That’s really deep, Rachel. And challenging to me personally. Thank you for sharing this insight.

“Instead of delighting in the person of Christ and becoming remade in his image, we began focusing on just the visible reality of what a redeemed life could look like.” Such a pithy explanation for where we as Anabaptists so often get off the track.

Thanks, Chester. You put this in words that ring true.

The account in Matthew is beautiful and does clearly show how Jesus was separate from sin but not from sinners. Thank you for sharing it!

I’ve started reading The Complete Writings of Menno Simons, and I notice this repeated emphasis on being born again into a kind of life, that following Christ is participating in His life. So when Menno Simons and Michael Sattler write about separation, they are talking about visible reality participating in a greater invisible reality that is at the same time flesh and body–Jesus Christ. I think what Anabaptists lost over the years is the sense that conversion is being drawn into a kind of life, which is always participating in the fuller reality of Word made flesh. Instead of delighting in the person of Christ and becoming remade in his image, we began focusing on just the visible reality of what a redeemed life could look like. And so, over several centuries, separation became a sign separated from what it signifies–the fullness of Christ’s life and person, thus losing its meaning and appeal to those who have not yet tasted, as Chester says, the “genuine delight” in Christ.

Chester Weaver (not anonymous)

I appreciate the drift and tone of the conversation resulting from your recent post.
As long as the focus of “separation” remains separatist all kinds of strange phenomena develop. But when “separation” is the fall-out from unfeigned love for Christ and genuine delight in His ways, few inconsistencies remain. Unfortunately, many conservative Anabaptists who have become worldly in their economics (unsanctified and unseparated), do not really know the Living Christ who has spoken directly on the economics issue. When elaborate defenses develop to justify any kind of selfishness, the heart has revealed itself. Not much needs to be explained about any practice resulting from a love/faith relationship with Christ – it is just obvious – and enormously attractive! I admire every practical non-self-righteous quiet statement of loyalty to the King of the Other Kingdom that I encounter along the way.

Lise, that’s a good example of what can come up as inconsistencies. I grew up in a family that didn’t listen to the radio. It was mostly a way of staying away from what my parents thought might be bad influence, songs and stuff. Not that they thought the radio in itself was wrong. But now my family uses the internet, and there are a lot of things that could be a bad influence there. :) People often make choices to do things a certain way because of the way they were brought up and how it influences them to think. I think if we understand that people think within their cultures, it can help us to have a little more grace for all the seeming inconsistencies. I like to see people trying to follow Jesus and to live a pure life. Even if I don’t always agree with the individual choices, it helps to see beyond that to the bigger thing they were trying for.

Lise, it’s good to have you here and glad you like the blog. Good point about people being people wherever you go. That is definitely true, Anabaptists or otherwise. I do understand and like the concept of two kingdoms, but I think that is something that is fulfilled more completely in heaven. We can align ourselves with God’s kingdom now and grow toward him. But it’s not like the Anabaptists are part of his Kingdom and others are not. Rather, the kingdom of God is bigger than all of us, but we all have an opportunity to choose Jesus’ way and help to build his kingdom. Would you agree with that?

I think in a lot of ways it is a play on words. :) Love these thoughts.