I was privileged to spend the last few days with some great people. Doug, Arnold and John from BC as well as Ann and Dave from Australia and Chris from New Zealand. Part of our discussions centered on the implications and applications of what it means to be an Anabaptist and a Mennonite. Within the continuum of Anabaptist—living out the ethics of Jesus in the community of God’s people for the sake of all and Evangelical—preaching the salvation of Jesus for all is the intersection of the Mennonite Brethren. Canadian Mennonite Brethren are more evangelical than Anabaptist for the most part (my opinion). My BC friends pushed me on why I didn’t put Mennonite (and by implication all the good that the name entails—peace, community, service for the sake others) in the name of our church. I know how I would normally answer that question but experiencing the global Mennonite world has made me reconsider the broader implications of the name Mennonite.
My commitment to historic Anabaptist faith is growing. I suppose it’s a homecoming of sorts. Growing up in a community that intertwined faith, community, culture and social structure resulted in a somewhat murky faith identity which resulted in my downplaying the strengths of my historic faith. The more I travel the more I encounter an appreciation for and respect of the Mennonite witness and ministry in the world. A classic case of leaving home so home can be discovered. My road home intersects with many faith groups who are embracing the biblical understanding of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that we call Anabaptism. Adult converts are often the best proponents of the faith I was raised in and have taken for granted.
While I missed the evangelical/charismatic fervor at the MWC global assembly I have a greater appreciation for the calls for social justice, “aggressive” peacemaking, holistic development and community. We are people of the Book because the Book teaches us the life of Christ and it his life that teaches us how to live the upside down kingdom He inaugurated. As I waited for my connecting flight in the Santiago airport with my friends from down under, David, Ann and Chris I was asked to explain who the Mennonite Brethren are and how we fit into the broader Mennonite world. As I attempted to describe our evangelical-Anabaptist identity I realized that I am firmly in both camps. I love our evangelical fervor while increasingly embracing the Anabaptists call to live out the ethical teachings of Jesus. There is an inherent tension in the Canadian expression of these two perspectives but it is a tension I like and am committed to.
Final thoughts. I’m sitting on my deck enjoying a beautiful Calgary morning. My Zimbabwean friends are returning to a church decimated with death as they perform 4 or 5 funerals per week. My Paraguay friends who live in the Chaco region are struggling through a horrible drought that cut their peanut crop by 90%. The Congolese return to a country in turmoil and disarray. The Europeans return countries where faith has been pushed so far to the margins that the church has often lost its voice to speak into the affairs of people. The folks from the Middle East return to a world where professing Jesus could easily put their lives in danger. My heart for our global faith family has been stretched through all the interactions I was blessed with. After my initial travels oversees my overwhelming sense in returning home was one of gratitude to God that I live in Canada. Now, while I am still very appreciative the larger questions are, “Jesus what do you want me to do with everything you have given me? How do I leverage these blessings for your Kingdom?”
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