What is the Biblical Mennonite Alliance?

[@Duneswalker]

I have friends in this church. Don't agree with everything but appreciate their commitment to live out the Word. All the time, everywhere. Live holiness.

[@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj]

Most denominations want to live out the Word but unfortunately, man creates doctrines that clash with the Bible. We can only hope, pray and preach that they need not a religion to follow God.

[@SuperSpieth]

Hey Joshua! I really like that you put a lot of Bible trivia facts on KZbin these days. They are a lot of fun!

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Thanks Jordan!

[@SuperSpieth]

@@ReadyToHarvest You’re welcome!

[@SuperSpieth]

@@ReadyToHarvest By the way, have you heard of the 52 churches is in in 52 weeks guy. Maybe he can be on your show sometime?

[@andrewworsop2775]

As a English Missionary working in the north of Romania (I am the director of a Mission School here training Romanians for mission) I had no experience of Mennonites until I came to Romania. However, there is a congregation here in Suceava who although being of small size are having a big impact into the Evangelical churches and believers. This is mainly being done though their homeschooling curriculum which is coming very popular. Through your good teaching I have learnt a lot about Mennonites but it seems that there are many different types you can not generalize. The ones here belong to the Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship of churches. It seem to be a small grouping but if you find the time it would be great to know more, thank you!

[@jeannine1739]

I'm also interested in the Beachy Amish/Mennonites. Hoping he'll get to them eventually. :)

[@legodavid9260]

I am from Romania myself... I have heard about the Mennonite community in Suceava, and I've been interested in visiting it for a while.

[@morphatgold551]

@@legodavid9260 But don't ruin their Culture ! We know you 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nickmoser7785]

I'm quite interested how the Romanian population treats you and the Mennonites. Considering that Romania is a Orthodox stronghold and Orthodox Christians don't really get along with Protestants.

[@jakerinehold9697]

I occasionally think you should develop a Ready-to-Harvest board game. The amazing thing about creating such a game is that you'd never have to make anything up.

[@morphatgold551]

What do you mean ?

[@litigioussociety4249]

It should just be Monopoly, with a Go To Hell space, and you buy up all the churches in town. Rent would be replaced with tithes and offering. The railroads could be church buses.

[@schs1977]

​@Litigious Society I hope you are being sarcastic. If not, I think your comment is inappropriate.

[@cjsimmons6535]

A book describing various churches and faiths (both biblical and false), with the same format you follow (yes/no, doctrines) would be immensely helpful, both in witnessing as well as in personal studies. By finding churches that hold to say 90% biblical-based doctrines but fall into heresies has lead me to studying those heresies and corosponding proper theological doctrines. The unbiased way you represent a given denominations beliefs shows in the comments with memebrs of even obviously heretical groups thanking you for your faithful descriptions. Please concider writing a book. I know personally I'd both buy it and also feel very comfortable in monetarily supporting your work in this way.

[@CandyCinema]

Yay! This is the group I have been visiting and discerning to join for the past several months. I love the Anabaptist vision of holding scripture as the ultimate authority, but many Mennonites either hold too strongly to specific applications and extra Biblical traditions (think Amish) or they are basically mainline churches that hold a really low view of scriptural inspiration (think MCUSA). The BMA is one of the best "scriptural middle ground" denominations out there in my opinion. They preach the full gospel of Christ, including his message of peace (something conservative evangelicals will not do), and they preach the need for humility, submission, repentance, and discipline in all areas of the Christian life including the order of men, women, marriage, family, and sexuality (something mainline churches will not preach).

[@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj]

Really. I found the BMA to have the same doctrinal problems that most Mennonites have. I wouldn't be too eager to join them.

[@ZappFranka]

I would greatly appreciate a video on the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation). Once again, a very lovely video. Thank you!!!

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Love these videos, thank you.

[@sugarloaf10]

Have you done a video on the Old Order German Baptist New Conference? They are a pretty large group here in Ohio. There isn’t much info out there on the internet about them but they do have a website.

[@Faith-Trust-Pixie-Dust]

6:50 have you done a video on the New Apostolic Reformation? I haven't heard about that one before

[@martinlayman393]

@Ready to Harvest - I enjoy your channel, and overall your representation of BMA is fairly accurate. However, at 7:35 state that "the end times position is generally amillenial." What is your source for that statement? While that may be true of the Mennonite denomination in general, there are certainly differences of understanding, and there is a large number of BMA members that are premillenial.

[@karamiller4166]

You should make a video about the Brethren in Christ (BIC) church. It's a small denomination, but a significant percentage of my acquaintances are in it.

[@mercster]

Thank you sir.

[@thetraditionalist]

interesting, never heard of it

[@sam.mead__]

Hi Joshua, would you please make a video about Robert H. Schuller's Garden Grove Community Church (which changed names to Crystal Cathedral Ministries and subsequently Shepherd's Grove)? I recently looked into them and found it fascinating that their former church (called the Crystal Cathedral) is now the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange!

[@bhilbert11]

They were/are part of the Reformed Church in America.

