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

Christian doctrine Christian theology is the theology of Christian belief and practice. Such study concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Christian tradition. Christian theologians use biblical exeg ...

based on , and other verses of the

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

that became important among different

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

groups, especially among

Anabaptists Anabaptism (from Neo-Latin , from the Greek : 're-' and 'baptism', german: Täufer, 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 corresponding

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

word used by Anabaptists is ''Absonderung''. Nonconformity is primarily expressed through the practices of

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

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. Not only is ...

Biblical basis

*"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." *"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate." *"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." *"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." *"That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." *"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." *"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."

History

Even though not unique to

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

Christians (such as

Mennonite Mennonites are groups of Anabaptist Christian church communities of denominations. The name is derived from the founder of the movement, Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland. Through his writings about Reformed Christianity during the Radic ...

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 The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848. The Exclusive Brethren are now divided i ...

and the Church of God (Restoration). 20th century minister and religious radio broadcaster

Carl McIntire Carl Curtis McIntire, Jr. (May 17, 1906 – March 19, 2002), known as Carl McIntire, was a founder and minister in the Bible Presbyterian Church, founder and long-time president of the International Council of Christian Churches and the Amer ...

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 garment traditionally worn by women or girls consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). It consists of a top piece that covers ...

, the use of technology like

horse and buggy ] A horse and buggy (in American English) or horse and carriage (in British English and American English) refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two h ...

transportation instead of cars, the rejection of Social aspects of television, television and radio, the use of language, that is German dialects like Pennsylvania German, Plautdietsch and others instead of English or Spanish,

nonresistance Nonresistance (or non-resistance) is "the practice or principle of not resisting authority, even when it is unjustly exercised". At its core is discouragement of, even opposition to, physical resistance to an enemy. It is considered as a form of pri ...

, 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 Old Order Anabaptism encompasses those groups which have preserved the old ways of Anabaptist Christian religion and lifestyle. Historically, an Old Order movement emerged in the second half of the 19th century among the Amish, Mennonites of So ...

, the "Russian" Mennonites the

Hutterite Hutterites (german: link=no, Hutterer), 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 ...

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

Methodism

Methodist theology 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, such as the Evangelical Methodist Church Conference, which in its 2017 Book of Discipline, teaches:

Quakerism

References

Literature

* 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