Conference 8, 1896
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Convened at the Lone Tree Church, Moundridge, Kansas
November 23-26,1896
Moderator: John Holdeman
May God's blessings rest upon this our labor.
The articles of confession are:
1. The Godhead
We believe in God and confess with our Martyr brethren's confession which they composed at Amsterdam, October 7, 1630 (Martyrs Mirror third English Edition of 1886, p. 33), which is as follows: We believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only, eternal incomprehensible, spiritual being, which in Scripture is called God: to whom alone is ascribed omnipotence, mercy, righteousness, perfection wisdom all goodness, and omniscience, and who is called a fountain of life and the source of all good, the creator of all things, and the preserve of the same: who in the Old Testament bears various appelations-the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God Shaddai, the God Jehovah, God of Israel, I am that I am, the Alpha and Omega, etc. but who in the New Testament is called by three distinct Names-God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, whom we confess to differ thus far,namely: that the Father; as far as he is Father, is another than the Son; and the Son, as far as he is Son, is another than the Father and the Holy Ghost, as far as he is a true Holy Ghost, is another than the Father and the Son, and that they, although differing in name, are nevertheless in their divine nature and attributes, one only, undivided God, according to the testimony the apostle, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5-7)
We confess, that God the Father is the head of Christ his Son and that the Father through Him created all things; the heaven and the earth, the angels in heaven and man on earth, and placed each in their position and calling.
2. The Fall of Angels
A portion of angels have fallen and have become dark spirits. Satan also deceived man, Adam and Eve, bringing them to the fall. Through their disobedience and fall came sin, and through sin came death over the human race. Gen. 3; Rom. 5:19; 2 Pet. 2:4.
3. Fall of Man
God, who is love, would not that man should be lost and forever be separated from Him; therefore He did promise to send His Son to be the Redeemer and Savior of the world; who in due time was born, and according to the promise; the seed of the woman bruised the serpent's head and through His death, fallen man is again restored. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 53.
4. Repentance
We believe in a true conversion, justification, and new birth. In a conversion there is a sincere sorrow of sin and transgression, and condemnation thereof. The justification is obtained through conversion when believing upon the wrought-righteousness of Christ, becoming liberated from the debt of sin and judgment, whereby we are born again and renewed unto the image and nature of God through the renewing of the Holy Ghost. John 1:29; 3:3; Acts 20:28; Rom. 1:17; 5:1; Gal. 3;26
5. Baptism
We confess that baptism is an ordinance commanded of God, that all converted, newborn, justified sinners are to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We believe that the water is an emblem of faith in the triune God through whom the convert received remission of sins when he was "born again”.
So we believe that the baptized convert not alone becomes united with the Father, the head of Christ, but also with the Son and the Holy Ghost: consequently is baptized through one spirit into one body, so that all power which flows from the Father, and all ministries ordained through the Son, and all gifts which are imparted through the Holy Ghost are made partakers of this body. Since God has entrusted the baptizing through Son unto His ministers who are united in one covenant with His Church, believing in their signification as visible emblems of forgiveness of sin and with a good conscience joined unto His Church as the inward life of the same, therefore we believe, when a person unites to an organization outside the Church of God, receiving this emblem of water, that it did not signify the truth, although being baptized upon forgiveness of sins.
We believe all baptisms unevangelical which are not officiated the true ministers of the gospel upon faith in God and His Church.
We also consider it wrong to take members away from a church of God. As long as such scattered children of God believe that they have been baptized to a true organized church of God, we refer them back; for the Church of God is to be in unity, and where this unity cannot found, from which they wish to remain separated, which justifies the decision that their teaching is unevangelical, therefore the doctrines as well as the baptism officiated by such organizations should also be so considered. Those who wish to join God's Church should unite with the ordinances of God taught in His Word. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16-16- 1 Cor 12.12-13; Eph. 4:4,5. (Refer to Art. 25, 1959 Conference.)
