This year marks the five hundredth anniversary of the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement. In this article, I will share about my own journey into Anabaptism, the beginnings of the movement, its core beliefs and theological convictions, its call to radical discipleship, and its potential as a much-needed renewal movement within American Christianity. I conclude with a call for the Brethren in Christ to own Anabaptism—our original theological stream—for such a time as this.
My journey from Southern Baptist to Anabaptist
I grew up a Southern Baptist in the 1980s and 90s in Texas during the rise of the Religious Right and when the evangelical war with secular culture was at full force. I wore the Christian t-shirts, attended Christian concerts and Promise Keepers events, only listened to Christian music, and got a steady flow of rapture theology and hellfire sermons. And I vividly remember pledging to the Bible, the Christian flag, and the American flag every morning during Vacation Bible School.
In many ways, I was taught that everything in the world was against us. Stay alert! The devil is in rock music, drinking alcohol is a sin (even in moderation), homosexuals are bringing judgment on America, and God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Oh, and Christians don’t dip, dance, chew, or date those who do. And we most certainly don’t befriend unbelievers.
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