Different Views of the Nature of Humanity

“In many ways, a problem’s definition determines its solution. Because the problem of the Fall is understood differently in Western Christianity than in Orthodoxy, the solutions offered in both the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches differ from those of the Orthodox Church. In the West, a number of soteriological views (doctrines of salvation) have developed that seek to explain how man’s fallen position, status or relationship with God is repaired. The Orthodox Church of the East would for the most part reject these views, not only because some elements of them cannot be found in Scriptures and writings of the church fathers, but because they distort the Christian understanding of God’s love and His salvation.”

Rev. Bernstein is often contrasting Eastern Orthodoxy with the Western Christian point of views. Of course, he is not including the Anabaptist strains, because it is assumed that they are Protestant in every significant way. However, they are not. Anabaptism allows different points of view on many things other Protestants hold firmly. Anabaptism asks questions other Protestants don’t because they are not strictly Augustinian, as Protestants clearly are and Catholics tend to be (though not exclusively). Anabaptism emerges from a number of traditions, including the Benedictine and the radical eschatological points of view.

For Anabaptists, this means that we can either let ourselves be engulfed by the theological fads of our day (as many Mennonites tend to do), or we can ask new questions of Scripture, and attempt to create a new kingdom theology with each generation, as each generation seems to need a new kingdom theology.

So with the fall, some Mennonites are pretty Calvinist in outlook—total depravity and every human is born going to hell. Some—perhaps most— Mennonites are Wesleyan in view, where God and us work together for our salvation, but all initial effort is on God’s side. Some ignore the idea all together.

In a kingdom perspective, I tend to think that our “depravity” is more from being born in an evil society more than anything else. We sin because it makes more sense for us to act in ambition and self-interest than to act in love. God, I believe, will offer salvation to anyone who lives in love, but every society on earth is opposed to consistently acting in love. To act in love is an act of rebellion. Thus, to gain salvation, we must be a part of a society in which acting in love is normative. This is the salvation that Jesus offers—a new kingdom with Him at the head. This is a kingdom viewpoint. Which, we will see, is very similar to the Orthodox viewpoint, but has some differences as well.