Celebrating "John The Anabaptist" For Advent

This is John as portrayed in the Jesus of Nazareth movie.

It is written by Isaiah the prophet,

"I will send my messenger ahead of you, 

who will prepare your way, 

a voice of one calling in the desert, 

'Prepare the way for the Lord, 

make straight paths for him.'"

Mark 1:2-3

John the Baptist should be the ideal candidate for patron saint of Anabaptist minded groups everywhere, but I know of no Mennonite church or institution that is named after this forerunner of Jesus.

Consider the Baptist's story. While in his early 30's John, a member of the Jewish priestly class, left his religious establishment roots and advocated for radical reformation, calling on people to be baptized as a sign of their commitment to thorough repentance and a transformed way of life. He was imprisoned for his outspoken opposition to King Herod's immoral behavior and was executed by being beheaded while likely in his 30's. 

Note some striking similarities to an event that contributed to the launch of the Anabaptist movement. Three young men of about the Baptist's age baptized each other, then many others, as a sign of their passion for radical change. This January 21, 1525, meeting of Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz and George Blaurock marked the beginning of thousands of nominal believers being baptized as adults as a sign of their commitment to more faithfully following Jesus. Like John, Grebel was imprisoned for his outspoken witness, though he escaped and died of the plague at age 28. Young Manz was likewise apprehended, sentenced to death as a heretic and was drowned for his faith. Blaurock, a former Roman Catholic priest turned evangelist, boldly baptized hundreds and was burned at the stake at 38 years of age.

John the Baptist lived a life of voluntary poverty and urged people with more than one tunic--and with more food than they needed--to share generously with those who were in want. Similarly, early Anabaptists advocated for a radical sharing of their possessions with each other and with others in the spirit of Jesus. The Hutterite branch of the movement took the early church's example of having all possessions in common literally, and Menno Simons is well known for teaching that "True evangelical faith... cannot lie dormant. It clothes the naked, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute, it serves those that harm it, It binds up that which is wounded..."

Early Anabaptists were also bold to address people in positions of power, not unlike the Baptist, who confronted the corrupt practices of tax collectors for the empire and spoke out against occupying Roman soldiers extorting money and property to augment their pay. In a similar vein Menno Simons wrote, "Love compels us to respectfully and humbly show all high officials what the Word of God commands them, how they should rightfully execute their office to the glory and praise of God... to punish the transgressors and protect the good; to judge rightly between a man and his fellows; to do justice to the widows and orphans and to the poor, to rule cities and countries justly by a good policy and administration, not contrary to God’s Word but to the benefit of the common people."

So what if today's Anabaptists more intentionally followed the example of the first century Baptist? 

For example, John the Baptist style Mennonite schools and universities would be less inclined to provide the kinds of state of the art amenities and programs designed to compete with other evangelical schools and colleges, and become more like boot camps devoted to preparing young people for worldwide engagement. It would also have a strong focus on living compatibly with nature and on helping preserve the planet. 

Baptist-modeled congregations would forgo owning expensive real estate and focus on calling all members to give up any excess consumer wealth and would engage all baptized members in active ministries to the poor and oppressed.

John the Baptist inspired Mennonite retirement communities would place high priority on providing affordable care to everyone regardless of ability to pay. The well to do would make their assets available to help provide for those of lesser means, and there would be no differences in the kind of care or  accommodations offered based on levels of wealth. 

What do you think would Jesus be saying about paying more attention to the life and teaching of his radical cousin?