The Brethren in Christ are a people who have taken the Bible seriously. This marks their theology, which is biblical and life-centered rather than dogmatic and systematic. True, there are statements made about various theological issues, but the emphasis is on the life. One can observe that emphasis in each of the three streams of thought which make up the background.
There is the Anabaptist stream, with its roots in 16th century Europe and in 18th century America, when the denomination was founded. One reflection of this is the close alignment with the Mennonite Central Committee. There is the holiness stream coming into the denomination in the late 19th century and evident in involvement with the National Holiness Association. There is the evangelical stream which has come through the 20th century connection of the church with American evangelicals in the National Association of Evangelicals.
In spite of a diversity about theology in the church, represented basically by these three streams, there is still the concern about community consensus in biblical theology and life, that the community decides as a group on its beliefs.
From the Anabaptist heritage comes the stress on repentance in becoming a Christian. People do not merely decide for Jesus or try an experiment; they repent of their sins. The Christian life is viewed in terms of regeneration, a truly changed life, not a forensic righteousness.
The Anabaptists also stand for nonresistance, which has led to the development of a strong, service-oriented, alternate service. The principle that God conquers through the cross rather than in a military fashion is meant to affectthe life of the community. The anabaptist stress on separation from the world was a solution to political-spiritual tension. Separation was evident in speech, attire, social conduct, use of leisure time, business practices and in distinct, geographically close communities.
While separation from sin is stressed, the influence of the evangelical strand has been to turn the church outward so that it confronts the world and to provide for it new evangelism tools, like the Coral Ridge program.
The holiness influence is most marked in the idea of sanctification, the making holy of the life, where God is the one who sanctifies by changing a person's nature so that the old man is crucified, the body of sin destroyed and the heart circumcised. Deliverance from sin comes through the study of the Word (John 17:17) and through the cleansing work of Christ in one's own life (Ephesians 5:26).
These works are complemented by the encouraging work of the Spirit, who rarely is limited by chronological programs. Because the importance of the holy life style, there must be a way to a helping discipline within the church, through careful instructing of new members, by regular visitation of members and through the application of the procedure for Matthew 18.
Enthusiasm has also come through the holiness stress, in a kind of serendipity which is marked by joy and a dynamism in the presence of the Spirit.
