As seen in yesterday’s post, Common Cause – for Concern, the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Evangelical Fellowship Canada, the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops all appear to be heading down the path of ecumenism in the name of ‘common cause.’ Is the Canadian MB Conference tip toeing in the footsteps of their Mennonite cousins who have already crossed the bridge to Rome?
For example, the Bridgefolk want you to know…
Mennonite seminary hosts conference on Mary
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Indiana) will be hosting a conference entitled My Spirit Rejoices in God my Savior: Mary in Anabaptist Dress in late March. Bridgefolk board members Mary Schertz and Marlene Kropf are among the event coordinators.
More here:
http://www.bridgefolk.net/2011/01/31/mennonite-seminary-hosts-conference-on-mary/
More conference info can be found on the AMBS website, here:
My spirit rejoices in God my savior: Mary in Anabaptist Dress
March 24 to 26, 2011
http://www.ambs.edu/programs-institutes/ims/consultations/mary
The goal of the conference is that all who participate in the conversations will understand the place of Mary in their lives and thoughts.
However, as Roger Oakland reminds us, the Bible teaches us to focus on Jesus, not Mary:
As we read through both the Old and New Testament, one thing becomes very apparent—Christianity is all about Jesus Christ and in believing in Him alone for salvation. The Scriptures testify of the true Jesus, who made this clear:
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5: 39-40)
The entire Bible leads us to, testifies of, and focuses on, the one and only Savior of the world.
Source: The “Mary Connection” to the Eucharistic (False) Christ
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=5722
Roman Catholics venerate, and even offer prayers to, Mary and the Saints, but the veneration of Mary has no place in the life of a true Christian who believes in the biblical Jesus.
Roman Catholics attempt to “bypass” these clear Scriptural principles by claiming they do not “worship” Mary or saints, but rather that they only “venerate” Mary and the saints. Using a different word does not change the essence of what is being done. A definition of “venerate” is “to regard with respect or reverence.” Nowhere in the Bible are we told to revere anyone but God alone. There is nothing wrong with respecting those faithful Christians who have gone before us (see Hebrews chapter 11). There is nothing wrong with honoring Mary as the earthly mother of Jesus. The Bible describes Mary as “highly favored” by God (Luke 1:28). At the same time, there is no instruction in the Bible to revere those whom have gone to Heaven. We are to follow their example, yes, but worship, revere, or venerate, no!
–Is worship of saints / Mary Biblical?
http://www.gotquestions.org/worship-saints-Mary.html
Surprisingly, a recent issue of the MB Herald promoted the uniquely Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception on their ‘traditional’ Christmas calendar, even though the doctrine of the immaculate conception is not taught in the Bible.
Why are Mennonites seeking common ground with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church? Are Christians to learn of Mary or Jesus?
Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Related:
Mary to be in the spotlight at AMBS
http://www.mennoweekly.org/2011/1/17/mary-be-spotlight-ambs/
Roman Catholicism, Mary, and Idolatry
http://carm.org/roman-catholicism-mary-idolatry
What Every Catholic Should Know – about MARY
http://www.whateverycatholicshouldknow.com/wecsk/mary.htm
Menno-lite 
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter2:20-22
We should not assume from this they were ever believers to begin with, who have now lost their salvation. They left, as they were never part of us. The sifting is difficult to watch.
Re “We should not assume”.
For much of my life I assumed that most of the MB members were born again believers. I was convinced that the majority of the leading brethren were born again followers of Jesus, but now I know that is not true.
I could not understand why there was such willingness by many of our leaders to accept “Alpha Course”, “Purpose Driven Life”, “Taize Worship”, “Prayer Centering”, “Reform Worship”, “Liturgical Worship”, “Emergent Church” and many other aberrant teachings, that proclaim “another gospel” with “another Jesus”.
To those who do these things Paul writes, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:8.
The MB leaders are ‘dialoguing’ their way back to Rome, and will they also be dialoguing their way into ‘Chrislam’? They are thus leading their unwary flock to eternal destruction?
Many of the MB leaders have forgotten the first dialogue in the Garden of Eden.
Our forefathers (not desert fathers who did not know the Jesus of the Bible)
sacrificed their lives, contending for the TRUE FAITH.
May The God of our Lord Jesus Christ keep the MB leaders from committing treason.
John 3:7
what a silly question! Someone asks if Christians should learn about Mary or rather about Jesus; and the only answer is “Of course!” Mary is a terrific example to us of what a devout Christian looks like -she willingly cooperates with God; she stands by Jesus even when she doesn’t understand what he’s doing; she is faithful even when the world seems to crash down around her as he dies; and for being faithful, she is rewarded with the gift of salvation. Metaphorically she presents Jesus to the world, encouraging us to look at what she is holding up for us: salvation in her Son/her Lord. Mary was the first person to believe in Christ, and so that alone makes her a model for us.
So, why would ANYbody say that it’s wrong to study the life of Mary and to learn from her witness?
The concern here is ecumenism. Kropf, Schertz, and the Bridgefolk appear to be leading others across the bridge to Rome.
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