Questions and Answers

Question 1. Is separation a command, or is it a counsel of God?

Answer. Let everyone weigh the words of Christ and of Paul referred to above, and he will discover whether it is a divine commandment or a counsel. Everything Paul says about separation he generally says in the imperative mood; that is, in a commanding manner. Expurgo, that is, purge, First Corinthians 5, verse 7. Profligo, that is, drive out. Sejungere, that is, withdraw from, First Timothy 6, verse 5. Fuge, that is, flee, Titus 3, verse 9. Again, “We command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Second Thessalonians 3, verse 6. I think, brothers, these Scriptures show that it is a command; and even if it were not a command but an advice of God, should we not diligently follow such advice? If my spirit despises the counsel of the Holy Spirit, then I truly acknowledge that my spirit is not of God. And what end many have come to who did not follow God’s Spirit but their own may be read in many passages of sacred history, and may be seen in many instances at the present time.

Question 2. If a person should not maintain this ban and yet be pious otherwise, should such a one be banned on that account?

Answer. Whoever is pious will show his piety in obedience, and will not knowingly or willfully despise and disregard the word, commandment, will, counsel, admonition and doctrine of God. For if anyone willfully keeps commercium (association, company) with those whose company Scripture forbids us to keep, then we must conclude that he despises the word of God; indeed, that he is in open rebellion and defiance (I speak of those who know and acknowledge it well, and yet do so). “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry,” First Samuel 15, verse 23.

The Scriptures admonish and command that we shall not associate with such, nor eat with them, nor greet them, nor receive them into our houses, and so on. If, then, somebody should say, I will associate with them, I will eat with them, I will greet them in the Lord and receive them into my house, he would plainly prove that he did not fear the commandment and admonition of the Lord but despised it, that he rejected the Holy Spirit, and that he trusted, honored and followed his own opinion rather than the word of God. Now judge for yourself what kind of sin it is to be unwilling to hear and obey God’s word. Paul says, “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which you received from us”; again, “And if any man does not obey our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed,” Second Thessalonians 3, verses 6 and 14. Since the ban was so strictly commanded by the Lord and practiced by the apostles, Matthew 18, verse 17, we must also use it and obey it, since we are thus taught and enlightened by God; otherwise we ourselves should be shunned by the church of God. This must be acknowledged.

Question 3. Should husband and wife shun each other on account of the ban, and also parents and children?

Answer. First, the rule of the ban is a general rule and excepts no one; neither husband nor wife, nor parent nor child. For God’s judgment judges all flesh with the same judgment and knows no respect of persons. Since the rule of the ban is general, excepts no one, and is no respecter of persons, it is right and necessary to hear and obey the word of the Lord in this respect, whether it be husband or wife, parents or children, Romans 2, verse 11; Galatians 6, verse 1; Ephesians 6, verse 9; Colossians 3, verse 25; James 2, verse 4; First Peter 1, verse 17.

Secondly we say that separation must be made by the church; and therefore the husband must consent and vote with the church in the separation of his wife, and the wife in the separation of her husband. If the pious spouse must give his consent, then it is also fitting that he also shun her, with the church; for what use is the ban if shunning and avoiding are not joined to it? First Corinthians 5, verse 3.

Thirdly we say that the ban was instituted to make people ashamed unto reformation. Do not understand this shame as the world is ashamed, but understand it as in the conscience; and therefore let it be done with all discretion, reasonableness and love. If, then, the husband or wife, parent or child is judged in the church, in the name of Christ and by virtue of Christ, to be banned, it becomes us (since the evangelical ban is unto reformation), according to the counsel of the Holy Spirit, to seek the reformation of our own body, namely, of our spouse, and also of our nearest relatives, such as parent or child; for spiritual love must be preferred to anything else. Apart from this I would care for them and provide them with the temporal necessities of life as far as it was in my power.

Fourthly we say that the ban was given so that we should not be leavened by the degenerate with the leaven of false doctrine or of unclean flesh. And since it is plain that no one can corrupt and leaven us more than our own spouses, parents and so on, the Holy Spirit counsels us to shun them, lest they leaven our faith and so make us ashamed before God. If we love husband or wife, parent or child more than Christ Jesus, we cannot possibly be the disciples of Christ, Matthew 10, verse 37; Luke 14, verse 26.

Some object to this, saying that there is no divorce except by reason of adultery. This is just what we say; and therefore we do not speak of divorce but of shunning, and that for the reasons mentioned before. To shunning Paul has decidedly consented, First Corinthians 7, verse 10, although it is not always coupled with adultery; but not to divorce. For Scripture does not allow divorce except by reason of adultery, Matthew 5, verse 32; Luke 6, verse 18; therefore we shall never consent to it for other reasons. [Note 1]

Therefore we understand that the husband should shun his wife, the wife her husband, parents their children and children their parents, when they fall away. For the rule of the ban is general. They must consent with the church to the sentence on them, they must seek their scriptural shame unto reformation, and they must diligently watch lest they be leavened by them, as was said above.

