Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/47

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OF INFORMATION
39

tices and methods; further that it is the duty of the Church to keep herself aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society, independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experience of the new birth. I Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:11-14; II Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 12:1,2; Eph. 5:11; I Jno. 2:15-17; II Thes. 3:6; Acts 4:12; Jno. 3:3,6,7.

ARTICLE XI.—Of Discipline

We believe that the Lord has vested the Church with authority in accordance with Scriptural teaching: (1) to choose officials, (2) to regulate the observance of ordinances, (3) to exercise wholesome discipline, and (4) to organize and conduct her work in a manner consistent with her high calling and essential to her highest efficiency. Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3; II Tim. 2:2; Tit. 1:5-9; 2:15; Matt. 28:19,20; 18:15-18; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:17; Acts 14:21-23; 2:15.

ARTICLE XII.—Of Ordinances

We believe that Christian baptism should be administered upon confession of faith; tha*t the Lord's Supper should be observed as a memorial of His death by those of like precious faith who have peace with God; that feetwashing as an ordinance should be literally observed by all believers; that Christian women praying or prophesying should have their heads covered; that the salutation of the holy kiss should be duly and appropriately observed by all believers; that anointing with oil should be administered to the sick who call for it in faith; that marriage between one man and one woman is a divine institution dissoluble only by death, that on the part of a Christian it should be "only in the Lord," and that consistency requires that the marriage relation be entered only by those of like precious faith. Acts 2:38; 8:12; 18:8; Luke 22:19,20; I Cor. 11: 23-28; John 13:17; I Cor. 11:2-16; 16:20; Jas. 5:14-16; Mk. 10:6-12; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:39; Amos 3:3.

ARTICLE XIII.—Of Restrictions

We believe that all Christians should honor, pray for, pay tribute to, and obey in all things those who are in authority in state and nation, provided however, that should