(note the use of capital and lower case in the word “church”)
6. Lord's Supper
Concerning the Lord's Supper, we believe that true believers, who through one Spirit are baptized into one body, should be partakers ot it after a thorough self-examination. When under certain conditions, impure and irreconcilable members take too much time in becoming worthy of the Lord's Supper, which should not hinder the church to observe the Lord's Supper, such members should wait until they become reconciled or have let themselves become reconciled, However the Church should spare no effort in trying to restore peace with all members as far as possible, so that all may have the opportunity to observe the Lord's Supper at the same time. Luke 22:12-20; 1Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-29.
7. Feet Washing
We believe in the washing of the feet of the saints as we read in John 13 and 1 Timothy 5:10. See Mirror of Truth,
8. Calling of Ministers
We believe in the mediate and immediate calling of the ministers. We believe that Moses and the prophets were called directly, and believe that Christ Himself chose the apostles, sending them out to preach the gospel and organize churches. We believe that God called Paul directly without the instrumentality of man into his office, as we see in Galatians 1. We do not consider the laying on of hands on Paul in Acts 13 an ordination into his office, but an imploration of blessing for the special calling. We hold and believe that the Lord chose the apostle immediate when the Church was in good standing, and so much the more would He do so when the Church is in a darkened condition to confirm his promise, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
According to the testimony of the Scriptures, that after a Godly evidence and decision of the Church, and by scriptural examination, ministers should be chosen and ordained into the office by laying on of hands. In case through prayer and fasting a decision can not be brought forth, then in the most extreme need it is permitted to choose by lot.
We also believe that the gifts of the ministers are revealed (although not in every instance), through the spirit of revelation, at the time of ordination by the laying on of hands; the spirit of revelation is the “witnesses of Jesus” We also that the Lord has in a measure imparted unto us the “witness of Jesus” the spirit of revelation.
We do not believe that women are called to the office to preach the gospel; neither have we any proof in God’s Word that they did.
According to the principle of creation and the result of the fall of man, women are to be in subjection unto their husbands, and not permitted to teach, for it is unbecoming for a woman to speak in public meetings. Women and virgins may prophesy in family circles and labor for the Lord Luke 16:13-16; Acts 1:24-26 1Cor. 12; Eph 4; 1 Tim 1:18; 3;4:14 2 Tim 1:6; Rev 19;10
9. God's United Church.
We believe in one united Church of God, a true, organized, visible Church of God, which constitutes the true believers, which is a pillar and ground of Truth, unto which she is called for a light unto the people. John 17; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 1:11; 2; 3; 12:1.
10 The scriptural Guide
We believe that the Holy Scripture is the guide whereby all doctrines and oracles must be governed; for they are given of God unto us as a guide for the way we should live.
We believe that the Church of God is the supreme judge which God has here on earth for gospel matters; therefore, all elders, ministers, and lay members who at any time conceive anything different from the Church should place this before the Church of God that it may be proved before they labor therewith. We should walk in the same rule; and when anyone apprehends anything else, let the Lord reveal whether it will stand or not. A spirit that labors in division is a sectarian spirit; and after they are thus proven by the Church with the Word of God, they should be dealt with according to the Holy Scriptures, as is written in our article of confession of excommunication. John 5:39; Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17. (Refer to Art. 13, 1959 Conference.)