Beloved in the Lord, I would here sincerely beg you to make a difference between commandment and commandment, and not to consider all commandments equally heavy. For adultery, idolatry, shedding blood and similar shameful and abominable works of the flesh will be punished more severely than a misunderstanding about the ban, particularly when it is not committed willfully and perversely. Therefore take care in this matter of marriage that you press no one further than he is taught by God and than he can bear in his conscience, and so boil the kid in its mother’s milk, Exodus 23, verse 19; Exodus 34, verse 26; Deuteronomy 14, verse 21. On every hand the Scriptures teach that we should bear with the weak. Brothers, it is a delicate matter. I know too well what has come of pressing this matter too far, by some in my time, Romans 15, verse 1; Galatians 6, verse 4. Therefore I advise you to point everyone to the sure and certain ground. And those consciences which are free and unencumbered through the Scripture and the Holy Spirit will freely, without anyone’s interference, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and not by human urging, do what he advises, teaches and commands in the Holy Scripture, if it should happen that either spouse is banned. For truly I know that whoever obeys the Holy Spirit with a faithful heart will never be put to shame.

Question 4. Should we greet one who is banned with the common, everyday greeting, or return his greeting? For John says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor bid him God speed; for he who bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds,” Second John, verses 10 and 11.

Answer. Mildness, politeness, respectfulness and friendliness toward all people become all Christians. If, then, an apostate should greet me with the common greeting of Good Morning or Good Day and I should be silent; if he should be respectful to me and I should turn my face from him and bear myself harshly and unfriendly toward him, I might well be ashamed of myself, as Syrach says. For how can such a one be convinced, led to repentance and moved to do better by such harshness? The ban is not given to destroy but to build up. If it should be said that John has forbidden such greeting, I for my part would say that, before my God, I cannot understand that John said this about the everyday greeting. Rather he says that if some deceiver who has left the doctrine of Christ should come to us, we should not receive such a one into our houses, lest he deceive us; and that we should not greet him as a brother, lest we have communion with him. But it is not so with the worldly greeting. For if the worldly greeting had such power in itself that it brought about communion with the vain works of those whom I greet, then it must follow that I would have communion with the adultery, fornication, drunkenness, greed, idolatry and bloodshed of the world whenever I greeted a worldly man with the common greeting or returned his courtesy. O no. But the greeting or kiss of peace signifies communion. Yet if anyone should have scruples of conscience in this matter, I do not dispute about it with such a one. For it is not worth contending about. But I would much rather see all scruples about this matter removed, and have Christian discretion, love, politeness and respectfulness practiced, to building up, and not unbecoming stubbornness, unfriendliness, malice and unmercifulness, to the destruction of our fellow man. Brothers, beware of discord. The Lord grant every God-fearing person a wholesome understanding of his holy word. Amen.

Question 5. Are we allowed to show the banned any charity, love and mercy?

Answer. Everyone should consider, first, the exact meaning of the word commercium (association, communion).

Secondly, for what reason and purpose the ban was ordained by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.

Thirdly, how a true, regenerated Christian is minded.

Fourthly, how the merciful Father himself acts toward those who already deserve his judgment and wrath.

All who can rightly see into these things will doubtless not deny charity, love and mercy to the banned. For the word commercium does not forbid these; it forbids daily company, conversation, society and business, as was explained above. The ban is also a work of divine love, and not of perverse, unmerciful, heathenish cruelty. A true Christian will serve, aid and have compassion on everybody; indeed, even on his most bitter enemies. Harshness, cruelty and unmercifulness he sincerely hates. He has a nature like his Father, of whom he is born: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” If I, then, am of a different nature, I show that I am not his child.

Therefore I say with our faithful brother Dietrick Philip that we should not practice the ban to the destruction of people (as the Pharisees did their Sabbath) but to their improvement; and so we desire to serve the bodies of the fallen in love, reasonableness and humility with our temporal goods when necessary, and their souls with the spiritual goods of the Holy Word; and we should rather show mercy to the wounded man with the Samaritan than pass him by with the priest and the Levite. James says, “For he shall have judgment without mercy who has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.” “Therefore be merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” James 2, verse 13; Luke 16, verse 36; Matthew 5, verse 7. In short, if we understand the true meaning of the word commercium; understand for what reason and purpose the ban was instituted; understand how a true Christian is and should be minded; and conform ourselves to the example of Christ and of God, then the matter is clear. And if we do not have this grace, we will shamefully err in this ban and be cruel, unmerciful Christians; from which error and abomination may the gracious Father eternally save all his beloved children. [Note 2]

Brothers, I tell the truth and do not lie when I say that I sincerely hate such unmerciful and cruel-mindedness. Nor do I wish to be considered a brother of such unmerciful, cruel brothers, if there should be any, unless they leave off such abomination and discreetly follow the example of God and Christ in love and mercy. For my heart cannot consent to such unmerciful action, which exceeds the cruelty of the heathen and the Turks; and by the grace of God I will fight against it with the sword of the Lord until death. For it is against the doctrine of the New Testament, and contrary to the Spirit, mind and nature of God and Christ, according to which all the Scriptures of the New Testament should be judged and understood. All who do not understand it so are already in great error.