[@Landis_Grant]

Robert Schuller, a universalist, died and went to Hades.

[@joeschmoe487]

Most of the mennonite youtubers (Megan Fox) seem to be members of this denomination as well as the Anabaptist Perspectives channel.

[@GailOwens]

​@@broz1488Megan Fox does belong to this denomination, I think that Lynette Yoder does as well.

[@SantaFe19484]

You never run out of denominations!

[@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj]

This is true which is also sad at the same time in that men have created an assortment of denominations, when the Bible states in 1st Corinthians 1:10-13 believers are not to engage or create divisions. But it is nice that someone has assisted in understanding some of these divisions.

[@Landis_Grant]

Mennonites don’t prescribe to belief in Jesus alone, by faith alone, and by grace alone which is the only true Gospel. Good works are very important to them. They are amillennialists.

[@DerKirchenhocker]

I saw a woman from this denomination wearing blue jean pants and no veil recently, same for her children. They don’t really live by their own confession.

[@animefurry3508]

After hearing all of this, I understand even better now why I left all this.

[@robertmiller812]

I am very glad that you were able to come out of this sect. I only pray that more and more people leave this and so many other sects that have deviated from simple scriptural truths to form their own with their own interpretations. May God help and guide you in your walk with him.

[@animefurry3508]

@@robertmiller812 Quick to the jump, I become an Atheist, sorry.

[@robertmiller812]

@@animefurry3508 Sorry to hear that. I can only assume that the experience of following a sect had disenchanted you to the point of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. In the case the baby meaning Jesus. I think I may to a certain degree understand as I use to be a Catholic. But after making a study of Catholicism I had to make a choice of following the Word of God or what the Catholic church was preaching. Once I realized that the word of God was not to blame for the false doctrines and behaviors of the Catholic church I started to realize that most if not all churches were doing the same thing one way or another. That is why I do not belong to any church as 1st Corinthians 1:10-13 mentions that we shouldn't belong to any denomination. I can only hope and pray that you can one day see that there is a loving father and that his son Jesus Christ did come to save you and me from sin.

[@animefurry3508]

@@robertmiller812 Thank you for the understanding, and yeah the stuff I experienced in my old church left a bad taste, but that's not the main reason I left, I mainly left after undertaking my own philosophical studies and realizing I don't believe. I have no hate for most Christians, I'm just trying to be intellectually honest with myself. So you say you decided that you will keep the Bible and Jesus without the church, that's fine, but as for me I've taken just the next step, at least as I see it, and throughout the rest too, cuz they are all connected and the seeds are still there. I don't wish to save the tree, I'm planting a new one altogether. The best I can hope for the old tree, is that it be good soil. Thank you for the respectful discussion.

[@stormythelowcountrykitty7147]

For the algorithm

[@Hark1677]

I agree with much of their teaching, but I think they are inconsistent in areas of soteriology and bordering on legalism. Happy Lord’s day!

[@Legend_1754]

That must be the smallest random denomination you've ever done on your channel , 6000 something members ?

[@broz1488]

Whilst their individual conference may only consist of a few thousand members, what they believe and practice is applicable to hundreds of thousands of fellow Anabaptists not affiliated with their conference, but who follow the same teachings and practices. In other words, this one denomination allowed for the video to cover teachings and practices held by multiple denominations/conferences/fellowships/affiliations/groups etc. that for all intents and purposes are to the outside world, identical to this denomination in beliefs and practices, with only slight variations in application and level of strictness.

[@Legend_1754]

@@broz1488 Yeah I get it. I just think that it'd have been more convenient to use for example Church of God in Christ, Mennonite for the video's visibility.

[@broz1488]

@@Legend_1754 they certainly are a larger better known denomination with almost identical beliefs and practices, but unfortunately they also have acquired negative accusations of being a cult. Obviously not true. Choosing a smaller unknown denomination prevents the comments section turning into a mudslinging match with cult accusations and counter accusations.

[@broz1488]

@@Legend_1754 go read the comments in a video about the Holdermans, you will soon see why he went with a lesser known group.

[@robertmiller812]

We can only hope it gets smaller as they have too many misinterpretations of the Bible

[@robertmiller812]

Interesting and informative. A shame that this group (like so many others) is under the impression that they believe to be following the whole word of God.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

I assume your way Is the right way?

[@robertmiller812]

@@darrylviljoen6227 Well then you assumed wrong. I say that God's way is the right way, not something that is obviously man made.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

@@robertmiller812 according to you. They might disagree with you.

[@robertmiller812]

@@darrylviljoen6227 Well not so much according to myself because I have been around many Mennonites who are not in full agreement with Menno Simons. I think it is logical and safe to say that the creation of the Mennonite sect is man-made, which would be hard to deny. I have spoken to Mennonites (after doing my own research) that admit begrudgingly that they have broken with other Mennonite groups and created new groups over doctrines, the most recent I found was in 2015. So within this group they have schisms regarding doctrines. There are some Mennonite leaders in KZbin that briefly talk about this who are part of the BMA. So its not by my words that show the existence of biblical discrepancy but by their own words.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

@@robertmiller812 find me a church without schisms. at the end of the day all churches are man made, all trying to interpret the gospels as best they can.

