Each of us has a story shaping who we are and what we believe. When I observe Anabaptist young people, I sense a general anxiety about whether the story that shaped their lives has any value in the world today.
I believe it does.
We hunger for a more authentic, free, and loving expression of faith. We desire to see more people around us coming to Christ. We, ourselves, long to know Christ at a deeper level than ever before.
Yet, at times it seems the values, lifestyle, and expectations of our background limit one’s ability to truly get close to Jesus. Whether it’s ourselves in our current church experience, or bringing someone else into it, there seems to be little space for anything other than the traditions handed down through the generations.
Before we turn the page on this chapter of life, however, let’s pause and ask ourselves if anything in the Anabaptist part of our story is worth carrying into the next?
I see four things anyone from Anabaptist background has to offer the world, today.
1. A heritage of obedience to the scriptures
Over the last century, Evangelical Christianity has lost a true passion and desire to follow Jesus. Their faith became more of an idea than actuality. As a result, I meet many people who are now trying to cultivate obedience to the Scriptures. They hunger for what Anabaptists have had distilled for them throughout many generations.
2. A heritage of nonviolence and political indifference
American militarism has done more to harm the advancement of the Gospel throughout the world than it has done to help it. Christians in America spend more energy fighting political battles than they spend discipling others in Christ. People from Anabaptist background grow up with a more natural understanding of what it means to love through suffering and to let the kingdoms of this world in the hands of God.
3. A strong sense of an identity being not of this world
Many evangelical Christians increasingly adapt their values to the values of this world. Anabaptists have had modeled for them what it means, practically, that we are not of this world. While Anabaptists apply it many ways, they have historically chosen to not follow the fads and trends of society because, as followers of Christ, they are of a Heavenly Kingdom; not an earthly one.
4. A history of practical, holistic missions, not just theoretical missions
I’ve personally met people who want nothing to do with American Christianity because what they know of it is a bunch of wealthy people coming in to their communities, like a tourist group with preaching, flaunting their wealth and prosperity in the process. When Anabaptists do missions, they take great care to help meet the practical needs of the people. They’re willing to get their hands dirty.
Words of Warning
If we’re not careful, we can shift into a comparison mode, figuring out which group of Christians is better. That’s carnality, and it’s not the point, here. There are weaknesses and strengths all around. I’m simply wanting to point out some of the strengths of Anabaptists in light of some weak tendencies of Evangelicals.
However, even though these are strengths I observe, I have a few words of warning for all Anabaptists to go along with the strengths highlighted above.
1. Anabaptists have gotten focused on obeying their application of the Scriptures over the principles of the Scriptures
Yes, Anabaptists have a heritage of obedience to the Scriptures—that’s what began the movement in the first place. But, in modern times this has morphed into obedience to applications of Scriptural principles. Whenever we do that, we border on preaching as doctrine the commandments of men (Matt. 15:9).
2. Western Anabaptists have developed an Americanized view of violence and politics
Anabaptists have a heritage of nonviolence and political indifference, but American Anabaptists are fast losing it. In fact, there seems to be emerging a new group of believers, a mixture of Protestants and Anabaptists, who disassociate themselves from the “Republican Christianity” that has seeped into even Anabaptist churches.
3. Millennial Anabaptists don’t understand the implications of our identity not being of this world
As I look at my generation, while we have had distilled to us a strong sense of our identity not being of this world, we seem to not appreciate it. Or understand it. One of the two. We live as if our identity actually is of this world by the way we spend our time and money on sports, social events, and work that reaps no eternal reward.
4. Anabaptists lack solid theological understanding of what they believe and why they believe it (and if they should even believe what they believe)
While Anabaptist missions have done well historically at reaching the practical needs of people, they also lack a clear theological basis for their beliefs. This exposes itself in the fact that few know how to clearly communicate the Gospel message if asked about it. It also exposes itself in practices that aren’t actually generated from foundational truths grounded in the biblical message.
Yes, Anabaptists have something to offer the world. If Anabaptist theology is a part of your story, don’t be ashamed of it. Embrace it. But, like all human-organized thoughts, there are errors and plenty of room for growth.
Let’s press in to the Word of God together, with our fellow believers, and seek an even more faithful expression of faith and worship and discipleship than what we have today.
What else might Anabaptists have to offer the world? Or, what other words of warning need to be given? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