But if my necessary service, charity, love and mercy should become a commercium, or if my soul should thereby be led into corruption, then we confess (the Lord must be glorified) that our daily association is forbidden in the Scripture, and that it is better to leave off our charity, love and mercy than to ensnare our souls by them and lead them into error. The anointing of the Holy Spirit will teach us what we had best do in these matters.

Question 6. Are we allowed to sell to and buy from the apostates, since Paul says that we should not associate with them; and yet the disciples bought food in Sychar, and the Jews dealt with the Gentiles? John 4, verse 5.

Answer. That the apostles bought food in Sychar proves nothing at all; for many of the Samaritans were a remnant of the ten tribes, as we have sufficiently shown above from the Holy Scripture. But we do not deny that the Jews dealt with the Gentiles; yet they shunned their commercium, that is, their daily association, company and conversation, and did not eat or drink with them, as the writings of the evangelist show sufficiently and plainly in many passages of Scripture.

Christ points us to the Jewish ban or shunning, namely, that as they shunned the Gentiles and sinners, so we should likewise shun an apostate Christian; and the Jews had dealings with them, although they shunned daily association with them in company, fellowship and conversation. Therefore we say that we cannot maintain, either from the Jewish example to which Christ points or from any explicit Scripture, that we should not deal with the apostate in any manner, if no such daily association arises from it. For such association with the apostate is strictly prohibited by Scripture; and since it is prohibited, it is plain that a pious, God-fearing Christian could have no apostate as a regular buyer or seller. For since I must daily get my cloth, bread, corn, salt and so on, and exchange my grain, butter and so on for them, association cannot fail to arise from it. But with trading which is carried on without such association this is not the case.

And because Scripture does not require us to avoid such trading, carried on without association, as was said, we would beg all God-fearing brothers and sisters in the Lord, for the sake of God and of love, to act in this matter, as in all others, as reasonable, good, discreet, wise and prudent Christians, and not as vain, reckless, self-conceited, proud, obstinate and offensive boasters. For a true Christian should always strive after what is best and surest, and follow pure, unfeigned love, lest he abuse the freedom which he seems to have, to the injury and hindrance of his own soul, to the affliction and destruction of his beloved brothers, to the scornful boasting of the perverse, and to the shameful blemishing of the Holy Word and of the afflicted church of Christ. Besides, I pray and desire in the same way that no one will in the least be offended at his brother in this, or misjudge him and judge him by an unscriptural judgment, since in this case he has no reproving example among the Jews nor any forbidding word [in the Scriptures].

O my sincerely beloved brothers! Let us sincerely pray for understanding and wisdom, that all misunderstanding, error, jealousy, offense, division and unfounded reports may at last be rooted out, root and branch, and that a wholesome understanding, doctrine, friendship, love, edification and opinion may be restored and prevail. Let everyone look with pure eyes and impartial hearts to the example to which Christ points, and to the wholesome, natural meaning of the holy apostles, and let true Christian love always prevail; and he will know, by the grace of God, how he should act in this matter.

Question 7. Are we allowed to sit with an apostate in a ship or wagon, or to eat with them at the table of a tavern?

Answer. The first part of this question, namely, sitting with an apostate in a ship or vehicle when the captain or driver is not an apostate, we consider childish and useless, since this so often happens without association, and must happen. As to the second part, namely, eating at the table with an apostate while traveling, we can point the questioner to no surer ground and answer than this: we advise, beg and admonish every pious Christian, as he loves Christ and his word, to fear God sincerely and follow the most certain way, that is, not to eat beside him or with him; for no one can be deceived by that. And if perhaps some God-fearing brother should do so, then let everyone take care lest he sin against his brother by an unscriptural judgment; for no one may judge unless he has the judging word on his side.

Whoever fears God, whoever desires to follow his holy word with all his strength, loves his brother, seeks to avoid all offense and desires to walk in the house of God in all peace and unity, will act justly in all things and will not offend or afflict his brothers.

Question 8. Who, according to Scripture, should be banned or excommunicated?

