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Anabaptist Emphases beyond Orthodoxy

      Anabaptism was a movement of the Holy Spirit and the Word that emerged in and from the cultural-historical context of powerful socio-economic, political, religious, spiritual, intellectual, ecclesiastical and technological forces in 16th century Western Europe.
      Harold Stauffer Bender’s Anabaptist Visionbooklet (1944) summarized Anabaptism under three items: (1) Christianity as discipleship, (2) Believer’s Church, (3) Ethic of nonresistance. The seven items below are included to some extent in Bender’s list. (MQR 1-1950.) Scholars have debated which ones were the most central. The first two items are listed in priority from this writer’s perspective—they lead to the rest. It was likely not true universally.
      The following seven emphases are found in their life and writings. The combination of these emphases continues to identify a third unique theological and ecclesiastical tradition to the present day. It is sometimes called the “third way”, neither Catholic nor Protestant, or both Catholic and Protestant. See Klassen Neither Catholic Nor Protestant (Conrad Press).

    What is the highest authority for faith and ethics?

  1. SCRIPTURE IS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY

    2. What and by whom are the scriptures interpreted?

  2. INTERPRETED CHRISTO-CENTRICALLY
    • Ethically and Spiritually
    • By Word and Spirit, and Holy Spirit
    • In the Gathered Church

    What is the meaning of conversion and baptism? When should it be done?

  3. BELIEVER’S BAPTISM AND ADULT CONVERSION

    4. How does one love as God loves?

  4. BIBLICAL NONVIOLENCE, FORGIVNESS AND PEACEMAKING

    5. What is the essence of being Christian? What is the motivation?

  5. CHRISTIAN LIFE IS DISCIPLESHIP
    • Following the Historic Jesus (Nachfolge Jesu) by the Power of the Holy Spirit
    • An Encounter Event and/or a Growing Process
    • Salvation and Ethics Cannot be Separated

    What is the nature of the church?   

  6. CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS
    • Visible, Missional, Loving, Disciplined, Sharing
    • “Separate From the State and the “World.”
    • Restoration of the Pre-Constantine Early Church 

    What is the Christian’s calling or vocation?

  7. CHRISTIAN’S CALLING (VOCATION) IS TO BE CHRISTIAN
    • To Follow the Historic Jesus Christ in all of life. 

rev 1-06
Marion G. Bontrager
Hesston College

 

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