Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective: A summary

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, 1995: Full

God: Trinity, Creator, Savior, and Sustainer

• We believe that God exists and is pleased with all who draw near.  We worship the one holy and loving God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternally.  God has created all things visible and invisible, has brought salvation and new life to humanity through Jesus Christ, and continues to sustain the church and all things until the end of the age.  

Jesus: Savior, Mediator, Son of God, Head of the Church

• We believe in Jesus Christ, the Word of God become flesh.  He is the Savior of the world, who has delivered us from the dominion of sin and reconciled us to God by His death on a cross.  He was declared to be Son of God by His resurrection from the dead.  He is the head of the church, the exalted Lord, the Lamb who was slain, coming again to reign with God in glory.

Holy Spirit: Empowers us, Source of Spiritual Life, poured out on all who believe 

• We believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of God, who dwelled in Jesus Christ, who empowers the church, who is the source of our life in Christ, and who is poured out on those who believe as the guarantee of redemption.

Scripture: Inspired by God, fully reliable, and trustworthy. 

• We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit for instruction in salvation and training in righteousness.  We accept the Scriptures as the Word of God and as the fully reliable and trustworthy standard for Christian faith and life.  Led by the Holy Spirit in the church, we interpret Scripture in harmony with Jesus Christ.

Creation: God made the heavens and the earth and everything in them.

• We believe that God has created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, and that God preserves and renews what has been made.  All creation has its source outside itself and belongs to the Creator.  The world had been created good because God is good and provides all that is needed for life.

Humanity: Created in God's image, made for relationship with God, each other, and Creation. 

• We believe that God has created human beings in the divine image.  God formed them from the dust of the earth and gave them a special dignity among all the works of creation.  Human beings have been made for relationship with God, to live in peace with each other, and take care of the rest of creation.

Sin: We sin by disobeying God or neglecting to do good, which separates us from God. All have fallen short and have been given over to the powers of sin and death.

• We confess that, beginning with Adam and Eve, humanity has disobeyed God, given way to the tempter, and chosen to sin.  All have fallen short of the Creator’s intent, marred the image of God in which they were created, disrupted order in the world, and limited their love for others.  Because of sin, humanity has been given over to the enslaving powers of evil and death.

Salvation: We receive God's salvation when we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Through faith, we are saved from sin and eternal death.  

• We believe that, through Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of life.  We receive God’s salvation when we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and are reconciled with God and brought into the reconciling community.  We place our faith in God that, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, we may be saved from sin to follow Christ and to know the fullness of salvation.

Church: Those who have accepted God's gift of salvation. Disciples sent into the world to proclaim the Good News, sustained by the Holy Spirit.

• We believe that the church is the assembly of those who have accepted God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the new community of disciples sent into the world to proclaim the reign of God and to provide a foretaste of the church’s glorious hope.  It is the new society established and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

​Church's Mission: Witness to the Kingdom of God (His way of living a life of freedom and purpose that is glorifying to Him).

• We believe that the mission of the church is to proclaim and to be a sign of the Kingdom of God.  Christ has commissioned the church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching to observe all things he has commanded.

Baptism: Sign of cleansing from sin and commitment to follow Jesus.

• We believe that the baptism of believers with water is a sign of their cleansing from sin.  Additionally, baptism is a commitment before the church of their covenant with God to walk in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Communion: Sign of thankful remembrance of the new covenant established by Jesus' death.

• We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sign by which the church thankfully remembers the new covenant with Jesus established by His death.  In this communion meal, the church renews its covenant with God and with each other and participates in the life and death of Jesus Christ, until He comes.

Washing Feet: We are called to humbly serve each other in sacrificial love; washing feet is a symbol of this (although our church only offers actual foot washing once a year).

• We believe that in washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus calls us to serve one another in love as He did.  Thus we acknowledge our frequent need of cleansing, renew our willingness to let go of pride and power, and offer our lives in humble service and sacrificial love.

