Liberal Mennonites
Short jeans or long? T-shirt or blouse? Skirt or dress? Polo shirt or blazer?
These questions are common matter-of-fact things for liberal Mennonites. By that term I mean any person of Mennonite background but not member of a conservative church. Plenty of them exist in Belize.
The tradition of going to church on Sundays is so strongly built into Mennonites. This is partly the reason there are many non-conservative churches in Spanish Lookout. Some of them are truly seeking freedom from the traditions and religious rituals of their forefathers; some have been offended at something in the conservative churches and walked out; others have declared that one church is as good as another and attend whichever makes them the most comfortable.
These churches hold no traditions, no specific clothing, no regulations concerning membership, no feet washing, no head coverings. To them these were simply misunderstandings caused by their Mennonite forefathers. We live in an age where Bible students have a clearer understanding and knowledge of God's Word; therefore the most important thing in life is to have Jesus in your heart. It's the heart that matters after all. God doesn't base your relationship with him on your dress or hair style. If you start wondering what things are acceptable and which things will offend your fellow Christian, you're trying to please men and are becoming religious.
A good thing about these non-conservative churches is that they allow people of different colors and cultures to be part of their church.
Some teen boys and girls often go to extreme styles to prove they're not bound by man-made rules. So don't be surprised to see girls with boyish haircuts and volleyball shorts or guys with hair in a ponytail and full bushy beard.
Even though these different freedom churches have their own understanding of the Bible and how best to follow it, one thing can be found in all of them: many prominent members are actually not born again. Also curious is that families have become split and scattered among these churches. I know a large family with 7 boys. Each boy goes to a different church.
Currently there are 6 of these liberal churches in Spanish Lookout. Interestingly, their Mennonite status gives them the right to be a part of the community. Which shows how much Spanish Lookout has changed in its view of other Christians.
These questions are common matter-of-fact things for liberal Mennonites. By that term I mean any person of Mennonite background but not member of a conservative church. Plenty of them exist in Belize.
The tradition of going to church on Sundays is so strongly built into Mennonites. This is partly the reason there are many non-conservative churches in Spanish Lookout. Some of them are truly seeking freedom from the traditions and religious rituals of their forefathers; some have been offended at something in the conservative churches and walked out; others have declared that one church is as good as another and attend whichever makes them the most comfortable.
These churches hold no traditions, no specific clothing, no regulations concerning membership, no feet washing, no head coverings. To them these were simply misunderstandings caused by their Mennonite forefathers. We live in an age where Bible students have a clearer understanding and knowledge of God's Word; therefore the most important thing in life is to have Jesus in your heart. It's the heart that matters after all. God doesn't base your relationship with him on your dress or hair style. If you start wondering what things are acceptable and which things will offend your fellow Christian, you're trying to please men and are becoming religious.
A good thing about these non-conservative churches is that they allow people of different colors and cultures to be part of their church.
Some teen boys and girls often go to extreme styles to prove they're not bound by man-made rules. So don't be surprised to see girls with boyish haircuts and volleyball shorts or guys with hair in a ponytail and full bushy beard.
Even though these different freedom churches have their own understanding of the Bible and how best to follow it, one thing can be found in all of them: many prominent members are actually not born again. Also curious is that families have become split and scattered among these churches. I know a large family with 7 boys. Each boy goes to a different church.
Currently there are 6 of these liberal churches in Spanish Lookout. Interestingly, their Mennonite status gives them the right to be a part of the community. Which shows how much Spanish Lookout has changed in its view of other Christians.
