The Apostolic Christian Church and The Schleitheim Confession

In the reading The Schleitheim Confession a bold claim stemming from Luther’s idea of Sola Scriptura is presented by the Anabaptist faith. Sola Scriptura primarily argues that ideas, which are not in the scripture, have no tolerance in the Church (The Schleitheim Confession, page 3). This particular writing is personally relevant to me, coming from a small farming community in Central Illinois where the Apostolic Christian Church is a dominant religious sect. Of the 90 congregations in the US, Japan, Mexico, and Canada, over 15 of the congregations are in Central Illinois alone (Apostolic Christian Church of America).

Seven articles are presented in The Schleitheim Confession that can be connected to everyday apostolic life. The first of which is baptism. In the argument for baptism diction such as “repentance,” “amendment,” and “resurrection” are used to emphasize the biblical significance, as well as six different passages from the New Testament (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4). The act of baptism not only to apostolic congregations, but all Anabaptists, is a sign of devotion and “true faith.” It is made very clear that babies are not to be baptized by saying it is “the greatest and first abomination” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4). This key because baptism is a public statement of “restitution for past wrongs” and the confession of sin (Apostolic Christian Church of America). In the apostolic church baptism is done in three parts. First, a person wishing to become a member must repent. This means they publicly stand in front of the congregation and confess all prior sins out loud and ask for forgiveness for each individual sin committed (Apostolic Christian Church of America). Then the immersion in water follows. As the reading points out, this is symbolic of the “burial” and “resurrection” of Christ (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4). The last step in the three-fold baptism includes the prayer where each elder lays a hand on the new member calling the Holy Spirit into the heart of the new believer (Apostolic Christian Church of America). The Schleitheim Confession emphasizes the importance of following baptismal tradition by saying “We wish to simply yet resolutely and with assurance to hold to the same” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4).

Article II “unites” followers on the ban. The reading makes clear that the ban is to be strictly followed when members “somehow slip and fall into error and sin, being inadvertently overtaken” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4). While the apostolic congregations aren’t as harsh as the Amish when it comes to “shunning,” they still follow the idea set forth in the The Schleitheim Confession to set themselves apart from those who walk in sin. Similar to excommunication, those who are banned no longer can participate in the sacred act of breaking bread. They are also seen as “outcasts” and cannot marry within the Church. The reading supports this by saying, “be publically admonished before the entire congregation according to the command of Christ” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 4).

The third article is also key in the Anabaptist faith. Saying those who desire to partake in communion “must beforehand be united in the one body of Christ, and that is the congregation of God” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 5). This is supported by Paul saying “all those who lie in evil have no part in the good” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 5). Apostolic congregations closely follow this practice. The first time one is allowed to partake in communion is only after they have been baptized and have joined the Church.

The rest of the The Schleitheim Confession includes articles that also are very important to everyday Apostolic life, particularly Article IV which deals with separation from that which is not of the Church. Perhaps this is the most interesting aspect of not only Apostolic Churches, but other Anabaptist sects as well. “We have been united concerning the separation that shall take place from the evil and the wickedness which the devil has planted in the world” sets the foundation for the separation of members of the Church from the rest of the community (The Schleitheim Confession, page6). While there are many different forms that this “shunning of evil” takes, in the Apostolic faith perhaps the most common form is that of dress. Apostolic women are only to dress in inexpensive and modest clothing. No makeup is permitted, and their hair must be long and gathered in a bun with a lace cloth covering of some sort. An emphasis is made saying, “gender distinction in attire and in general appearance is respectful to God” (Apostolic Christian Church of America). The Schleitheim Confession reflects support to this particular issue by saying “everything which has not been united with out God in Christ is nothing but an abomination which we should shun” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 6). Non-conformity to the world is key in the Anabaptist faith, “From all this we shall be separated and have no part with such” (The Schleitheim Confession, page 6).

There are so many interesting aspects to the Apostolic Church and doctrine, however The Schleitheim Confession’s first few Articles back the doctrine of the Church up really well. Apostolic congregations much like the argument presented in The Schleitheim Confession are built on scripture and the Word of God. I particularly enjoyed this reading because of all the “real life” connections that could be found and connected to my life back at home. While I myself am one of the few in my hometown that is not a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, this reading gave me a new appreciation for the beliefs that many of my friends practice.

Sources:

"Apostolic Christian Church of America." Apostolic Christian Church of America. 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. .

"The Schleitheim Confession." St. Matthew's Day. Schleitheim. 24 Feb. 1527. Address.