11. Marriage Concerning marriage, we believe that the Lord founded and blessed it in the Garden of Eden. We also believe that a marriage in the Lord is only when two believers are joined together who have, through the same Spirit, been baptized into one body (the body of Christ). When a member (brother or sister) of the Church of God marries outside of God's Church, we consider such disobedient, and he should be expelled; because he joins in a marriage in disobedience to God and His Word, therefore he cannot again be reaccepted until he thoroughly repents of his disobedience. The disobedience of such a marriage consists in that the member in a fleshly manner has chosen and united with a disobedient consort; therefore they both must repent of their disobedience before they can be taken into the Church of God. But in case the expelled member should repent of his transgression, and the other party remain disobedient, then it must needs be that the fruit of the returning member will manifest itself by abstaining from the intercourse of his consort which was the cause of his fall and expulsion. But when no repentance will follow in the disbeliever, and the expelled member continues to live with his consort in the manner he or she were united, then we cannot believe this to be fruit of repentance; for after a member has been expelled for the transgression of such forbidden marriage, and then afterwards be reaccepted, and yet continue to keep and live with the disobedient consort as formerly, this would cause the excommunication as well as reacceptance to become a groundless transaction. In 1 Corinthians 7, the regulation of the conduct is given when two unbelieving persons were joined in marriage, and afterwards one repents and the other does not; which Scripture cannot be otherwise applied and not misconstrue the apostle Paul's writing. Gen. 1 :27-28; Matt. 19:4; 1 Cor. 7; 11:3; Eph. 5:21-33.
We do believe that the Lord prohibited divorcing excepting in case of adultery.(King James Bible reads fornication.) Yet we do not believe that a brother or sister should apply for a divorce. We understand the Savior's expression in Matthew 19:9, as did the martyr brethren in their thirty-three articles of faith as we read in Manyrs Mirror, p. 401, Art. 25, when they expressed themselves as follows: "And thus re-establishing marriage between one man and one woman, and so inseparably and firmly binding the bond of matrimony, that they might not, on any account, separate and marry another, except in case of adultery or death." Also read in Menno Simons' writings, Part 2, p. 311. (Refer to Art. 6, 1909 Conference; Art. 5, 1921 Conference; Art. 20,1933 Conference; Art. 16, 1956 Conference; Art. 30, 1959 Conference; Articles 3 and 11, 1983 Conference; Articles 9-10, 1993 Conference.).
12. Oaths
We believe that all swearing of oaths is prohibited; and that we should herein take care that we be a light unto the world. Matt. 5:3337; James 5:12.
13. Nonresistance
We do believe, all who are in the kingdom of Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world, and the gospel prohibiting all fleshly and legal revenge, and compulsion, that therefore the members of God's Church cannot be permitted to serve in any office of the magistracy, from the highest to the least, which require to bring transgressors into judgment by the power and authority of law. The conclusion that we are not entitled to go to the polls and vote for men who are to bear the sword, and with the power and authority of the magistracy subdue nations and govern the people, we base on the clear gospel foundation; for we believe, when voting for such officers we are under obligation to support them in carrying out the execution of legal judgment. It is inconsistent for a nonresistant man to cast his vote for a worldly officer, who is required to use the authority of the law. Isa. 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3; Matt. 5:38-45; John 13:34-35; Matt. 10:17-25; 2 Cor. 10:4. (Refer to Art. 9, 1917 Conference; Art. 10, 1983 Conference.)
14. Excommunication.
We believe in excommunicating offending members for threefold reasons; namely, the first is to retain the Church in its purity; the second is to so reprove the transgressor that he may be ashamed; thirdly, that the Church may not be blasphemed by the world. Grave sins, such as fornication, covetousness, idolatry, drunkenness, premeditated lying, and defrauding, should be expelled without previous admonitions (I Cor. 5: 11). Heretics should be dealt with as we read in Titus 3:10-11; and brother sins according to Matthew 18:15-17. In critical times, excommunication should be dealt with in less haste and with painstaking care. The expelling should be done in the power of the death of Jesus Christ. All disobedience will be judged by the obedience of Jesus Christ; therefore we all with an earnest zeal should seek to raise the obedience of Christ in our hearts, so as to fulfill our obedience by a true repentance and confession of our sins, that as much as possible all offences may be removed in critical times as was the case with the Corinthians, that the disobedient may be judged in power through our obedience in Christ. Matt. 18:15-18; 1 Cor. 5.
Free Webpages at Webspawner.com
Index
Previous
Next Part (1896B)
Next conference (1909)
Send E-Mail to:
This page created using the webpage creation facilities of Webspawner.
Copyright © 2004 Conference Trust. All Rights Reserved