Are Mennonites taking over the world?
Not likely.
But Mark Tooley wonders in The American Spectator magazine whether Mennonites are taking over a big enough part of Christianity to be dangerous.
Tooley used a recent apology from Lutherans -- for violent persecution of 16th-century Anabaptists -- to emphasize a "neo-Anabaptist movement" that demands all Christians and society "bend to pacifism."
He says the views of neo-Anabaptist religious leaders such as Stanley Hauerwas, Greg Boyd, Shane Claiborne and Jim Wallis are "especially pervasive" and "permit a naughty sense of rebellion" -- evidence of how the Anabaptist message has mainstream appeal, especially its pacifism.
Tooley shows a somewhat accurate understanding of Anabaptistm, while at other times he's erroneous. As an Anabaptist, I want to speak of my heritage from my perspective.
Tooley is right:
1. Anabaptism is no longer a small, persecuted minority. Yes, however, the global Anabaptist church is still comparatively small, at less than 2 million members compared to 70 million Lutherans around the world.
2. Anabaptists are traditionally pacifists and separatists emphasized as "victim" and "outsider." Yes, and we as Anabaptists have not spent enough time reflecting on how we sometimes portray ourselves as self-righteous and arrogant Christians.
3. Anabaptism is becoming mainstream. In some ways, yes, but we also don't fit the traditional Christian molds of mainstream or evangelical. I've been told by various religious leaders and Christian friends how Anabaptism's values of peace, justice and nonviolence are increasingly relevant in our world. I humbly acknowledge this and say, spread the Word!
4. Anabaptists reject support for the "empire." While Anabaptist views of politics differ, a core value remains being "in the world but not of it," which especially applies to U.S. militarism. I'm comfortable with saying "God bless the world" but not "God bless America." I respect the government as described in Romans 13 but ultimately believe my highest loyalty remains with God.
Tooley is wrong:
1. Neo-Anabaptists aggressively demand pacifism. The reality is that not even all Anabaptists embrace nonviolence, much less get the rest of the world to. Rather, Anabaptists try to align daily life as peaceful reconcilers of Jesus' "third way." We invite rather than coerce.
2. Neo-Anabaptists are part of the Left. First, I'm not sure whether this means all Anabaptists are members of the so-called Left, or if just neo-Anabaptists are. Regardless, both interpretations are wrong. Whether it's the Christian Left or Secular Left, neither category fits.
3. Neo-Anabaptists demand an expanded, coercive state. Anabaptists have traditionally forsworn national loyalties, as Tooley said. However, Anabaptists are deeply committed to social justice, since Jesus' mission was to preach good news to the poor. Anabaptists believe faith without works is dead and that the church is uniquely positioned to proclaim Jesus' healing and hope to the world.
This is my interpretation of Anabaptism. I don't know whether Tooley would call me a traditional Anabaptist or a neo-Anabaptist. But as a committed member of a 500-year-old movement that has spread to more than 80 countries, I wonder whether we can really dichotomize the old, the new and the emerging.
Ultimately, Tooley said, neo-Anabaptism is "especially pervasive at many evangelical schools, suburban megachurches, intellectual and hipster circles." (Wow, we're hip!) It's a "rising force," maybe poised for a takeover, he says.
I say, may the reign of God come on earth as it is in heaven.
Jenna Woginrich: Going Old School: Amish Gadgets For The Modern Kitchen
Anabaptist - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1525 The Anabaptist Movement Begins - Christian History ...
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Anabaptists
Anabaptist Origins, Anabaptist History, Anabaptist Beliefs
The American Spectator : Mennonite Takeover?
Touchstone Magazine - Mere Comments: The Neo-Anabaptist Temptation
How's that for pacifist?
I apologize that that was your experience growing up. I think it is irresponsible and extremely harmful for the church to ignore the realities of life, even if they can make us feel confused or uncomfortable. I hope that you have been able to find a safe and welcoming environment to develop spiritually, even if it is not in the church.
It may interest you to know that there are many in the Mennonite church who are actively LGBT and LGBT-friendly, that Goshen College is leading many colleges in an effort to be a safe zone for LGBT students, and that there is a church-wide campaign for openness and inclusion. Please see the following website for more info: http://www.pinkmenno.org.
The college (s) and church have a long way to go, but many in the church yearn for inclusion and love extended to all. I hope you can find forgiveness and peace.
In a later generation, David Harris went to Federal Prison in his effort to resist the draft and military service; citing conscience.
Quite a contrast for Christian readers.
I have read Tooley and I am quite clear on his foundational belief that the First and Greatest Commandment is what we should be writing about and discussing. For new readers and persons new to Christianity and Christ's teachings, some could get drawn away from the 1st and focused on the 2nd.
Some of the people referenced in Good's article, like Wallis, never address the 1st, especially when they show-up on television and have hundreds of thousands of people watching and listening. Prime-time for hitting one "out of the park" emphasizing a vertical relationship with God. In the sense that their emphasis is on the 2nd Greatest Commandment in the absence of any reference to the 1st...they miss the mark.
In most instances, Tooley hits the mark and he would be pleased to write or speak about the Greatest Commandment.
Together the Quakers, Mennonites, and Church of the Brethren are known as the Historic Peace Churches.
Instead of asking whether "Mennonites" are taking over the world, it is much more interesting to ask how the peace churches are changing the central ideas of Christianity. At the upcoming World Council of Churches conference next year in Jamaica--the culminating event of the Decade to Overcome Violence--one of the discussion points will be the question of a doctrine of "just peace" in place of "just war."
Now that's a revolution in the making!
I lived for four years in a Pennsylvania town that was largely Mennonite controlled. They also seemed to lean to the far right, and had interesting attitudes about what "socialism" was. I have always been a Library person---and until I lived there, had the benefit of wonderful public systems. I hastened to their local branch, not long after moving in, and discovered it was stocked with Reader's Digest Condensed books, and Encyclopedias so out of state, Ike was still President.
The explanation? The town fathers did not believe in public supported library tax...and reasoned that if people wished to, they could donate their books for public use.
And since the town fathers were primarily Mennonite, it certainly colored my view.
So forgive me for hoping they aren't taking over the world...some of us still love to read.
Mennonites, unlike evangelicals, know how to exist, live, and even thrive as a minority group in societies. This is what they have always done. Dominance and control is unnecessry, and spiritually suicidal. It is not what we do.
As Someone once said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
I personally find it terribly sad that so many Baptists in America, especially those in the SBC, have drifted so far from their Anabaptist roots.
Although, I know states with large farms are reluctant to support cruelty to animals statutes, regardless of religious beliefs.
Republicans, and those who are financially responsible. Guess that's what happens when Christians follow the prophet Glen Beck more than Jesus Christ. Christianity would be a better religion if the members believed as the Anabaptist do rather than following religion zealots that worship politicians.
www.bethelks.edu
www.ambs.edu
www.hesston.edu
www.goshen.edu
www.bluffton.edu
www.cmu.ca
www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca
www.tabor.edu
www.fresno.edu
amongst other fine institutions of Mennonite Higher learning ... not to mention a fine network of Mennonite high schools (note these are only a few Canadian and USA schools not to mention the many others throughout the world).