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Christian, Church, Mennonite, national anthem, patriotism, star spangled banner, Waynesboro Virginia
Mark Schloneger, pastor of Springdale Mennonite Church in Waynesboro, Virginia, has written a fine commentary on his faith and why he does not sing the national anthem. If Christians all over this country adopted his reasoning for not doing so, why, it wouldn’t bother me at all. I’m certainly not a pacifist, but he makes a good point.
Although there certainly are diverse viewpoints among individual Mennonites today, we continue to advocate for the strict separation of church and state. Most Mennonite churches do not have flags inside them, and many Mennonites are uncomfortable with the ritual embedded in the singing of the national anthem.
That’s because we recognize only one Christian nation, the church, the holy nation that is bound together by a living faith in Jesus rather than by man-made, blood-soaked borders.
To Mennonites, a living faith in Jesus means faithfully living the way of Jesus. Jesus called his disciples to love their enemies and he loved his enemies all the way to the cross and beyond. Following Jesus and the martyrs before us, we testify with our lives that freedom is not a right that is granted or defended with rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting in air. True freedom is given by God, and it is indeed not free. It comes with a cost, and it looks like a cross.
You can read the rest of Marks essay here.
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Though not a Mennonite, I did leave 10 years of military service (asking for and receiving an early discharge to the amazement of friends and co-workers) after reading Yoder’s Politcs of Jesus. I was for a few years quite the hybrid – a Calvinistic (soteriologically speaking) Mennonite. Actually, though visiting with Mennonites, I never joined a Mennonite church, or any other historic “peace” church. Then a few years later I discovered Bahnsen, Rushdoony and North fo the Reconstructionist/Theonomy movement. Bye bye pacifism! Bye bye anabaptist hermeneutic! Point is, I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and though I think I pretty well understand the thinking that precludes singing the natonal anthem, I now think it is the corruption of a few misunderstood NT verses.
Thank you for your comment…..a calvinistic mennonite? Wow! ha
It was worse than that…briefly – in a few moments of utter confusion – I was the sole Theonomic Anabaptist in history. The maturing processs can be…quite strange. Now I am pretty much a vanilla reformed baptist type. I wistfully miss that moment of being theologically unique. (Well… not really….!) By the way, I enjoy your blog.
Thanks David. And there’s nothing wrong with being vanilla reformed Baptist, just sayin’
As an Army brat who served on active duty as an Army officer, married to one, with Army officers as my brother and my wife’s oldest brother, I no longer pledge allegiance to the flag. It is a communist inspired pledge to a consolidated “federal” government that is unknown to the Constitution. And the flag is a mere symbol – why pledge to such?!
Our citizenship is in heaven – this place is not home. Let earthly pagans pledge their allegiance to her and give their lives for her and kill others for her. I have more important business on my mind.
AMEN! to the nth!
Manfred and Joel, you boys’ll never make it outta the Blue Lodge if you won’t so much as take the simplest of the sacred oaths, open daily even to the profane multitudes! How will y’all attain to enlightenment if you won’t even touch the base of the Great Pyramid?!? It’s a far ascent, chums; best get going before Seal Team Six arrives to cart you off to your local Camp FEMA for re-education.
Bring it….
I admire your gumption.
AZTexan,
Two questions: a.) What’s with your screen name? Arizona or Texas? As a native born Texican, I defy anyone with Texas roots to have dual allegiance with another state. b.) If by Blue Lodge you mean the demonic group known as the Masons, it would take a Seal team to put IN it
your unworthy servant, currently in the swamp known as Houston
NO dual allegiances here, pard. The “AZ” refers to my current place of residence, serving as a modifier – not a qualifier – of “Texan” (that’s me). Or, as my blogpage states: “Texan in exile.”
We’re eye-to-eye inre: Freemasonry. In the improbable event I were to ever set foot on the checkerboard killing floor of a lodge, it would be with intent “to desecrate a ‘religious’ monument”…and, perhaps, “to commit arson.” So you see the law-abiding Christian has no business anywhere near the Mason’s warren, and not only for the most-apparent reasons.
Well said, fellow Texan
Except for the arson bit, that is. Good thing one can reasonably infer your desire to remain a law-abiding Christian.
So refreshing – and rare! – to see reading-comprehension demonstrated in the blogosphere. Thank you for recognizing the plain meaning of words and sentences, brother Manfred. The Internet could use a lot more like you.
Hey, hey, hey! If it weren’t for me, why, you might never have met Manfred…and…uh…I taught the boy practically everything he knows!
Joel – You will get into serious trouble if my wife finds out you are responsible for what I know!
Ha! Ok, never mind then…
Y’all’re just tooooo much.
Manfred, you da Mann.
I’m da man in whom – that is, in my flesh – is no good thing. But praise be unto God, by His grace, I have the righteousness of my Savior, the Lord Jesus, Who is the Christ!
Many thanks for your encouragement
So, Manfred, would you say that you’ve been Blinded [to your old way of life] By the Light of the Gospel? Does that about sum it up, Mr. Mann?
As one who grew up in Texas ( and live here now), lived in AZ (Tuscon, worked at Magma Copper) and AK (stationed at Ft Richardson in the late 70′s) I can honestly say – Texas is the place to be.
Hear, hear.
The Anabaptist Mennonites and the professing Christians who worship at the altar of Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty represent two very dangerous extremes. Anabaptists historically claimed that a Christian could not dispense a civil office, including magistrate and soldier. They argue vociferously for common ownership of goods and many were quite subversive in their teachings.
At the other extreme, we have those who effectively believe that the Gospel of Jesus is preached best at the working end of an M-16.
Neither side understands Two Kingdom theology properly. Both are equally dangerous to society.
Both ARE NOT equally dangerous to society. The Anabaptists are a danger to no one. The latter are dangerous to everyone.
AZTexan,
I have not been blinded to my old way of light. It is more apparent to me how wretched and sinful I was – and still am – the more Light God provides.
If you guys want to hold hands or get pentacostal, take it outside. There’s a new post in town. http://5ptsalt.com/2011/06/29/joel-taylor-frank-turk-a-discussion-on-missiology/
I see, Manfred: Not blinded to your old way of life…but obviously blind to 70′s popular culture. lol
Looking forward to the new post, Joel; will dive in after errands and a late spot o’ lunch.
Ahh, Manfred “blinded.” I see there is someone in here besides me listening to the radio 40 or so years ago. Excellent. Takes a AZ/TX Deuce!