Church Discipline: Intended to liberate from sin and restore to right relationship with God (Matthew 18:15-17).

• We practice discipline in the church as a sign of God’s offer of transforming grace.  Discipline is intended to liberate erring brother and sisters from sin, and to restore them to a right relationship with God and to fellowship in the church.  The practice of discipline gives integrity to the church’s witness to the world.

Ministry and Leadership: All believers are given gifts through the Holy Spirit and empowered for service. Some are called to specific leadership ministries and offices, but all are called to ministry. 

• We believe that ministry is a continuation of the work of Christ, who gives gifts through the Holy Spirit to all believers and empowers them for service in the church and in the world.  We also believe that God calls particular persons in the church to specific leadership ministries and offices.  All who minister are accountable to God and the community of faith.

Church Order and Unity: The Church is not a building but the body of all believers through one Spirit. 

• We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is one body with many members, ordered in such a way that, through the one Spirit, believers may be built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Discipleship and the Christian Life: We are called to submit to God and live a life following Jesus' life and teachings through the Holy Spirit.

• We believe that Jesus Christ calls us to discipleship to take up our cross and follow Him.  Through the gift of God’s saving grace we are empowered to be disciples of Jesus, filled with His Spirit, following His teachings and His path through suffering to new life.

Christian Spirituality: Spiritual practices such as prayer, reading Scripture, and singing hymns help us grow our relationships with God and help us endure difficult seasons.

• We believe that to be a disciple of Jesus is to know life in the Spirit.  As the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ takes shape in us, we grow in the image of Jesus Christ and in our relationship with God.  The Holy Spirit is active in individual and communal worship, leading us deeper into the experience of God. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study of Scripture, reflection on God, corporate worship, singing hymns, simplicity, witness, and service are training in godliness. Disciplines are preparation for times of testing and of suffering. If we practice the presence of God in calmer times, we find it easier to know God's presence in difficult times.

Family, Singleness, and Marriage: All three of these are important to our faith. Our spiritual family and community is also important to us. 

• We believe that God intends human life to begin in families and to be blessed through families.  Even more, God desires all people to become part of the church, God’s family.  As single and married members of the church family give and receive nurture and healing, families can grow toward the wholeness that God intends.  We are called to chastity and to loving faithfulness in marriage.

Truth and Avoidance of Oaths: There is no need to swear by anything; instead other should be able to count on our word, either "yes" or "no."

• We commit ourselves to tell the truth, to giving a simple yes or no, and to avoid the swearing of oaths.

Christian Stewardship: We are called to take care of the things God has entrusted to us (Creation, the gifts he has given to us, the sabbath or day of rest, etc.).

• We believe that everything belongs to God, who calls the church to faithful stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us, and to participate now in the rest and justice which God has promised.

Peace, Justice, and Non-resistance: Jesus taught love of enemies, forgave wrongdoers, and called for right relationships. When threatened, he chose not to resist, but gave his life freely. By his death and resurrection, he has removed the dominion of death and given us peace with God. Our perspective of peace is based on Jesus' example and teachings. 

• We believe that peace is the will of God.  God created the world in peace, and God’s peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world.  Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance, even in the face of violence and warfare.

The Church’s Relation to Society and Government: our highest allegiance is to God and His Kingdom. However, Scripture also taught us to respect our nation and government (Romans 13:1-7).

• We believe that the church is God’s holy nation, called to give full allegiance to Christ its head and to witness to every nation, government, and society about God’s saving love. Most nations tend to demand total allegiance. They then become idolatrous and rebellious against the will of God. As Christians we are to respect those in authority and to pray for all people, including those in government, that they also may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Reign of God: Our hope is in God's final victory and we look forward the eternal life to follow.

• We place our hope in the reign of God and its fulfillment in the day when Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.  He will gather His church, which is already living under the reign of God.  We await God’s final victory, the end of the present age of struggle, the resurrection of the dead, and a new heaven and a new earth.  There the people of God will reign with Christ in justice, righteousness, and peace forever and ever.