Nonconformity to the world, also called separation from the world, is a

Christian doctrine Christian theology is the theology – the systematic study of the divine and religion – of Christianity, Christian belief and practice. It concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Ch ...

based on Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 6:17 and other verses of the

New Testament The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...

that became important among different

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

groups, especially among Wesleyans and

Anabaptists Anabaptism (from Neo-Latin , from the Greek : 're-' and 'baptism'; , earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re-baptizers"), considering it biased. The term (tra ...

. The corresponding German word used by Anabaptists is . Nonconformity is primarily expressed through the practices of

plain dress Plain dress is a practice among some religious groups, primarily some Christianity, Christian churches in which people dress in clothes of traditional modest design, sturdy fabric, and conservative cut. It is intended to show acceptance of trad ...

and

simple living Simple living refers to practices that promote simplicity in one's lifestyle. Common practices of simple living include reducing the number of possessions one owns, depending less on technology and services, and spending less money. In addition t ...

Biblical basis

Among the verses of the

used to support the concept of nonconformity to the world are: *"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) *"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate." (2 Corinthians 6:17) *"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) *"Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:3) *"That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15) *"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." (1 Peter 2:9) *"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

History

Even though not unique to Wesleyan and

Anabaptist Anabaptism (from Neo-Latin , from the Greek language, Greek : 're-' and 'baptism'; , earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re-baptizers"), considering it biased. ...

Christians (such as

Mennonite Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

s), the concept of nonconformity has found an unusually intense and detailed application among these groups. Other groups that practice forms of separation from the world are the Exclusive Brethren and the Church of God (Restoration). 20th-century minister and religious radio broadcaster Carl McIntire stressed the doctrine of nonconformity to the world.

Practice by Christian denomination

Anabaptism

Among traditional Anabaptist groups nonconformity is practiced in relation to

dress A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a one-piece outer garment that is worn on the torso, hangs down over the legs, and is primarily worn by women or girls. Dresses often consist of a bodice attached to a skirt. Dress shapes, silh ...

, the use of technology like horse and buggy transportation instead of cars, the rejection of

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

and radio, the use of language, that is

German dialects German dialects are the various traditional local varieties of the German language. Though varied by region, those of the southern half of Germany beneath the Benrath line are dominated by the geographical spread of the High German consonant s ...

like Pennsylvania German,

Plautdietsch Plautdietsch () or Mennonite Low German is a Low Prussian dialect of East Low German with Dutch influence that developed in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Vistula delta area of Royal Prussia. The word ''Plautdietsch'' translates to "fl ...

and others instead of English, Spanish, or French, nonresistance, avoidance of oaths, avoidance of lawsuits, and other questions. Anabaptist groups that practice nonconformity to the world today, belong either to the Old Order Movement, the "Russian" Mennonites the

Hutterite Hutterites (; ), also called Hutterian Brethren (German: ), are a communal ethnoreligious branch of Anabaptists, who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the early 16th century and have formed intent ...

s or the Bruderhof. These groups live either in Canada and the US or in Latin America ("Russian" Mennonites).

Methodism

Methodist theology Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles ...

traditionally emphasizes the scriptural injunction "be ye separate", which lessens temptation. The doctrine of separation from the world continues to be emphasized by Methodist connexions in the

conservative holiness movement The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Fri ...

, such as the

Evangelical Methodist Church Conference The Evangelical Methodist Church (EMC) is a Christian denomination in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The denomination reported 399 churches in the United States, Mexico, Burma/Myanmar, Canada, Philippine ...

, which in its 2017

Book of Discipline A Book of Discipline (or in its shortened form Discipline) is a book detailing the beliefs, standards, doctrines, canon law, and polity of a particular Christian denomination. They are often re-written by the governing body of the church concern ...

, teaches:

Quakerism

References

Sources

* John C. Wenger: ''Separated unto God: a Plea for Christian Simplicity of Life and for a Scriptural Nonconformity to the World''. Scottdale, PA 1951.

External links

Separation and Nonconformity Colloquy Essays (FBEP) -PDF
{{Anabaptists Anabaptism Mennonitism