Who were the ana-baptists?

Taufgesinnter,

In other words, the Baptists and Anabaptists of today are every bit as similar and dissimilar as were the Baptists and Anabaptists of the past. Therefore, all attempts to make a sharp distinction between the two are vain.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Sounds like he was descibing Primitive Baptists.

Of course, with such a broad description, he could have been describing just about every denomination on the face of the earth.

It's unfortunate that there are so many different views, even within a denomination, on what the Bible teaches. I suppose it will continue to be this way until the end of time.

 

It sounds to me as though Primitive Baptists are Anabaptists.

Really?

Without sacrificing accuracy or precision, what could I do to narrow it down for you?

 

Another good book by Leonard Verduin is Anatomy of a Hybrid: A Study in Church-State Relationships.

I also recommend The Anabaptist View of the Church by Franklin H. Littell, Theology of Anabaptism: An Interpretation by Robert Friedmann, and the "Christ Against Culture" section of Christ and Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr. Roland Bainton had written some good stuff, too.

Has anyone here read in The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght?

 

That's just the point. You can't. That is becoming the state of every denomination. The terms that were onced used to define a whole group can no longer be used because almost no two churches will hold the same views.

Even the name Primitive Baptist on the side of the building doesn't guarantee that you will find Primitive Baptist doctrine being preached there. Same goes for all other denominations. That's why there are so many of them. One can no longer generalize on what a particular group believes.

However, one can say what the general practices of those churches have been over the years. Seems the further back you go, the more a group held the same collective beliefs under a particular banner, i.e. Primitive Baptists, Anabaptists, etc.

I want you to know that I wasn't criticizing you, if that's how you took. I apologize if it sounded that way. I was just trying to relate how hard it would be to narrow down the beliefs of any one group without finding many "oddballs" in the group.

A good example would be the following.

One group called Primitive Baptist - believes in washing each others' feet, a capella singing, calling the ministers "Elder", Preservation of the saints'(basically, we will never fall from grace). These are some views held by my church and most other PB churches around.

Another group called Primitive Baptist - do not wash each others' feet, use an organ, piano, etc., call their ministers "reverend", Perseverance of the saints'(basically, we can lose our eternal salvation). For some reason almost all PB churches that are made up of black people are in this group...don't ask me why.

Basically, what it gets down to is, since we, most if not all Baptist groups, believe in church autonomy, each church separates a little more in doctrinal points from her sisters over the years. I can't complain though. The same thing was heppening in Paul's day. Thus, the reason for his letter writings to the different churches.

God Bless. Bro. James

 

Thanks for the information Taufgesinnter. I'm glad they let you post on this one. Seems there is little difference between Baptists and Ana-Baptist; You bring two into a room and get 3 different opinions as well

Bryan
SDG

 

I have a copy and it is a great book!

 

Tauf,

I notice you didn't ask if anyone has "read" but if anyone has "read in." I doubt there are many people who have ever read the whole thing.

Mark Osgatharp

 

There isn't much I can add to this scholastically, however, I need to throw in with those who see an historical link between the Anabaptists and the Baptists (as well as with other groups like the Mennonites). I feel sadness for our brother from the Netherlands who accepts the word from the Roman Catholic Church as as if it were the inspired Gospel. The shasta website that is linked is nothing but pure Catholic propoganda. Enough said.

 

There isn't much I can add to this scholastically, however, I need to throw in with those who see an historical link between the Anabaptists and the Baptists (as well as with other groups like the Mennonites). I feel sadness for our brother from the Netherlands who accepts the word from the Roman Catholic Church as as if it were the inspired Gospel. The shasta website that is linked is nothing but pure Catholic propoganda. Enough said.

 

"Bottom line - would we say that a person who is an "anabaptist" would rightly be called a "baptist" (and allowed to post in baptist-only area?)"
I would agree with that.




"There isn't much I can add to this scholastically, however, I need to throw in with those who see an historical link between the Anabaptists and the Baptists (as well as with other groups like the Mennonites)."
That would include me.


" I feel sadness for our brother from the Netherlands who accepts the word from the Roman Catholic Church as as if it were the inspired Gospel."
I don't.

"The shasta website that is linked is nothing but pure Catholic propoganda. "
It is.

 

Dr. Bob said: "Bottom line - would we say that a person who is an "anabaptist" would rightly be called a "baptist" (and allowed to post in baptist-only area?)"

From my understanding right now there is really no difference between Ana-Baptist and Baptist greater then any differences between different types of Baptists. If an Ana-Baptist would submit their beliefs on a few fundemental Baptist issues to an admin and they are seen the same as a Baptist (As they should be, I just like security checks ) I would have no problem with that person being able to post in Baptist only issues.

Besides is you take the sucessionist view arn't they Baptists anyways?

Bryan
SDG

 

Imo, any denomination should be able to post, whether it’s in the “Baptists only” forum or not. I understand that this is a Baptists board, but we’re all brothers in Christ, no matter what denomination one belongs to.

Will the Baptist church you attend; shut the door on a Methodist, Catholic or an Atheist? I bet not. So why should it be any different here?

 

Another good booklet on Baptist is the Trail of Blood

 

I was sorry to read that Google lists Munster as an AnaBaptist. My Church History written in the 1800's by C.B. and S. Hassell says that Munster was a renegade and a fugative from the law who hid among very poor people and encouraged them to resist the civil law and authority.

Because AnaBaptist were usually very poor people the followers of Munster were incorrectly labeled AnaBaptist.

You are right, re-baptizers are found among Baptist today. Baptizing Christians who are coming from other denominations. I belong to such a Baptist denomination.

 

I too rebaptize folks who want to join our local church comming from another group -- AFTER I have spoken to them regarding this and have received a testimony from them that they have received Christ as Saviour. This is also a historical Baptist practice. There were a group of general Baptist who did not hold to this.

I quote:
"We have seen that the Baptist, who were formerly called Anabaptist, and in later times, Mennonites, were the original Waldenses, and who have long in the history of the church, received the honor of that origin. On this account, the Baptist may be considered the only Christian society which has stood since the days of the apostles, and as a Christian society that has preserved pure doctrines of the Gospel through the ages ..."

From Osiander, Epist. cent. 16 p175. Wittenburg, 1607 " Our modern Anabaptist are the same as the Donitists of old. They took no account of the baptism of others ..."

I could share more ... but maybe this will be of a clarity.