Are you Amish? ... No.
You must be Mennonite then, right? ... No.
I am a Conservative Christian. I do not associate myself with a denomination, but if someone really presses I will acknowledge that I find many of my beliefs are similar to the Conservative Mennonite's beliefs.
I do not feel convicted in naming a denomination just so people know what my beliefs are because I feel no matter the denomination, I will not agree with everything they stand for. It was that way when I attended a Lutheran church, when I attended a Baptist church (both Southern Baptist and IFB), when I attended a Beachy Amish Mennonite church and now as I attend a Conservative Mennonite church.
I have been told that I have to associate with a denomination so that others know my beliefs. They will know if I am against certain things or agree with them. But as I said, I don't agree with everything that any denomination stands for and even in a denomination, there are so many different churches, all which take each point in their doctrine to a different level.
I also feel that we should not label with denominations in regards to Matthew 12:25 "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:". I have read the surrounding context, and I do struggle to understand the parable, but I feel that this can apply to denominations within the Christian religion. Some could take the house as to mean each individual church house, which I can agree with, but I take it in a broader sense as well in which the Christian house will fall if we divide ourselves.
I understand I am probably in the minority on this feeling and that is okay. But being asked nearly everyday at work "what are you?", I have been thinking about this quite a bit.
Blessings in Christ,
I know that feeling. I also get asked "where are you from?"
ReplyDeleteI get asked "where are you from" a LOT. And when I answer, people ignorantly assume THAT is why I wear a head covering. As if that had anything at all to do with it, which it does not. Har har har.
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