May 18, 2009 issue
Writings on identity
By Leonard Gross Goshen, Ind.It’s almost as if Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Weekly Review and The Mennonite got their heads together, having recently published each in its turn: an incisive booklet, a perceptive editorial and a penetrating article. What an important complement for our spiritual welfare, with one essential message: reminding us as Mennonites about our rich heritage, and how and where we differ from other respected denominational traditions. This triad includes Palmer Becker’s What Is an Anabaptist Christian? (Missio Dei series, No. 18); Paul Schrag’s editorial, “Letting Go of Christendom” (MWR, April 27); and John Howard Yoder’s “The Church and Economics After Christendom: Brief Theological Considerations” (The Mennonite, May 5).
I would like to add to this triad a fourth source that expands, biblically, this general theme: John Howard Yoder’s 88-page book, Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community before the Watching World (Herald Press, 1992, 2001). Here we have the inner workings of a New Testament congregation in action, as also practiced by our Anabaptist forebears.
The superb substance of these four published pieces is vital grist for our Mennonite mill. We continue to need to think hard about where we have come from in order to sense spiritually and programmatically “whereto.”
Comment on the article Writings on identity
The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.
Download
Download a free PDF showing the populations of
Mennonite groups and other Anabaptists.
