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WELL You know what was interesting when I was in college I heard a Pastor and Professor say that the Apocrypha was wicked and stupid. He said there is a book in there called "Bell and the Dragon" he said so what does a little girl and her Pet Dragon have anything to do with real Scriptures, also he said "The Apocrypha also has Voo Doo in it." I said said to myself Heck No I wont Read that, But a month later, I bought a very old Family Bible and the Apocrypha was in there. I began to read "Bell And The Dragon" and it was Not about a girl and a Dragon at all...... I looked up videos on 15 Reasons why the Apocrypha is wicked and Not Scripture. I found a list of 15 that claimed to PROOVED and EXPOSED the Apocrypha. Then I looked up all of the points and to my surprise they wasn't true.... Wow so many people have said so much against it but when you look up the points and evidence they provide it is just not really true..... I'm still reading it to find out if it is good or not.... See what we find...... If you find a good list with actual proof please send my way...!

I appreciate this conversation. Understanding and living out daily discipleship is what makes Anabaptism "salty" in this world. I would, however, push back against the characterization of the Protestant view of salvation in this video. The Protestant view was characterized as being, "do whatever you want, you don't need more forgiveness, you are already saved". Doubtless, there are some who would believe like this, but I think it is wrong to characterize their view like this. As a young man, this is how I tended to state the "one saved, always saved position". However, after getting my degree at a well-known Evangelical college, my view on their position softened somewhat. I think most of them would say, "Look, if you are saved, your life will testify to that. If you continue in sin, and there is no fruit, then I would doubt that you were saved in the first place." Now, they may not place the same emphasis on discipleship that Anabaptists do, but there would at least be an acknowledgement that salvation includes a changed heart which leads to a changed life. In that respect, they are not so far away from the Anabaptist view, are they?

A lot of so-called antibaptist's need to refrain from using that term to describe themselves, as many of them don't even know what biblical baptism is. Sprinkling water on someone's head is not baptism, FYI!

I was raised in a house church that shared your belief of salvation, and I thank God for that. I did not dive into Scripture and the early church for myself until my late 20s. I agitated the last two churches I attended because I would ask where Scripture says your "future sins" are forgiven for a disobedient person? Conversely, I could point to a multitude of Scriptures that said otherwise. I would get called a "legalist," or a "works-based salvationist." I choose obedience to our Creator. I love Him and His word.

✝️ Reagan Schrock

I very much appreciate this foray into the Eastern story which is just as much a part of the Christian story as the Western story. Most of us are Western and so we have our direct links to and influences derived from the Western part of the story of Christianity. Consequently, we are familiar with the Western story. But ignorance of the Eastern story does not serve us well. Ignorance of the East deprives us of wisdom that we need in order to deal with our own contemporary issues. Wisdom demands that we be knowledgeable of both stories.

I enjoyed watching and listening to this episode. As I am listening to Merle Burkholder I hear that there is always extra room for one, I included, to apply humbleness to one's life. Humbleness builds character and it builds inner strength and patience to help to keep one from not falling prey to a lot of the tactics that are mentioned in this interview. The interview may be short, but it says a lot. A lot about what one, I included, need to carry with us throughout our daily lives. Thank you two for this message.

Lord of the rings?

Thanks for these thoughtful comments Merle and hosting the conversation, AP. It resonated. I listened to it twice.

The irony is that it’s Protestants and Catholics that have embraced pagan philosophy and warped their praxis, and the Orthodox Church is still faithful and exists as a minority in the Middle East.

This guy is right that the close relationship with the Greco-Roman civilization has been a huge problem for true followers of Jesus. It didn't just start at the Nicene council. It started long before that. Justin the Martyr, origen, tertullian, Iraneus, eusibius, Clement, etc and many others mixed Greco-Roman pagan philosophy with the teachings of Paul and within a few years Jesus words meant nothing.

Those christians who live in the east or culturally eastern areas, they did not forget the gospel first spread towards the east. My father was an orthodox living in Finland, definitely always remembered the eastern christianity, especially the syriac christianity.

The best book I have read on these things is by Aaron Fochtman, Rightly Dividing That They be One- Great and important topic to give context to our modern world, by looking at what happened in the past- God bless your work

Why do the mennonites catch fire when they fall from outter space?

There is a major issue with this interview. Its only 26 minutes long. It needs to be 2 hours and 26 minutes long. Very insightful

Thank you

Thank you..

