Menno Simons on the Assurance of Salvation - Chortitzer Mennonite ...

Editor
Clinton Friesen
cmc@mts.net
From the Bishop’s Desk
Over the last eight months the
CMC Ministerial in Manitoba has had
the opportunity to complete a course at
Steinbach Bible College on Anabaptist
history. Though I missed the last session,
I was greatly encouraged by where we
come from, our Anabaptist history, and
what classifies us as <strong>Menno</strong>nites.
Having said that, I want to note
that the terms “Anabaptist” and
“<strong>Menno</strong>nite” are not hang-ups of mine,
but would prefer that above all I am
recognized as a Christian, a Christfollower.
The other two terms are simply
a reference to that. I am not ashamed of
my spiritual heritage, but I do not place
my salvation on that heritage.
So then those who were scattered
because of the persecution that
occurred in connection with Stephen
made their way to Phoenicia and
Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word
to no one except to Jews alone. But
there were some of them, men of Cyprus
and Cyrene, who came to Antioch
and began speaking to the Greeks
Managing Editor
Bishop Frank Unrau
I am a Christian
also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And
the hand of the Lord was with them,
and a large number who believed
turned to the Lord. The news about
them reached the ears of the church
at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas
off to Antioch. Then when he arrived
and witnessed the grace of God, he
rejoiced and began to encourage them
all with resolute heart to remain true to
the Lord; for he was a good man, and
full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And
considerable numbers were brought to
the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look
for Saul; and when he had found him,
he brought him to Antioch. And for an
entire year they met with the church and
taught considerable numbers; and the
disciples were first called Christians in
Antioch (Acts 11:19-26).
In this passage, followers of Christ
were first called Christians, and it
appears the message of Christ was
being spoken not only to Jews, but also
to Gentiles. The message had crossed
ethnic, cultural, and geographical
The Good News of Jesus was brought to a certain group of
people, of which my forefathers came from, and I do not want
to forget the cost they made in leaving me a spiritual heritage.
But I do not place my Salvation on that, but rather on the One
that we began following in the first place.
The Chronicle is published monthly by the Board of Publication and Education of the
Chortitzer <strong>Menno</strong>nite Conference.
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Next Deadline: Aug 10, 2009
boundaries. We see persecution for
their faith, as we have seen at many
points in the history of the church;
Anabaptists and <strong>Menno</strong>nites included
amongst others. For that reason being
referred to as a follower of Jesus Christ
encompasses other heritages than
<strong>Menno</strong>nite.
The Good News of Jesus was
brought to a certain group of people,
of which my forebears came from, and
I do not want to forget the cost they
made in leaving me a spiritual heritage.
But I do not place my salvation on that,
but rather on the One that we began
following in the first place. We follow
Jesus, leaning on His teaching, and the
teaching of the ones His hand was on.
Though I value the stand the past
patriarchs have made, it is the Word
on which they stood that I want to be
known for, and not their label. There in
is our struggle to keep the past heritage
alive, not while building on any label
as one’s faith, but rather on the faith in
Christ that created these movements
and labels in the first place!. For, it is
not by any label that we live, but by
Jesus Christ.
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
And I, brethren, could not speak to
you as to spiritual men, but as to men of
flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you
milk to drink, not solid food; for you
were not yet able to receive it. Indeed,
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