Followers of Jesus from a Mennonite Perspective

Are there historic Anabaptist ideas/values that our church could rediscover that would strengthen our witness in the world today? What is the heart behind some of those things that we can reclaim for ourselves in a new way? Are there things we can rediscover that can be real good news to the world these days?

What is a Follower of Jesus?

Scripture

The early Christians were called by different names.

Christians--"and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch," ().

Sect of the Nazarenes--“For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes," ().

Followers of the Way--"and [Saul who became Paul] asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem," ().

This name for the Christian movement, “the Way,” thus designates that the Christians were the true end-time Israel beginning to fulfill the prophecies of Israel’s return from exile. They were on “the Way” out of exile to returning to God. The name “the Way” indicates that one could begin to participate in this restoration journey by believing in Christ and joining others who already believed and were walking on “the Way,” progressing in their new-exodus journey. Consequently, “the Way” described both those first joining it and those who had belonged to it for some time, so that the name included reference to a manner of ongoing Christian living as part of a restoration journey.

Sheep--“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand," ().

Jesus stated that people would recognize us as His disciples, as Followers of the Way:

; “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Regardless of the name we use to describe ourselves, Followers of the Way, Sect of the Nazarenes, Christians, Sheep or Mennonites the characterisitic that should be most prominent among us is…

Love

Love of God

Love of Neighbor

Love of our Enemies

Love One Another...

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

What is a Mennonite?

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective is a great resource to look at and identify what it is that Mennonites have believed around various issues of faith and it also provides some guidance on how we should live these things out.

Foundational Documents:

Creeds

Confessions

But in answering the question about values that are important - or have been important I first wanted to see - what are peoples first impressions - or misconceptions of Mennonites...

Distinctives

Amish

Conservative

Legalistic/Rules

Good Eating

Plain Women/Dress

Pascifist

Lancaster

Anabaptist

Cheap / Tight

Peacemakers / Peace

40 Varieties

Community

Mennonite Mafia (Game and Perception)

Beard

Hymns

Generous

Misguided

Look at this list and see if we can answer for ourselves, this question:

Do people know Mennonites are followers of Jesus by their love for one another?

Then I asked several people who grew up with a Mennonite Perspective - including the person who posed the question - What were the values they most appreciated and are elements of their faith tradition that we should embrace and hold onto here at Crossroads...

What do you think they said?

Believers Baptism

A recognition or vision that we hold our primary allegiance to the King of Kings - not a man sitting in any office or on any throne.

Simplicity in living

Community

Peace and justice

Call to Repentance

Call to Repentance

All of these are admirable attributes and I believe that most - if not all of us - would say that they are important elements of the Anabaptist tradition we should hold fast to...

So what does it mean to live in such a way that it is evident that our highest loyalty is to Jesus Christ?

This might mean living as if the achievement or fulfillment of the American Dream is counter-cultural with what Christ wants us to experience. That the American Dream might actually be the antithesis of everything the early church and early Anabaptists wrestled with. How many know that there can be complacency in comfortableness?

What does it mean to live simply in this tech age?

What does living in community look like?

What does it mean to be people of peace? Who act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God? Who love their enemies?

What does it look like to live our lives in a posture of repentance?

How do we reconcile the two?

What is most impressive is the passion of their conviction that caused them to proclaim the gospel (that is all that Jesus is and represents) and risk their lives for it. But how does one create passion? We believe it can only come from God himself by the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised and sent! We pray for this for ourselves and for Crossroads.

Followers of Jesus from a Mennonite Perspective

What elements of Anabaptist life do you wrestle with? Maybe you wrestle with the negative aspects,,, and reality, all of these can have negative connotations when they motivated by fear - not love..

When we are motivated by fear instead of love, then our government replaces Jesus as the solution to our problems; our thirst for more is fulfilled by gadgets instead of by grace; community is where we cloak ourselves with invincibility instead of vulnerability; its where we strive to be right over being reconciled.

To live a life of love suggests that we

Love God - Which drives all of our

Love our Neighbor

Love our Enemies

Love One Another...

SO WHAT?

Where are you in relationship to Jesus?

What is the next step you need to take in your relationship with Him?

Maintain a posture of repentance.

Give over your fears about the next presidential election to Jesus, because He has got it anyway...

Is there an excess in your life that could be eliminated in order to serve someone else?

Join a Small Group!!!

Is God calling you out of your comfort to pursue peace in your life or to help someone else be reconciled in theirs?

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 6

24  GOD bless you and keep you,

25  GOD smile on you and gift you,

26  GOD look you full in the face

and make you prosper.