A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

Mennonite self-defense army. They did not reach the decision easily. The minutes of the Lichtenau all-Mennonite Conference of July 1-2, 1918 shed some light on the process.6 Extensive debate revealed a sharp division in the delegation. Those favoring the formation of a self-defense unit under German military leadership sought to differentiate between self-defense and military aggression. The other segment urged abiding by the teachings of Jesus and trusting divine providence for protection. Two days of debate produced two different resolutions. Resolution One: The All-Mennonite Conference abides with the confession of nonresistance as held heretofore. It recognizes the basis of this position exemplified in the life of Christ while in his earthly pilgrimage and com- manded in his Word, It recommends, however, to the lo- cal churches not to bind the conscience of some members 140 IN THE SHADOW OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION in their fellowship who vary in their understanding on this position.7 Resolution Two: The Conference recognizes that the non- resistant position, held by our forbears, expresses the highest perfection of the character of the heavenly King- dom taught and exemplified by Jesus and that this dispo- sition provides the basis for our Confession of Faith which requires abstinence from all and any participation in armed conflict. In consideration that not all individuals have attained to this high standard of Christian character to accept the consequences which such a position im- plies, the Conference believes that our churches do not have the right to demand of all its members to decline the bearing of arms* A majority of the delegates voted to support resolution one, which upheld the principle of peace but left room for deviation, A careful reading of the debate preceding this vote shows that the historical Mennonite Brethren criterion-"What does the Bible say?"-was no longer central. In the face of se- rious stress and danger, the concern for the ethics of Jesus was set aside. The occasion reflected a crisis in Mennonite Brethren bib- lical interpretation. Traditionally, they had viewed Scripture as a progressive unfolding of truth, with Christ as the culmina- tion of divine revelation. The New Testament stood above the Old Testament. Church doctrine and ethics were bound by the New Testament, Yet Mennonite Brethren who partici- pated in the Lichtenau debate testified that their own leaders spoke approvingly for armed self-defense, invoking the exam- ple of Abraham's rescue of Lot (Genesis 14). Benjamin B. Janz blamed this hermeneuticat