A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

as He visibly ascended into heaven, shall come down again from heaven." This is the introductory statement in the article treating "last things" in the Confession of Faith. The entire section is presented in terminology taken from the Scriptures with Christ as the central figure throughout. Historically, Mennonite Brethren have emphasized the glorious fact of Christ's return without special adherence or commitment to a particular "system" of eschatology. A. H. Unruh comments as follows on the eschatological views of the early Brethren: "They exhorted (each other) to watchfulness and to a holy walk. The present views with regard to the rapture and the millennium were apparently foreign to them. However, they joined in the prayer: 'Amen. Come Lord Jesus.' " 49 Although extreme Dispensationalism (as set forth in Larkin's charts and Scofield's footnotes) has at times obscured the centrality of Christ as the blessed hope of the church, Mennonite Brethren have generally believed that Jesus Christ, who by His first coming has begun a spiritual kingdom which shall not be destroyed, will come again to vindicate His rule and bring His kingdom to a glorious consummation. The practical implications of this great event for sanctification and service have been recurring themes in Mennonite Brethren teaching and preaching. 5 " This brief summary of certain distinctives in Mennonite Brethren theology is far from complete. It reflects, however, the desire of Mennonite Brethren to be "the people of God" in this world — a people who have experienced God's mercy and who have endeavored to obey God's Word as they understood its teaching under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in the light of their spiritual heritage. UNDERSTANDING BIBLICAL REVELATION 375 III. Outside Influences on Mennonite Brethren Theology In their theological pilgrimage of more than one hundred years, Mennonite Brethren have been exposed to various "winds of doctrine" that have modified, and at times seriously threatened, the basic scriptural and historical framework of their theology. Two of these theological movements which have influenced Mennonite Brethren thought and practice will be considered briefly. 1. Fundamentalism Fundamentalism, a movement in conservative American Protes- tantism in the first half of the twentieth century, was primarily a reaction against the growth of theological liberalism and modernism. The movement derived its name largely from two sources: (1) the publication in 1909 of a series of twelve small volumes in defense of conservative theology called The Fundamentals and (2) the World Christian Fundamentals Association, which was organized in Philadelphia in 1919. The movement reached its height in the late 1920's after which it declined rapidly in volume and strength. 11 The "fundamentals" on which the association generally concentrated its emphasis were the following: the inerrancy of the Bible, the vi