[@toddbu-WK7L]

Yet again we see another church denomination that believes that it controls the institution of the Lord's Supper. To quote from the video, "The church shall invite to the Lord's table only those who have peace with God and their fellow men..." And just where does the Bible give the church the authority to make this invitation? Does not Jesus Himself do the inviting when He institutes the Supper with His disciples? And does not Paul reaffirm this in 1 Cor 11? Please don't get me wrong, I'm all for fencing the table. But it must be done in a Biblical fashion. Paul calls for each one approaching the table the take stock of their motives when he says in 1 Cor 11:28-29, "28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself." It is proper for a church to read this warning prior to serving the elements. It is improper, however, for church leaders to introduce other restrictions that are not called out in the Bible. So the idea that the church does the inviting and makes up its own rules for fencing is sinful, and any church that places additional restrictions on Communion should abolish them. Is God not powerful enough to levy punishment on those who abuse His table? I believe that He is, and Scripture confirms it in the next three verses (1 Cor 11:30-32), "30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world." Let us give up our pride of saying that we find other Christians "not good enough" to join us at the Lord's table. I encourage everyone to read 1 John 4 in its entirety. In it, John tells us that anyone who professes that Jesus is God Incarnate, come in the flesh to save us from our sins, is sent from God. Do we really dare challenge God's clear teaching on this matter? Do we ignore Christ's call to be unified as a body of believers?

[@MrFarmboy1888]

I think you are misundestanding where this group stands on the issue. This group would be pretty much in agreement with what you are saying, and does not practice closed communion..

[@jacksprattt6396]

Do you believe Jesus when he says "this is my body, this is my blood given to you for the forgiveness of sins"? If you don't why don't you?

[@raystryker]

@@MrFarmboy1888 You are undoubtedly correct, I felt their phrasing was very specifically open ended, and mirrors what the Bible says about communion, as well as what Mr. Buiten appears to believe.

[@broz1488]

You are confusing what appears to be a Baptist understanding of your weekly or monthly breaking bread as the Lord's Supper they are referring to, which is not what Lord's Supper means here, this Lord's Supper is practiced generally only once a year on Maundy Thursday, in which only those in good standing with the Church participate and where foot washing occurs. It is the error of interpreting another denominations understanding of a term or phrase through your understanding of the term and not through their understanding of the term.

[@MrFarmboy1888]

@@raystryker correct. I visit their local church here occasionally and, unlike most more conservative mennonites, they practice open communion. Normally twice a year. They separate both communion and water baptism from their local church membership.

[@jacksprattt6396]

Focusing on the law and not the Gospel.

[@broz1488]

If you truly focused on the Gospel and not the teachings of wayward men, you would find yourself living a Christian life identical to theirs, for everything they teach and practice is from the Scripture. You would also find if you focused on the Gospel, that much of what modern Christianity practices, is in violation of New Testament Scripture, following the broad path of wilful disobedience to Scripture that leads to destruction of the soul.

[@jacksprattt6396]

@@broz1488 Law AND Gospel -- I hear it every time I go to church.

[@broz1488]

@@jacksprattt6396 people hear it but do they obey New Testament law? I've heard Baptist and Reformed preachers preach sermons fitting for any strict Anabaptist congregation, but one look at the preacher and his congregations lifestyle, tells me that neither he nor his congregation understood one word of application connected to the preaching. This is what separates Anabaptists from other denominations, traditional Anabaptists actually apply the preaching to their lifestyle and live according to New Testament law. If every denominations did this, everyone would be an Anabaptist.

[@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj]

To a certain extent, you are right as many of these group focus on legalism and not on the gospel. I've been around them enough to know that they tend to avoid anything regarding the Holy Spirit and the gifts. Plus (as in most churches) they adhere to their rules that are not the pure gospel.

[@jacksprattt6396]

@@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj True, for some make Gospel a law. For example saying that baptism must be done a certain way like immersion. The Bible only tells us water and the word in the name of the Holy Trinity.

[@turkeypedal]

The second I saw they had CRT as one of their beliefs, I concluded they have let conservative politics into their theology. And their argument is bizarre. Yes, how dare man come up with an explanation for something the Bible doesn't mention.

[@martinlayman393]

@turkeypedal You have totally misunderstood the BMA position on CRT. The policy paper Joshua is quoting from is saying that CRT is "humanistic construct" that works the "Gospel message of reconciliation". Please don't jump to a conclusion in a "second".

[@GodsWordisTruth-zg1jj]

CRT is definitely something one ought to investigate to find their actual position but that is nothing compared to the many doctrines already set in place for years that conflict with scripture or as you put it "the Bible doesn't mention". But then again this is true for most denominations that claim to be true followers of the Bible, we should pray for all of them that God enlightens them and come out of man-made religions.