Our beliefs
Our Beliefs and Affiliation
What if I’m not a Mennonite? What is a Mennonite?
Quite a few of us come from non-Mennonite backgrounds, so don’t worry. Mennonites are Christians who place priority on the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives. In most forms of worship and practice, we are similar to other Protestant Christians. Although some Mennonites in Lancaster County dress differently from the general population and limit use of certain technology, that isn’t the case at Mount Joy Mennonite Church.
Affiliation. We are part of LMC, a fellowship of anabaptist churches (formerly Lancaster Mennonite Conference).
Our Theology
The Trinity. We worship the one holy and loving God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternally. God has created all things visible and invisible, has brought salvation and new life to humanity through Jesus Christ, and continues to sustain the Church and all things until the end of the age.
Jesus. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Word of God become flesh. He is the Savior of the world, who has delivered us from the dominion of sin and reconciled us to God by his death on a cross. He was declared to be Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. He is the head of the church, the exalted Lord, the Lamb who was slain, coming again to reign with God in glory.
The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of God, who dwelled in Jesus Christ, who empowers the church, who is the source of our life in Christ, and who is poured out on those who believe as the guarantee of redemption. The Holy Spirit is active in individual and in communal worship, leading us deeper into the experience of God.
Scripture. We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit for instruction in salvation and training in righteousness. We accept the Scriptures as the Word of God and as the fully reliable and trustworthy standard for Christian faith and life. Led by the Holy Spirit in the church, we interpret Scripture in harmony with Jesus Christ.
The Church. We believe that the Church is the assembly of those who have accepted God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the new community of disciples sent into the world to share the love of Jesus and make disciples.
Baptism. We believe that the baptism of believers with water is a sign of their cleansing from sin. Baptism is also a pledge before the Church of their covenant with God to walk in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Family. We believe that God intends human life to begin in families and to be blessed through families. Even more, God desires all people to become part of the church, God’s family. As single and married members of the church family give and receive nurture and healing, families can grow toward the wholeness that God intends. We believe that God intends marriage to be a covenant between one man and one woman for life.
Peace. We believe that peace is the will of God. God created the world in peace, and God’s peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world. Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance, even in the face of violence and warfare.
For more see the 1995 Mennonite Confession of Faith.