Recognising that many who stumble across this website are unfamiliar with anabaptist Christianity, I find a word or two of explaination is helpful every now and then.
With this in mind I would like to draw attention to a simple sketch of anabaptist Christianity drawn from the appendix of Palmer Becker’s primer: What is an Anabaptist Christian?
|
| Core Value 1: JESUS is the center of our faith
|
| |
||||
| Many Christians emphasize: | Anabaptist Christians emphasize: | ||||||
| 1. Christ’s death | 1. Christ’s life | ||||||
| Many Christians focus primarily on the holiness of God and the need for personal salvation. They emphasize “Christ came to die” and focus less on the life, teachings and empowering Spirit of Jesus. Christianity is primarily forgiveness. | Anabaptist Christians affirm the holiness and forgiving grace of God, but emphasize that “Jesus came to live.” His death resulted in part from the way he lived. Jesus as Risen Lord empowers us to follow him in life. Christianity is primarily discipleship. | ||||||
| 2. A “flat” Bible | 2. A “Christ centered” Bible | ||||||
| Many Christians tend to see the Scriptures, rather than Jesus, as their final authority. Guidance for daily living comes from various Scriptures that seem to fit the situation. All decisions do not need to coincide with the teachings and Spirit of Jesus. | Anabaptists affirm that while all Scripture is inspired, Jesus is the fullest revelation of God and the final authority for decision-making. Jesus fulfills the Old Testament, and is the norm for both personal and social ethics. | ||||||
| 3. Government as final authority | 3. Jesus as final authority | ||||||
| Many Christians believe that since government leaders are ordained of God, they must be obeyed even if their demands are contrary to the teachings of Jesus or the dictates of conscience. | Anabaptists recognize that government is ordained of God to preserve life and maintain order in a secular world. However, the demands of government shall not overrule the Lordship of Jesus. | ||||||
|
| Core Value 2: COMMUNITY is the center of our lives
|
| |
||||
| Many Christians emphasize: | Anabaptist Christians emphasize: | ||||||
| 1. Vertical forgiveness | 1. Horizontal forgiveness | ||||||
| Many Christians focus more on vertical forgiveness from God than on horizontal forgiveness from each other. Forgiveness is seen as a means for receiving individual salvation and eternal life. | Christians need both vertical forgiveness from God and horizontal forgiveness from each other. Forgiveness builds community and is a means to peaceful relationships with each other. | ||||||
| 2. Individual interpretation | 2. Corporate interpretation | ||||||
| Many Christians seek to interpret the Scriptures out of their own understanding and experience. On the other hand, some rely almost totally on trained teachers or pastors to interpret the Scripture for them. | Anabaptists believe that individual study of Scripture must be combined with group study. Group members commit themselves to giving and receiving counsel from others in the Spirit of Jesus. | ||||||
| 3. Meet in sanctuaries | 3. Meet in small groups | ||||||
| Many Christians tend to think of the worshiping congregation as the basic unit of the church. Often, the church is seen as a structure, an organization, or as a Sunday morning performance. | Anabaptist Christians tend to see the church as a family. Healthy churches are often organized as networks of small groups in which members fellowship, study, share and pray together. | ||||||
|
| Core Vale 3: RECONCILIATION is the center of our work
|
| |
||||
| Many Christians emphasize: | Anabaptist Christians emphasize: | ||||||
| 1. Justification by faith | 1. Transformation of life | ||||||
| Many Christians primarily emphasize the holiness of God and the need to be justified through faith in the sacrificial work of Christ. Conversion means being forgiven for sin and destined for heaven. | Anabaptist Christians tend to emphasize the loving/nurturing nature of God. They desire to be transformed by the Spirit to become Christ-like in attitude and action. Conversion means being reconciled to God and empowered to live like Jesus in daily life. | ||||||
| 2. Personal salvation | 2. Reconciled living | ||||||
| Many Christians tend to think of reconciliation in personal terms. Peacemaking and social action are add-ons rather than essential to the gospel. | Anabaptists tend to think of reconciliation in both personal and social terms. Evangelism and peacemaking come together in the term reconciliation. | ||||||
| 3. Military service | 3. Alternative service | ||||||
| Many Christians obey authority even if it requires actions contrary to the teachings of Jesus and conscience. Some believe in “redemptive violence” and the just war theory. When the government asks them to perform military service, they accept to do so. | Anabaptists obey authority insofar as obedience to Christ will allow. They will refuse orders to participate in violence. Correcting injustices and being reconciled to enemies are important. Alternatives to military service that seek to resolve conflict are strongly encouraged. | ||||||
Becker explains it this way, “Being a Christian from an Anabaptist perspective is a combination of believing in Jesus, belonging to community, and behaving in a reconciling way. Some things for which Anabaptists lived and died are now accepted and taken for granted by most Christians. Other practices and teachings may still seem challenging or perplexing. But more and more people are finding Anabaptist understandings of faith and practice to be very helpful as they seek to follow Jesus faithfully in today’s world.”
It’s a bit simplistic I know, but hopefully it gives you a bit of an idea. If it stimulates some deeper questions, even better.
Curious Christian 
Leave a reply to Wayne Sutton Cancel reply