Still Inspired By Bender's Anabaptist Vision

More recent historian's have questioned
Bender's views as failing to represent the 
wide range of beliefs and practices of
16th century Anabaptist groups, but his
dream still inspires.

It was my reading a copy of Harold S. Bender's 1942 "Anabaptist Vision" speech to the Society of Church Historians that lit my fire as an Amish teenager, and was part of what influenced me to enroll at Eastern Mennonite University (then EMC) at age 21. 

Bender's widely acclaimed presentation underscored three main Anabaptist themes, 1) an emphasis on discipleship, i.e., applying the teachings of Jesus to daily life, 2) an understanding of church as a voluntary community practicing mutual care and accountability, and 3) a commitment to a life of nonviolent, Christ-like love for all fellow human beings, friend and enemy alike. 

In moving to the Mennonite community in Harrisonburg I assumed I would be becoming a part of a church that embodied that vision. This was true in part, but I also found that the fundamental vision of EMC and most Virginia Conference congregations was more like those of other mainstream evangelical Protestants than that of the Anabaptist movement Bender described in his 1942 speech, which he introduced with these words by Rufas M. Jones, Quaker writer:

"Judged by the reception it met at the hands of those in power, both in Church and State, equally in Roman Catholic and in Protestant countries, the Anabaptist movement was one of the most tragic in the history of Christianity; but, judged by the principles, which were put into play by the men who bore this reproachful nickname, it must be pronounced one of the most momentous and significant undertakings in man's eventful religious struggle after the truth. It gathered up the gains of earlier movements, it is the spiritual soil out of which all nonconformist sects have sprung, and it is the first plain announcement in modern history of a programme for a new type of Christian society which the modern world, especially in America and England, has been slowly realizing -an absolutely free and independent religious society, and a State in which every man counts as a man, and has his share in shaping both Church and State." 

I remain concerned that today's teens and young adults, like those of my youth, are not likely to be drawn to a church primarily focused on maintaining correct theology and offering well planned worship services, but one that represents a movement dedicated to bringing hope and healing to the world they have inherited. Not that theological questions dealing with themes like creation, incarnation and atonement are unimportant, but they aren't the questions uppermost in their minds, at least not like those having to do with creation care, living and loving like Jesus and bringing an end to human suffering and violence.

Sixteenth century Anabaptists like Blaurock, Manz and Grebel (age 30 and under) became motivated by their new found faith to counter status quo, state aligned religion and state sanctioned violence rather than their being primarily interested in debating Catholic, Protestant or other creedal statements. Their main focus was on Christians putting into practice the actual words of the heaven-sent, God-governed 30-year-old Christ who clearly outlined how life on earth should be lived as a part of the worldwide God-movement. They understood Jesus and his followers as focusing not just on theology but on "do-ology," with Jesus's sermon on the mount concluding with "whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them" will be like those who "build on a solid rock foundation," the foundation Anabaptist leader Menno Simons repeatedly referred to as "one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

At the end of his ministry Jesus commissioned his followers to recruit disciples who would obey (do) all that he had taught them and modeled for them. Today that would be to call people away from their enslavement to Mammon, Mars and Bacchus into God-birthed and heaven-governed communities of healing and shalom, who love God with a passion and who love their worldwide neighbors with a justice motivated compassion.