Hi. My last name is Bontrager, I am a son of lifer missionaries, my folks would have been considered to have “raised me right” I have the pedigree and upbringing of the ideal Mennonite standard, I say this because I want you to understand that I am not ignorant of the teachings, I have heard all the arguments, I am so very familiar with the nuance, both culturally and historically of the Anabaptist belief system, also I want to say I am currently a practicing, church going Beachy, Amish, Mennonite church member . I believe that Dispensationalism, and 2 kingdom theology, are 2 of the most dangerous, insidious, faults doctrines our Mennonite beliefs is based on. These beliefs form the foundation for how we both interpret “Dispensationalism” and apply “2 kingdom theology” the scripture, brother I would love to come onto your cast and give a biblical, detailed, nuanced argument as to why I believe this. Thanks for doing the hard work of content creation!💪🏼

Very helpful! I'm curious if it is proper to address prayers to Jesus as opposed to just the Father?

Bercot is clearly reading his own presuppositions into the ECFs. The ideas that bishops held their office until death and that they selected the men who would proceed them are not mutually exclusive. He is fallaciously and without merit asserting that they are, directly in contradition to the Paul's epistles to Timothy no less. There's no provision in scripture for ordination of ministers outside of one that originates from the apostles. Full stop and no getting around it.

Have you spoken to Stuart Murray in the UK? I feel like that would be an interesting conversation

I also visited several churches but never felt at home. My background is Pentecostalism with Scandinavian Baptist roots which originates from Radical Pietism. I was amazed to know after reading about Radical Pietism that I have some theological affinities with Anabaptists. I will take the time to visit an Anabaptist Church in the future to check whether I will be at home. By the way, I love the podcast. I will listen to more episode.

Paradise for me, hell for women and children!

Tertullian’s advice to go back af far as possible and the Gospel of Mark goes back to before Jesus took over John the Baptists reform movemnt, John the Baptist’s theology is the leading edge of Pauline Theology as interpreted by N.T. Wright, Quelle is the intelligence archives of the 10th Legion who picked up both John the Baptist and Jesus on what amounts to the Roman porch cameras. The Synoptic Gospels, John, Acts and Josefupus share Quelle as the source for John the Baptist, Cornelius, the centurion presented in Acts 10, was the currator of Quelle when Paul and Luke arrived in Cesaerea and John Mark had grown up and became St Mark of Alexandria, who created the first Christian publishing house, The Gospel of Mark is called the Gospel of Mark as a water mark, so to speak, a verion of the euangelion that began with Pilate’s lost intelligence report to Tiberius Tertullian reports in Book V of his Apology, Tertullian is the historic anchor for the genesis of Christian literature that began immediatedly after the Resurrection by Pilate’s intelligence report regarding the Taliking Cross and the new covenant with the Italian Cohort that represented the separation of Chruch and State in the Roman secular humanit commonwealth, Tertulliam was a Roman army brat and a stoic, He was raised to be the son of a centurion, according to Wikipedia. My thesis has been that Cornelius is the author of the Gospel of Mrrk since 1990 as a consequence of an epiphany I had teaching Sunday School. As part of my own sense of due diligence, I began to read Barclay’s commentaries on the scriptures, begining with the Gospels, In the Intorduction to Mark, I first encountered the controversies regarding composition and, clear as it bell, I realized that Cornelius had written Mark, I’m an Army brat, I was raised in the mythos of the communion of the US Army centurion, I was reaised by people who saw the world the way Cornelius and Clausewitz did, the same way Terutllian did, THe way Jesus did. Tertullian anticipates Hegel with The trinity, which is a paradox. John Keegan observed that historians can not tell you what effect Aritotle had on Alexandr the Great and I can. Tertullian is a consequenc of the effect Aritotle had on Alexander the Great. This is what is available in the sociolgy and anthropology of the Bible that rises above the archelogly of hisory and the latrines of Qumran. At this time, the Roman legions were composed of Pagan Christions of the Taliking Cross. Tertullian was aware that there were far more Christians in the Roman Empire thant the society of Tacitus and such were aware of, The hatred for Tiberius among these precients was convey intergenerationally by Christians, which is why the Legions kept the secret so hermetically, The Gospel of Mark was originally written in Latin because, like Pilate’s lost euangelion that Tertullian identifies to connect the dots to Cornelius and the Gospel of Mark as a follow up intelligence apperciation of whay they had besineds Mark 15:1 - 16:8 and the Goepel of Peter, which is in the original voice of Pilate’s euangelion, The Talking Cross is the Tidings of Joy for Rome, In no small measure, the Pro-Choice Gospel of Mark according to Willie and Joe is anchored by Tertullian, Dr. Molly Worthen has has here own epiphany regarding the Resurrection that demonstrates the nature of paradox in the journalism of the Gospel of Mark and it connects to Tertullian, Her process from agnostic to Ah HA! is the “Born Again” process Jesus is tyring to explain to Nicodemus, Paradox must be groked in fulness. Tertullian is all about paradox.

