Anabaptists | summary and introduction

Established in mid-1995, this site has three purposes:

Glorify God
Build up people
Introduce Anabaptists

As you read, search the Scriptures to verify the authenticity of the message.

This site has way more material than you have time to read right now, so please bookmark this page!

God bless you!
Mark Roth

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1).

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

No, we are not anti-Baptist.

[definition of anabaptist] The term anabaptist was used to describe and define certain Christians during the Reformation.

These Christians rejected infant baptism, choosing instead believer's baptism.

Since many of them had been baptized in their infancy, they chose to be baptized as believing adults.

So their enemies called them anabaptists -- "re-baptizers."

Even though we now embrace that term as part of our identity, it really is an inaccurate term to describe them. The Anabaptists never considered that any rebaptism took place -- they outright rejected and refuted the entire concept of infant baptism. To them, infant baptism would have been an oxymoron; the individual words themselves, mutually exclusive.

The differences between the Anabaptists and the Magisterial Reformers lie much deeper than any outward sign, including that of baptism. The Anabaptists were earnestly concerned with the restitution of the true church on an Apostolic model.

Further reading: Anabaptists: Separate by Choice, Marginal by Force

Here are a few tidbits about the Anabaptists:

January 21, 1525, is generally considered the birthdate of Anabaptism.
There is no single defining set of beliefs, doctrines, and practices that characterizes all Anabaptists.
The era of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation in Europe spawned a number of radical reform groups, among them the Anabaptists. These Christians regarded the Bible as their only rule for faith and life. Because of their radical beliefs, the Anabaptists were persecuted by other Protestants as well as by Roman Catholics.
The evangelical and non-revolutionary Anabaptists of Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands, were somewhat of a trial to the leading reformers because of their radical views on the nature of the church and of the Christian ethic.
Contemporary groups with early Anabaptist roots include the Mennonites, Amish, Dunkards, Landmark Baptists, Hutterites, and various Beachy and Brethren groups.
Mennonites have been characterized historically by a love for the Word of God, and by a strict demand for holiness of life.

People speak of our doctrine as being Mennonite doctrine.

While it is true that some of our doctrines and practices make us unique in the Christian world, we consider them Christian doctrine or Biblical doctrine.

Authority and inspiration of Scriptures
New Testament adherence to the Scriptures
Separation from the world
Brotherhood of believers
Headship veiling
Believer's baptism
Separation of church and state

To learn more about some of these, check out the information available on the doctrines pages.

Among the most visited pages here at Anabaptists:

At the time of its launch back in 1995, this site was the only one of its kind on the Internet.

Since then it has been joined online by other conservative Anabaptist sites, among them these few:

Of course there are many more, especially with the advent of blogs and forums.

Are you low on hope these days?

Past failures can be forgiven. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive" (Psalm 86:5). We experience that forgiveness when we confess our sins to God and to each other. This means honestly acknowledging, specifically, how we have sinned. God promises that He will not remember those confessed sins against us anymore (Hebrews 10:17). Praise God, the blood of Jesus cancels our guilt account.

Past failures can be transformed. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). When we yield our lives unreservedly to God, He can create something beautiful from even the most wretched mistakes we have made.

Past failures do not have to be repeated. God sent His Son Jesus "to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26). God has power to turn us away from sin and He has power to keep us from turning back to sin. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit gives us the desire and the power to say "No" to the wrong and "Yes" to the right. Our part is to yield the members of our bodies continually "as instruments of righteousness unto God," (Romans 6:13).

We cannot relive the past. We cannot erase the consequences of our choices. We cannot change ourselves.

We can confess our sins. We can receive forgiveness. We can live a transformed life -- through Christ Jesus!

Jesus Christ is waiting to change you. He wants to give you a wonderful new year and a wonderful new life. He will help you try again.

For further hope and help, read the full article: If You Would Like to Try Again.

Anabaptists -- Summary and Introduction