Today it’s the 500th anniversary of the day a small group of believers in Switzerland baptized each other upon their confession of faith. Felix Manz, Conrad Grebel, and George Blaurock’s act of obedience to God’s Word led to the beginning of Anabaptism. I love giving attention to these sorts of celebrations. I borrowed some books on church history and Anabaptism. One afternoon I took the children to the Behalt (the name means to keep, hold, remember), a local gem of inspiration centering on the hand painted 265-foot wall mural that depicts the history of the church. The gift store focuses on the Amish heritage of our area which I also appreciate. There’s an amazing Martyrs Mirror exhibit and a library of old Bibles. Each of the children picked out a bookmark and I bought the age-old picture of Dirk Willems rescuing his pursuer with the “Love your enemies, Bless them that curse you” inscribed underneath. As a family we’ve been reading the Time of Trial book by Amy Slaubaugh that was gifted to us years ago. It’s a book of poems telling the martyrs’ stories in a child appropriate way. I love hearing Andrew explain the moments of history and the children soak it up.
I’ve grown up Anabaptist all my life. I’ve briefly studied church history in school but have forgotten an appalling amount of it. The reading I’ve done has helped me orient my knowledge. My favorite book is The Little Flock written by Lester Bauman, published by Rod & Staff Publishers. The theme that keeps appearing around Anabaptists is their dedication to follow Biblical teaching at all costs. I was surprised at how much dispute and disagreements different groups of people had ever since the early church on how they thought each should follow the Bible. That continues to this day. As I read, I became aware of the fact that I have need of growth spiritually. I also need a greater understanding of the Anabaptist vision, a burden to pass this onto my children, and a burden to reach the lost around me.
There are Anabaptist Mennonite traditions I appreciate:
· God’s plan for the family unit is celebrated and taught
· Simplistic church worship services
· Four-part harmony acapella singing is encouraged and taught
· Close-knit communities that care for each other
· Concern for godly, Biblical education for our children
· Simplistic Biblical doctrine and beliefs
However, Lester Bauman talks about our growing dependence of traditions. When people justify their way of life through traditions rather than Bible principles, they start drifting. Lester also says “when a group fails to pass the faith on to its young people, it is doomed. It does not even need to be the whole group. If a few families in a congregation become lax, this laxness spreads like a leaven that eventually takes the whole group along.” God help us as we hold to traditions and know the Biblical reason behind them.
As I reflect on Anabaptism, there are several things I’ve needed to come to grips with.
1. The church will face ongoing struggles and divisions. Instead of fighting the fact that there are continual inner fractions, pray that God’s truth will stand the test. Instead of becoming discouraged and fearing church issues, stand on the truth and pray for the Holy Spirit to move the hearts of men.
2. One expression of practice within Anabaptism is not necessarily better than another. As a person who would rather have something black and white and straightforward, I’ve had to release that desire for there to be only one right expression. Yes, holding to certain lines is a better fit for our own family. Also if a church has carnality in it, that will show in its practice and discipline of life. Therefore, instead of me becoming unrestful and tossed about in my mind, I need to go to the Word of God and know why I do what I do.
3. Our leaders will be fallible. This is sad, but God sees our need and knows the hearts of men. This fallibility doesn’t allow the lay members to cast off what the Bible teaches about respecting the position of authority these men hold.
4. As times change the church, tension between youth and the older generation continues. The young people can sometimes show disrespect. The older ones feel frustrated. I’ve seen it and experienced it myself. Lester Bauman says, “We cannot avoid culture change. Even if we do not accept them within our church, they will put pressure on us from without…This means that the church needs to be alert to what is happening in the world. It needs to constantly be ready to respond to the changes taking place, so that they do not damage the church. Often the church’s reaction to change in the world is legislative. This has its place, but we must go beyond that. We need to teach so that our people know why we are legislating. Otherwise, in the long run, legislation will fail, and the church will lose the battle.”
I can see our churches losing our simplicity and godliness. I am convicted that I am part of that. I hear preaching that is more human thoughts instead of the Word of God. Perhaps I am just as guilty of that by allowing my mind to be fed by sources other than the Word. Am I just too distracted and casual in my lifestyle?
These thoughts sober me. It all really comes back to the individual living a disciplined godly life through the grace and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also depends on having inwardly sound families founded on the Word of God which begins with the parents being secure in their relationship with the Heavenly Father.
I have no predictions or answers on the Anabaptist church current situation. I stand grateful to be a part of this, and yet, I seek to understand my part. Perhaps the people that started the Anabaptist movement would be surprised to still be getting mentioned 500 years later. It’s easy to make them heroes. They were people who had to wear coats in the cold, cut their fingers with dull knives while cutting potatoes, and faced the ups and downs of emotions. These daily situations did not escape them. Let us, with them, do all things according to the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Anabaptists are not perfect. Just as anyone else in the world, they are unworthy of God’s love and care.
Many other people have written more eloquently on this subject. I just found myself immersed in the history of it all and had to write down my ponderings. I wondered if I could've had the singleness of heart of those persecuted. Could I hand over my child to a friend and walk to my death? Frank Reed, a favorite blogger of mine on spiritual subjects said this: Not all persecution is the same. Some persecution results in poverty and death. Some offers luxury that pampers and lures away from Godly simplicity. The Bride has experienced both. The Anabaptist system is best explained as a Hermeneutic – a way of understanding life and the Bible. It is a simple way of living. It is a rewarding way of living. It is not without difficulties. Our responsibility is to keep a watchful eye on developments so we can maintain the simple Bride approach to our faith expression. Maybe it takes just as much singleness of heart today to maintain a simplistic, faithful way of living as it did five hundred years ago.
-Jennifer Yoder
Ps. Another really good article worth your consideration is “Celebrating a Church Split?” by Nathan Zook in the Companions published by Christian Light Publications.