanic? A tractor mechanic? A farmer of chickens for eggs and for meat? A farmer of bovine for milk and for meet? A Bee Keeper for honey for nourishment and wax for the light of candles? Does our congregation have a seamstress for men who have neither wife or sister? Do we have lumberjacks to cut trees for fuel and warmth? Do we have stone cutters who may build houses, fireplaces, walls and spring houses? Do we have a locksmith, an attorney,… a treasurer? Is our congregation comprised of these people? If so, the bigger question is this:
Are we looking-out within the church to strengthen each other as one family under God; or, in our daily contributions, are we being, “of this world”?
Are we bartering our services and our time to help other members of the church, or are we outsourcing our resources and capabilities so much to the secular world that our local church remains in need in some areas?
In other words, in Paul’s words, are we preferring and honoring one another? Are we working, “in-house,” as much as the Lord allows us; or are we working for the secular world so much to feed our families and pay our bills that we are leaving God’s church in need?
The World Views Mennonites As Being Outsiders!
-Outside of What?-
We choose to walk the Narrow Path, unmoved and unchanged (in our faith) by the world of sin around us!
“Being a Mennonite only looks weird if you make it look weird and act weird.”
Laray Stover
In a world where being good is perceived as being bad and being evil is agreed upon as being acceptable, we choose to live a life opposite of sin; we are not, … sinnin’-along with the rest of ‘em! This is why we, “stick-out” in the world! This is why we are, “Outsiders” in this the world!
Do Mennonites sin, still? Don’t all people of all walks of life commit sin?
I wonder what improvements members of the church could implement in order to arrive closer to my Fellow Brother’s definition of, “perfect”! Could it be through our thoughts and actions, or may such imperfection be the result of non-action by us? Could it be the incorrect map some men continue to believe in and preach about? I meditate in deep prayer about such localities.
Consecration
What is Consecration?
The term, consecrate, is formed from the Latin word, “consecratus,” which is derived from the two Latin words, “conor” which means, “to attempt;” and, “sacrare,” which translates as, “sacred”.
We gather in Bible Study, in fellowship, in an attempt to gather in a sacred way, or we attempt to be sacred, in fellowship, to gather for a sacred purpose!
Usually used to describe the act of ceremony recognizing a hallowed place or an accomplished man through some ritual, consecration is understood by most as an event which occurs outside of the common man’s purview. However, Mennonites actively preform the task of consecration every moment we meet in fellowship!
We gather together as different parts of one body, imperfect, attempting a sacred, perfected purpose. We adore each other as equals. The man standing at the pulpit is not of higher authority than any sitting congregation; all are equal as Fellow Brothers and Sisters.
The man at the pulpit has the gift of teaching; and he teaches. Sometimes, he has the gift of ministering, and he waits on what God has for him to minister. The sitting congregation has the gift of giving; and they give by listening in simplicity.
Are Mennonites on the Inside of something, looking Outwardly?
What does it mean to be on the Inside?
Is the man standing at the pulpit on some Inside, and the sitting congregation on the some Outside?
No member of the congregaiton on the outside of God’s love or excluded from the embrace of Brotherly Love!
This world acts outside of the parameters which God has set forth for us all to abide by. Do Mennonites live outside of those parameters?
All of the world’s people are Children of God; but are all people of the world Brothers and Sisters in the family of Christ?
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
Jesus said in JOHN 15:18
The world excludes that which is good and clings to that which is evil; whilst Mennonites abide by that which is good and abhor that which is evil. Therefore, Mennonites are on the outside of the world’s view, yet inside of a beautiful, consecrated family!
“If ye were of this world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Jesus said in JOHN 15:19
So, are Mennonites on the Outside, looking-In; or are we on the Inside, looking-Out?
Are Mennonites, outside of this world, looking-in on this travesty which God has planned and allows to destroy itself; or are we Inside of our own, closed group, looking-out for each other whilst also looking-out at all of humanity?
Enter the question:
If all people are God’s Children, is every man your Brother and every woman your Sister?
Jesus teaches that we must love all men and to love those who persecute us. God does not command that every person be your Fellow Brother or your Sister, though. In the same vein, your tormentor is not a sibling of the family of God!
Ask yourselves, “Are we yet outside or are we yet inside the giant gates?”
(The golden gates of Heaven or the giant gates of Hell ?)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 PETER 5:5-6
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.”
In closing, Fellow Brothers and Sisters, just because we stand in the vestibule, do not think we have entered the master’s house!
We, as Mennonites, are on the Outside, looking-in, not on the Inside, looking-out.
“Enter through the narrow gate.
MATTHEW 7:13-14
For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,
and many enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it.”