Seventeen hundred years ago, Christianity became a religion that conquered opponents by use of a literal sword rather than the sword of the Spirit. The night of October 27, 312 AD, Constantine saw a cross of light in the sky, accompanied by the words, “by this sign, you shall conquer.” Constantine immediately had the shields … Continue reading Seventeen hundred years ago
Anabaptist
Where did those words come from?
A friend and I had spent the night in the bar and it was around midnight when we arrived back in the little town where I lived. We weren’t ready to call it a day yet, so when we saw a light in a friend’s house we went and banged on the door. They let … Continue reading Where did those words come from?
This is war
“Must I be carried to the skies on flow’ry beds of ease?” asked Isaac Watts many years ago. Well, nowadays that seems to be exactly what we expect Christian life to be like. Is it any wonder that so many folks find Christian life to be boring and unfulfilling? Jesus didn’t promise “flow’ry beds of … Continue reading This is war
Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
When the War of 1812 began, the US government assumed that the Canadian colonies to the north would quickly grasp the opportunity to throw off British colonial rule and become part of the USA. Thomas Jefferson declared that Canada could be acquired simply by marching North. It probably seemed a logical assumption. The colonies of … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy … Continue reading Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites” – part 7
BIOGRAPHY OF MENNO SIMONS, continued After the death of the blessed Menno, the work of the Reformation, which he had started in the Netherlands was continued strenuously with the labour and service of Dietrich Philip (who also died, however, six years after Menno, namely in 1567), and others of his helpers, Congregations were founded … Continue reading Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites” – part 7
Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites” – Part 6
BIOGRAPHY OF MENNO SIMONS, continued The following is an extract from Book 16 in the Downfall of the Tyrants, by Peter Jantsz Twisck, pages 1074-1075. A daughter of Menno Simons, a praiseworthy woman, in our presence related the following incident: A certain traitor who had agreed, for a certain sum of money, to deliver without … Continue reading Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites” – Part 6
Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrime of the Mennonites – Part 5
BIOGRAPHY OF MENNO SIMONS Gathered from his own writings and also from Gerhard Roosen, a Mennonite minister at Hamburg, in his book named: “Innocence of the Evangelical Baptists, who are called Mennonites,” which was printed in the year 1702, as well as from several other writers. He was born in the year 1495 at Witmarsum … Continue reading Benjamin Eby’s “Origin and Doctrime of the Mennonites – Part 5
Who was Benjamin Eby?
Benjamin Eby was a great-great-grandson of Jacob Eby, who was ordained bishop of the Mennonites at Zurich, Switzerland in 1663. Jacob’s son, Theodor us Eby, left Switzerland in 1704 to escape the persecution of the Mennonites that was going on there. This Eby family settled in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in 1715. Benjamin Eby’s older brother, … Continue reading Who was Benjamin Eby?
English Christianity – Part 3
CHURCH OF ENGLAND In 1529, while the Catholic church was under attack from Lutherans and Zwinglians on the continent, King Henry VIII persuaded Parliament to pass an act separating the Church of England from the authority of the pope. There were many in the English Church who hoped for a reformation, some motivated by true … Continue reading English Christianity – Part 3
Flatlander Faith 