We do not see anything prohibiting infant baptism in the New Testament.

David had his failures too.

Couldn’t care less what “early church fathers” said. Just because it was taught 1000 and some years ago doesn’t mean that it’s true.

Thank you for this great interview.

Thank you for a thoughtful conversation with a well-spoken guest. Thanks

Anabaptists throughout their history have not emphasized systematic theology. They emphasized a lived theology, a theology that grows out of life experience. Christianity is more about being and doing, being obedient to Christ's instructions for them at their particular experience in history, and less about knowing propositional theology. Since God's people have always lived a story in God's presence, we live our story in light of God's presence today. The Holy Spirit still guides, protects, and instructs us each step of the way. This kind of thinking is part and parcel of the Anabaptist worldview.

SO interesting. This is good.

What about these prophets today and back in 2007 prophesied about how Trump would become a Trumpet and deliver America from a lawless government? These prophets are saying they are hearing from God and God has anointed Trump as His David and is protecting Trump as our fallen government keeps trying to kill him. These proclaimed prophesies are literally coming to pass, then they are saying that this God is on the throne and fixing to have a Pentecost soon. It’s crazy, I started to buy into it but I went and looked at how the early Church seen this beast given power by satan. They even say that the Church is the Tabernacle of God and this beast would proclaim to be on the Throne of God and cause people to worship the beast, then the early Church said that it would be a worldly religion causing people to worship the state and that this beast would have a parody of the day of Pentecost saying he can rain fire down from heaven meaning the Holy Ghost. Man this is too surreal.

So Jesus was the son of Joseph or God? Because basically it was Joseph's genealogy.

How can I get in touch with this guy

I LOVE Matthew's genealogy. The symbolism is beautiful. However, I'm confused why the last name, Jesus, is the 13th. I expect there's symbolism there, so if anyone knows please tell me 🙏

The kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are different.

Paul is a great teacher. I would encourage you to bring him on more often. Very enriching

I sincerely believe that the conservative Anabaptists and the Pentecostals are, in as little as a few decades, going to be the only Christians holding true to the faith. That the majority of the Amish will make the conversion over to the Mennonites. That there will be an increase in the amount of independent conservative Mennonite churches being established. I've read where so many disagree with any type of culture, regardless whether it be an ethnic or a faith culture, within any church or denomination. That a culture within a church is what leads to the establishment of cults. I will have to disagree. Culture is all around us. The entertainment industry of Hollywood and Nashville are responsible for purposely creating the current popular or pop culture. Where are all the culture critics complaining or disagreeing with those who are deliberately creating today's popular culture and trends? Why aren't they letting their voices be heard about the dangers of pop culture within the church? Why are they condoning such culture while at the same time witnessing so many walking away from their faith? Each region of the nation or any nation has its own culture within a culture. Southwestern, Southern, Midwest, North Pacific, New England etc has their own culinary culture along with their social culture. A strong faith culture is about the only defense against letting the influences of the world from making their way into the church and community. Those who disagree with me, just wait until you have to close your doors for good. Who or what are you going to blame it on? The question why will always be in the back of your minds.

If Jesus allowed his powers to be sent the line their would be no need for drs.

Abraham became rich by pimping out his wife/sister.

The Bible never even hints that Abraham’s stay in Haran was an act of disobedience. Abraham’s father (Terah) is the one who took Lot and Abraham to Haran. See Gen Ch. 11:31. Abraham was not forbidden to take his nephew with him. God only said you will not stay in your country with you relatives or your father house in Ur of the Chaldeans. Since Terah died in Haran and Abraham left right after, this seems to be a foretelling that his father would die. God does not rebuke but meets Abraham and directs him on his journey. Acts 7:2 “God had him move,” according to Stephen. The gentile Kings were not more righteous than Abraham. They both helped themselves to Sarah by just taking her, not negotiating a marriage though Abraham as her brother. They would have just killed Abraham to take Sarah. Abraham had much wisdom in regard to the people he was among. The very thing he was concerned about not only happened once, but twice. Abraham did not willingly give his wife away two times. He knew the Egyptians would kill him if Sarah said he was her husband. [Gen 20:11 Abraham: “I thought, there is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife”]. She was taken by Pharaoh's officials. This was why God afflicted Pharaoh and his household with plagues. Abimelech did not take Sara as a wife. He just took her. This is why God afflicted Abimelech, his household, his wife, and his female slaves so they could not bear children. After God intervenes in a dream, Abimelech pays restitution, 1,000 pieces of silver. In both cases they should have negotiated a price with Abraham before and not just take her. This is why God says to Abimelech he is a Prophet he will pray for you and heal you. Which Abraham does after Abimelech gives the silver. Sounds like Abraham is more righteous, otherwise why the prayer for healing?