Answer. Christ says, Matthew 18, verses 15 to 17, If your brother trespasses against you, and so on, and will not hear you, nor the witnesses, nor the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican. And Paul: “If any man who is called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one do not even eat,” First Corinthians 5, verse 11; Jeremiah 16, verse 8. To this class also belong perjurers, thieves, violent persons, haters, fighters, and all those who walk in open, well-known, damnable works of the flesh, of which Paul lists a great many, Romans 1, verse 29; Galatians 5, verse 19; First Corinthians 6, verse 9; Ephesians 5, verse 5. Again, disorderly persons, who do not work at all but are busybodies; those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and his apostles and do not walk in it, but are disobedient, Second Thessalonians 3, verses 11 and 14. Again, masters of sects. Again, those who give offense and cause dispute and discord concerning the doctrine of Christ and of his apostles.

In short, all those who openly lead a shameful, carnal life, and those who are corrupted by a heretical, unclean doctrine, Titus 3, verse 10, and who will not be overcome by the wine and oil of the Holy Spirit, but remain obstinate in their corrupt walk and opinion after they have been admonished and sought to be won back in all love and reasonableness. They should at last, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that is, by the binding word of God, be separated from the church of Christ reluctantly but unanimously, and afterward, according to the Scriptures, be shunned in all divine obedience until they repent, Romans 16, verse 16; Galatians 5, verse 16; First Timothy 5, verse 24; First Timothy 6, verse 3.

Most beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, as we hinted at the beginning of this admonition, and as you are all aware, for some years there has been much division and discord concerning the ban, by which Christian love has been and still is much hindered. Therefore I have endeavored (since I see that this is carried on without the foundation of the word, without reason and discretion, and without the nature of Christ Jesus and his holy gospel, both in strictness and in leniency, to the ensnaring of many consciences, as everyone asserts and follows his own view as the best; I have endeavored, I say, to advise all my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord who seek the lovely peace and unity, not to seek more or less than the Scriptures teach, show and require) to write this explanation of the ban or separation, compiled with the greatest care from the Holy Scriptures and for the promotion of the peace of all the pious children of God. And I trust before God that this will satisfy all humble, peaceable consciences; for, see, I seek nothing before God through Christ Jesus except that these unscriptural proceedings and mournful disputes concerning the ban, both in strictness and in leniency, may be ended by it, and that the noble, glorious peace and unity in Christ Jesus may remain unbroken and undamaged.

Although I have written this out of pure love and have upheld the peace according to the true nature and direction of the Holy Word, as before my God who shall judge me at the last day, yet I know that some will not thank me for it; for to some it will be too strict, and to others too lenient. But I must bear this, as I have done these fifteen years. Still, I would beg you, for the sake of the merits of the precious blood of my Lord Jesus Christ, that if anyone should find fault with this my treatise, whether on account of its mildness or its strictness, he do so only by the authority of the Word, Spirit and life of the Lord, and not recklessly and without thought, lest he go wrong. Whatever anyone can advance and prove by these I will gladly hear and obey; but I dare not go higher or lower, be stricter or more lenient, than the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teach me; and that out of great fear and anxiety of my conscience, lest I again burden God-fearing hearts, who have now renounced the commandments of men, with those commandments. Self-conceit and human opinions I hate, nor do I desire them; for I know what tribulation and affliction they have caused me for many years.

Sincerely beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus! Understand my writings rightly, and faithfully follow this my advice, explanation, understanding and admonition, and you will doubtless find great peace and joy (as far as separation is concerned) among all the brothers; but whoever rejects them, let him take heed, for he will one day meet his Judge.

In short, this is my inward and outward faith, foundation and confession concerning separation, which I have never before written and published with such clearness and minuteness. But now necessity urges me; and with this my faith, foundation and confession, which I have held so from the beginning, I desire to die in Christ Jesus and to appear before the throne of God; for I am aware that it is the most important showing of separation which can be explained and taught to God-fearing consciences from the Holy Scriptures. Therefore I ask all my brothers and sisters in the Lord to leave me in peace about this matter and not to trouble me further; for, by the grace of God, nothing will be heard from my lips except what my writings teach and imply.

Let every brother seek the wholesome understanding of the word of Christ and of his apostles with a humble spirit, in brotherly love and in Christian peace, and he will doubtless drive back all unscriptural dispute and discord and sincerely follow the true, God-pleasing unity.

May the Almighty, merciful Father, through his blessed Son Christ Jesus, grant all brothers and sisters the heavenly gift of the Holy Spirit, that there may be an end to this sad dispute and discord, and that so they may become one sound body, bound together with the perfect bond of unfeigned Christian love in fitting, steady peace in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, I beg you by the bloody wounds of my Lord Jesus Christ to beware of dispute and discord, and to receive this my labor with affectionate hearts; for I have written it in true Christian love for your service, as before God in Christ Jesus.

MENNO SIMON.

In the year 1550.