What does it take to be Charity? As requested by a reader
The Charity Movement is open to anyone who would like to join it. Due to the lack of church membership, if you want to join them, just start going to their churches until you feel like you belong. However, if you would like to know if you are specially suited to this group, then ask yourself these questions.
1) Was your father abusive or a Class A Hypocrite in your opinion?
2) Were you raised in some kind of Mennonite church, but never fit in?
3) Have you attended at least four churches from various denominations?
4) Are you dissatisfied with every church you have ever attended?
5) Do you have a deep-seated aversion to any form of church standards?
6) Do you like to dress in an extremely casual manner?
7) Do you prefer the cloth veiling to the traditional cap-style covering?
8 ) Do you believe that the straight-cut suit and the cape dress are to be shunned as the “traditions of man”?
9) Do you feel that the large majority of Mennonites and Amish in the world are unsaved?
10) Do you work in a tire shop, or some other occupation which causes you to get filthy?
11) Do you have a penchant for wearing bill caps, especially camoflauge bill caps?
12) Do you feel that you ought to have a family in excess of fourteen children?
13) Do you drive a van with more than two rust holes in it?
14) Do you believe that God’s plan is for a man to wear a beard which reaches, at minimum, the third button on his shirt?
15) Do you wear cowboy boots?
If you have answered yes to at least ten of these questions, than you are a prime candidate for the Charity church. I hope this helps all the dissatisfied Beachys out there who are weighing the cost of joining the “remnant.”
Score bonus points if you believe that Denny Kenaston is the best preacher and theologian since Menno Simons.
Score extra bonus points if you believe Denny Kenaston is the best preacher since the Apostle Paul.
HBB
x amish wrote,
Its good to have a funny blog again!!
Link | April 30th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Thebeachcomplexrabblerouser wrote,
Nice! lol!
Link | May 2nd, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Ivan Y wrote,
thanks for linking my article about beards.
Link | May 8th, 2007 at 12:28 am
Lonny90 wrote,
time for another post….
Link | May 17th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
x amish wrote,
what happened to the stories?? I need a funny!!
Link | May 23rd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Jake M wrote,
Just read your post on what it takes to join the charity remnant. From the looks of things, I would question whether you have ever even set foot in a charity church. I would also , question your (SANITY). But I suppose the world needs losers like you to balance the rest of us that DO know anything about matters?!!! Have a good one
Link | May 25th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
RagPicker wrote,
Blech to you too Jake M.
BTW, one minor pick. Charity DOES have standards. Big time. They also have written standards.
Link | June 14th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
HC wrote,
Don’t lump all Charity churches in one lump, please…They have written standards,believe me, and most of the churches have member ship.
Link | August 1st, 2007 at 12:16 am
Eldub wrote,
lol that is some serious mud throwing. super hilarious though. u must have been burned by some charity peepz somewhere along the way
Link | August 1st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Rocknmenno wrote,
Just read your post on what it takes to join the charity remnant. From the looks of things, I would say you have often set foot in a charity church. I would also say you have great insight and discernment. I suppose the world needs sharp minded guys like you to balance the rest of us that DO get hoodwinked by religious BS?!!! Have a good one
Link | August 7th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
HC wrote,
HBB & Rocknmenno, I really don’t appreciate the original post or the approving comments on it. And no, I am not a Charity church member. However, I do have a question for you…If someone posted something similarly deriding about your church, would you think it was funny? I think it’s high time the rest of we Plain people stop looking down our noses at the Charity churches. I totally agree with Jake M’s post…
Link | August 8th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Quinjotta wrote,
HC & Jake M, just calm down! If you are looking for a serious discussion on Beachys, Charitys, or any form of Mennonites or Amish in general, you are visiting the WRONG site. It’s satire. HBB has similarly derided the Beachys anyway. This entire site seems to deride the Beachys. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
P.S. Have a good one.
Link | August 11th, 2007 at 11:39 am
The Baritone wrote,
You guys (or maybe you’re girls, I don’t know) are so funny! Y’all are rebuking each other up and down the river, and then a lot of you close your post with “have a good one.” Ha ha!
By the way, have a good one. Heeheeheeheehee!
Link | August 12th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The Bass wrote,
I think this is hilarious! Finally someone who “gets it.” It’s not an attack on Charity or Beachy, just a funny website that’s pretty true. Have a good one.
Link | August 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Jordan wrote,
I’m new to this blog, and don’t particularly intend to return, as I just stumbled across it via a Google search. For those who frequent the blog, I must say that there does not need to be a “Christian” equivalent to every aspect of popular American culture. I am speaking, specifically of the course, critical joking that seems to be the very purpose of this blog. It’s all in good fun. We’re just getting together to say some really mean things about our former church, and maybe even our current one, or even ourselves with our tongue half in cheek.
It’s disgusting, and it is no surprise to me that this blog is intended for anabaptist young people. The instictive shame that would fill anyone’s conscience were they to make some of these comments in the presence of anyone over the age of fifty would, I guess, disqualify 90 percent of the words on this blog.
I live in inner-city Philadelphia in a neighborhood which is greatly fallen to the demon of Islam. The silliness of this joking does indeed show to the world that us Christians are just like everybody else.
Link | May 17th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Josh wrote,
Jordan, I agree with you whole-heartedly. It is a Christianity that is fake, superficial and hypocritical that causes people to turn to alternatives like Islam. We need to be building Christ’s church, not tearing it down as this blog (perhaps unintentionally) seems to be doing.
