The Naked Anabaptist, Book Review Example

Murray (2010) takes a fresh look at Anabaptists, bringing their movement to life in the light of history as well as current practice, especially in Anabaptist-derived groups such as the Amish, the Hutterites, the Mennonites, and my own Mennonite Brethren. One of the most important dimensions of the Anabaptist movement as it emerged in the sixteenth century was a focus on “social justice, economic issues, and community transformation” (p. 39). Many early Anabaptists were active in the reform movement among the peasants in places like Germany in the 1520s, until this was brutally suppressed (p. 39). Thereafter, Murray explains, the Anabaptists withdrew to form their own communities—although they continued to reach out to the outside world, with the result being a very fruitful time for church planting in Europe (p. 39). But because Anabaptist churches were unauthorized, the authorities in practically every European country where the Anabaptists were persecuted them relentlessly. This lead to a major theme in Anabaptist history, namely the withdrawal of Anabaptists from publically talking about their beliefs (p. 39).

However, Anabaptists today are shedding this historic commitment to separation. They have embraced the outreach part of the Anabaptist tradition, with a focus on trying to address social issues and the needs of others (Murray, 2010, p. 39). Anabaptists are engaging with society in profound, life-changing ways: while not all Anabaptists have historically been pacifists (though many were), the tradition is one committed to peace. Anabaptists have become active in social work, outreach to impoverished urban communities, and peacekeeper efforts (pp. 40-41). For example, an Anabaptist Christian Peacemaker Team under Norman Kember went to Iraq, where they were held hostage for a time. This initiative came from a challenge, posed in the form of a question, at an Anabaptist gathering: “’What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war?’” (pp. 24-25). Similarly, Mennonites in Northern Ireland during “the troubles” worked, often in very quiet and behind-the-scenes ways, to try to bring about reconciliation in Northern Ireland’s deeply divided society (p. 25).

The most well-known and representative document expressing Anabaptist principles in the early history of the movement was the Schleitheim Confession (Murray, 2010, p. 164). This document covers many aspects of Anabaptist belief and practice, notably separation from evil. This emphasis on separation from evil undergirded Anabaptist separatism, which was further reinforced by persecution from the sixteenth century on. Anabaptists in more contemporary times have broken with, or are breaking with, this separatist impulse, while adhering to and drawing from the rich Anabaptist tradition the Schleitheim Confession embodies. A key part of this, historically speaking, was the Anabaptist approach to discipleship, particularly visible in Anabaptist attitudes toward the interpretation of Scripture (p. 164). Anabaptists have always believed that all Christians should take responsibility for the interpretation of Scripture. While this is not a radical doctrine in this day and age, in the sixteenth century it was so radical that Protestant reformers soon rethought their support for it, and once again restricted the interpretation of Scripture to ecclesiastical authorities. The fact that Anabaptists have cleaved to this practice has contributed to the deeply fissile tendencies of many Anabaptist churches and communities, which have often split over matters of Scriptural interpretation. As a consequence, Anabaptists have tended to be a contentious lot, though this has also given groups such as the Mennonites plenty of opportunity to practice peace-making and conflict resolution skills (p. 164). This, then, is the Anabaptist heritage: a commitment to the Scriptures, stripping away practices and beliefs that are found to be unbiblical, and engaging with the world in a manner that is true to how Jesus commanded the church to reach the world.

References

Murray, S. (2010). The naked Anabaptist: The bare essentials of a radical faith. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.