Comments on: We really need a Neo-Anabaptist Confession

By: thejesusevent

thejesusevent — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:41:39 +0000

I think we also need to speak about who and what the Holy Spirit is. Without jumping into a Trinitarian debate, there seems to either be strong associations with the Holy Spirit, or a total ignoring of it. I also wish to see the language for the Church go broader than any denominational manifestation, and as a result of Christendom, I’d also like to see a conversation about the empowerment of all believers rather than simply doing what everyone else does in demarcating have’s and have-nots when it comes to ordination, licensing, etc. I like the emphasis of the last point you made, and would also like to see it embrace more than just Creation care, but also the timelessness of the Church, where we are bound together past, present, and future in Christ.

By: tristaanogre

tristaanogre — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:58:51 +0000

ChrisMorton82 Go right ahead! I am on FB as well at http://www.facebook.com/tristaanogre so feel free to “friend” me if you haven’t already and I’d be happy to even join in directly.

By: ChrisMorton82

ChrisMorton82 — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:47:11 +0000

tristaanogre Good admonishment, Tristan 😉 Thanks for the examples. I look forward to researching and learning more about this approach to being sent!
What I want to avoid is the kind of unnecessary moral codes that lead to separatism. This isn’t an anabaptist problem. You have conservative Pentecostals that don’t allow make-up, baptists that don’t allow dancing, churches of Christ that don’t allow instruments and conservative anabaptist who eschew technology.
IMHO, such moral codes work are the work of Christendom, where denominations try to contrast from each other. A missional stance always holds in tension the need to be an incarnated, indigenous cultural movement with the need to be a contrast community.
I’d like to share your comments with the interesting convo we’re having about this on https://www.facebook.com/chrismorton82/posts/994244749101?comment_id=4107927&offset=0&total_comments=22&notif_t=share_comment.

By: tristaanogre

tristaanogre — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 12:59:03 +0000

ChrisMorton82 tristaanogre Well, to be honest, your first point is not necessarily true of Anabaptists… it may be true of the more radical sects like Amish and conservative Mennonites, but it is not true of Anabaptists in general. “Love your neighbor” does not lead a people to separatism… it sends people to do God’s work. This has been the case from day 1.
Consider Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Missions Board, Mennonite Disaster Service, Mennonite Voluntary Service. Google those resources and you’ll see how the Mennonite Church in USA and Canada (and those are just a few “official” examples) has been all about engaging the world and society around us in “real” ways, not just preaching on a street corner.
Consider 1-W service during the 20th century wars… there is a former mental hospital in Connecticut… right around the Sandy Hook area, actually… that during the wars was almost exclusively personelled by Mennonites seeking alternative service to the military… and it was through their work, really, that changes in practices for the mentally ill (more humane treatment, etc) came about.
I can’t necessarily hand you a book and say “Here, read this…” But I do know, as a Mennonite growing up in the Mennonite church, steeped in Anabaptism, Anabaptism has always been about leading lives that impact the world around us. So, to accuse historical Anabaptism of missing a “missional” element I think is a bit false… perhaps, as mentioned, some sects are that way, but when diving into what Anabaptism teaches… that radical following of Jesus’ way… it’s hard to see how one can be an Anabaptist and NOT have a feeling of being “sent”.

By: ChrisMorton82

ChrisMorton82 — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 21:27:37 +0000

tristaanogre I’ve read and appreciate Murray, and only skimmed Bender. Do you agree that there is a missing “missional” element? There seems to be a lack of emphasis on how to engage with the broader world. I think we need a fair share skepticism about culture, but total withdraw (ie-Amish) fails to reach the world Jesus sends us into.
Could you introduce me to resources/thinking on mission from an Anabaptist perspective?