I am looking at some of the core convictions of the Anabaptists, not because I am an Anabaptist, but because I think we learn from them. Today: the relationship of the church and the world.
Core convictions
“Western culture is slowly emerging from the Christendom ere, when church and state jointly presided over a society in which almost all were assumed to be Christian. …. Christendom seriously distorted the gospel, marginalised Jesus, and has left the churches ill equipped for mission in a post-Christendom culture.”
“The frequent association of the church with status, wealth, and force is inappropriate for followers of Jesus and damages our witness. We are committed to exploring ways of being good news to the poor, powerless and persecuted …..”
Christendom
It is generally accepted that the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine to christianity changed many things for the christians. They were recognised instead of persecuted, given influence, buildings to meet in and financial support, and christianity was adopted as the official religion.
But many commentators believe this new power and freedom came at a terrible cost. Collusion and identification with the state, compromise on many issues such as war and colonial conquest, and corruption via wealth and power, all led to the church becoming comfortable and cut off from its mission to the poor and marginalised, and even being seen as the oppressor.
The end of Christendom
Much of this began to come to an end in the twentieth century in Europe and other western countries, as societies became more pluralist, fewer people ‘went to church’, and church became more practically separated from the state. And so the church lost most of its power and influence. Some vestiges remain, for example, the involvement of the church in royal occasions such as coronations, and the attempts by some churches to force christian values on non-believers (e.g. over gay marriage), but it is generally considered that Christendom is over.
Good or bad?
Some christians and churches lament the loss of influence and of christian culture in society generally. But the Anabaptists, much more accustomed to being on the outside of any cosy church-state alliances, welcome the change. They say a minority, powerless church (in a secular sense) has increased opportunity to do mission, especially to the poor and powerless, have a prophetic rather than collusive role with state and culture, be servants rather than privileged, and be more pluralistic.
Making the most of every opportunity
Whether we like this change or not, it seems certain that we’ll have to get used to it anyway. But if we understand the Anabaptist emphasis on following Jesus in serving and identifying with the poor and powerless, we may be able to embrace the new situation rather than try to fight a futile rearguard action. Perhaps the US church is the one that will struggle the most, because it may have most power and privilege to lose, and may be more likely to try to hold back the tide.
The future
If I had to guess, I’d say that some churches will embrace the new world, some will have to be dragged into it and some will fight on futilely to retain some semblance of Christendom.
In Habakuk 1, the prophet watches aghast as he sees God using unbelievers to teach his people a lesson. I believe this is a constant theme in the life of the church, and suggest this is another such time. The sooner we listen and take notice, the easier it will be.
Next
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons
Excellent evaluation!
Let me add, speaking as a Mennonite and “inheritor” of the Anabaptist heritage, many folks who come from that tradition have lost sight of this viewpoint. In my opinion, in the USA at least, we’re just as bad at our view of Christendom (gotta vote, gotta lobby, gotta legislate our values and morals, whether you are political left or right) as those outside the tradition. There are some few, myself included, who are trying with our minority voice to speak to traditional Anabaptists to come out of the world again, at least in this respect.
May I ask where your source is for thse convictions? It sounds familiar but it is not a Mennonite faith confession I know of.
Hi Robert, thanks for your positive comments.
The actual “core convictions” come from the book The Naked Anabaptist which I reviewed in the first link above. They were first prepared by the Anabaptist Network in England and Ireland. My own personal convictions come from my own experience and understanding of the christian faith over 50 years – I have never been an Anabaptist, but I have come to very similar conclusions.
Do I interpret from your comment here that you don’t believe in voting, and certainly not any deeper involvement in politics? In Australia voting is compulsory, and I personally believe we should vote, and I think some christians should be more involved in politics, even though I think it is often a poisoned chalice. And I certainly think, as I said in the post, that we should be very wary of imposing our christian values on society. I think I would sum it up by saying I think christians should be involved in politics as individuals, as they feel God leads them, but the church should avoid becoming a lobby group.