I appreciate your standing on nonviolence, however what do you do, on a micro level, when there is a man threatening to do violence to your family? Do you turn the other cheek and thus allow him to harm your wife and children under your protection? On a macro level, then, does a good government allow another government to harm it's citizens? Does God approve of the man who allows his wife and children to be harmed by the other's violence, by turning the other cheek? The nonviolent position must have some exemptions in order to be just and loving, correct?

This is very interesting and i had never known this had even happened!

But when you realize that nazi ideas of eugenics were everywhere, particularly America, one can longer blame the Germans as a unique situation. And especially after covid, we’re all nazis now.

So he had to swear allegiance and an oath to the Queen of England and Canada? Huh.

These people living off the sacrifices of many who died for our freedoms but they won’t vote to preserve them. Seems pious to me.

While the rest of the Jewish communities worship Abraham as their "god." - the King of Jews

There were things said in this discussion that contradict what the scripture actually says. That title is not very fitting. • The Bible never even hints that Abraham’s stay in Haran was an act of disobedience. Abraham’s father (Terah) is the one who took Lot and Abraham to Haran. See Gen Ch. 11:31. Abraham was not forbidden to take his nephew with him. God only said you will not stay in your country with you relatives or your father house in Ur of the Chaldeans. Since Terah died in Haran and Abraham left right after, this seems to be a foretelling that his father would die. God does not rebuke but meets Abraham and directs him on his journey. Acts 7:2 “God had him move,” according to Stephen. • The gentile Kings were not more righteous than Abraham. They both helped themselves to Sarah by just taking her, not negotiating a marriage though Abraham as her brother. They would have just killed Abraham to take Sarah. Abraham had much wisdom in regard to the people he was among. The very thing he was concerned about not only happened once, but twice. Abraham did not willingly give his wife away two times. He knew the Egyptians would kill him if Sarah said he was her husband. [Gen 20:11 Abraham: “I thought, there is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife”]. She was taken by Pharaoh's officials. This was why God afflicted Pharaoh and his household with plagues. Abimelech did not take Sara as a wife. He just took her. This is why God afflicted Abimelech, his household, his wife, and his female slaves so they could not bear children. After God intervenes in a dream, Abimelech pays restitution, 1,000 pieces of silver. In both cases they should have negotiated a price with Abraham before and not just take her. This is why God says to Abimelech he is a Prophet he will pray for you and heal you. Which Abraham does after Abimelech gives the silver. Sounds like Abraham is more righteous, otherwise why the prayer for healing? • It is evident that Abraham knew in Genesis that God would raise Isaac from the dead when he tells his servants that Abraham and his son will return after they are done worshiping. Gen 12:5 Additionally, we need to be very careful about saying derogatory statements about Abraham that the Bible does not say and read in our own narrative of disobedience and wickedness. After all, we are sons of Abraham who follow Jesus. I was surprised not to hear anything about the distinction between the two covenants, the ransoming from Satan, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to lay down our lives for our enemies. We should not conflate God’s mercy with non-resistance in the Old Testament. God does change his mind and the way he deals with his people. God’s nature and attributes are unchanging. God initially was preserving the Jewish nation as a people to himself. Now in the new covenant, all who have an obedient love-faith relationship with God are His. Non-resistance was not part of Old Testament but the call for Christians since Jesus has now defeated both sin and death. We have nothing to fear.

In addition to the ways Merle mentioned that we can contribute to society, we can contribute well-trained children from godly homes. Children who grow up to take responsibility for being a productive member of society, not only contribute to society in a positive way, but they are also no drain on society. Children who grow up with productive work skills pay taxes which benefit others in society and furthermore stay out of prison which drains society's resources. Children who obey the laws of the land contribute to social order and do not harm others with personal selfishness. Children who grow up, marry, and have multiple offspring multiply social benefits for others. Families who maintain their property, plant flowers for others to enjoy, bless their neighbors with surplus garden produce, baked items, and general cheer are valued citizens. As Merle mentioned, this non-splashy grassroots approach accomplishes more social benefit than voting does. Think about what would happen if every person who claims to be a Christian would focus his/her energies on his/her own family which would radiate blessings to local communities everywhere those Christian families would exist!

So far the best teaching I have found.