Link | May 18th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Chris wrote,
I wonder if the “Religious” folks of Jesus day thought that his temple cleansing excercises were “Upbuilding” or “Tearing Down” in nature? I do not “totally agree” with the contents of this blog, nor would I recommend it as “wholesome upbuilding pie in the sky everyone be happy and love each other” material. For it isn’t that, nor is it meant to be. However if you are looking for the way “NON MENNONITE” folks may feel, or perhaps are in search of some honest criticism of your CHURCH then you may be in the right place. This is not a “Call to Heathenism”. This is more like a “Did You Ever Think That What Your Church Is Doing Might Look Like This?” If what you stand for is right and good and above reproach then the comments on this blog will not offend you. If you are offended it may be because something has hit home. “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” ACTS 7:54 Who was in the wrong? Steven? HE OFFENDED THEM!!! I’m SURE he wasn’t SAVED!
Link | May 20th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Josh wrote,
If we compare the words of Steven with the words of the writer of this blog, we will discover a chasm of epic proportions. Also, if we are going to tear down a system/ideology/methodology, I think we owe it to our audience to provide an alternative. Otherwise the exercise is pointless.
Just my 2¢
Link | May 21st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Chris wrote,
If you only read Steven’s words in verses 51-53 the chasm of epic porportions, of which you speak, disappears. It sounds a whole lot like name calling and finger pointing to me. And I don’t hear any “Alternative” offered by Steven in the entire speech. The problem with comparing people in the bible to modern people is that the bible often offers “God Commentary” on the actions, thereby giving us His insight on what is happening.
I think I can safely say if I rebuked ANYONE by saying, “You are stiffnecked and uncircumsised in your heart and ears and you are always resisting the Holy Ghost etc…….. I would be “Gnashed on with teeth” so to speak. REGARDLESS of the validity of my criticisms.
Steven is condemning them, plain and simple. And they are MAD plain and simple. If the “God Commentary” on these verses spoke of Steven being consumed with fire from heaven we would not have any preachers wondering why. They would hold him up as a prime example of saying the “Right thing in the wrong way”. And, anyhow, is there anywhere in the Bible where God punishes or scolds or even references the fact that, “While what you said was true, you had a bad attitude and didn’t provide an alternative, therefore you need to repent.”? I know of no such passage. And I can think of other SCATHING rebukes which God does not rebuke, but seems to approve of. By the way, it was interesting that you somehow failed to reference your thoughts on Jesus Temple cleansing excercises. What alternative did he offer?
Link | May 21st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Chris wrote,
I know some folks run from idea exchanges like this and call it pointless. That is part of what motivates me to write. Is what I have defendable? Is it right? If I never except any other ideas how will I know? I just find the Steven passage fascinating, because I can not imagine ANY preacher today calling out someones sin like that. And it seems nobody wants to acknowledge that Steven talked to them in a way we would call tearing down. Definitely not building up.
Link | May 21st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Josh wrote,
I applaud idea exchanges. In both cases (stoning of Steven, and the temple cleansing), there was an alternative given. The life and work of Christ was the alternative to the hypocrisy of the Jews. In both instances, the people being rebuked could have repented and turned to Christ (one of them did and became one of the greatest Christian missionaries who ever lived). I’m all for re-examining our beliefs to be sure that we are grounded in Truth, regardless of our ethnic and cultural idiosyncrasies. I just don’t feel that parodies and satire are the best methods of doing this. But, a chacun son gout.
Link | May 22nd, 2009 at 6:22 am
Chris wrote,
And the best method would be?
Link | May 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Chris wrote,
By the way, there may have been an alternative in the above referenced cases, but could you please show me where Steven or Jesus offered it to their audience? Somehow I missed that part.
Link | May 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Chris wrote,
Calling Josh…………… Hello, are you there? I am waiting…………………………..
Link | July 30th, 2009 at 11:36 am
the black douglas wrote,
This is so funny.. and true.. I was just a normal american teenager whose parents went mennonite on me.. I only lasted 6 months.. but this stuff is awsome
Link | July 30th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Josh wrote,
Chris, I’m back…
The alternative would be to hold up non-hypocritical Christianity as an example to follow, instead of criticizing a culture/lifestyle without providing a better alternative.
Link | July 31st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Chris wrote,
Sounds good. I have only one question. How? How do you hold up an example of non-hypocritical christianity without criticizing the hypocritical christianity that exists around you. And, in criticizing said hypocrites, don’t you hold up a defacto or, PLAIN TO SEE, alternative? DON’T be like this implies what? Be like the opposite! Do something different! Search for a better way! Christianity, by it’s nature, is not a TO DO LIST, or a CREED. It is a relationship of love with a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord! I believe that is the alternative. But, I am still waiting to hear how Jesus or Steven verbally offered this to their audiences. And the reason I am still waiting is, because they didn’t! They criticized the hypocrites, that’s all! It’s so plain to see what the hypocrites course of action should be they did NOT need to explain it!
Link | August 4th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Josh wrote,
Though the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus does include some criticism, it’s teachings in practical Christian living coupled with the life that Jesus lived as a perfect example overshadows any of the negative criticizing moments that Jesus spent talking about the religious leaders of his day. Steven also spent most of his time in the one sermon we have recorded, explaining who Jesus was by retelling the Jews history that pointed to Christ as the perfect example, then briefly criticized the Jews for doing away with their Messiah.
Link | August 5th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Chris wrote,
Well said! And from knowing the authors on this site personally, I would say this is where they attempt to, “Briefly Criticize”. And they spend the rest of their time searching for a way to help people see practical ways of living the christian live. However, as they are not perfect, (as Jesus was) they are subject to mistakes in their attempts at both. As we all are.
P.S. If you categorize saying to someone, “You are stiffnecked, and always resist the Holy Ghost” as, “Brief Criticism”, this site may not even be contain any “Brief Criticism”.
Link | August 7th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Chris wrote,
oops…….
Link | August 7th, 2009 at 4:09 pm