The Present Relevance of Anabaptism

These are two recent essays I have written reflecting on the present relevance for Christian theology and ethics of the 16th century Anabaptists.

They are: “Anabaptism for the Twenty-First Century” and “Whither Anabaptist Theology.” Both are included in my book, Embodying the Way of Jesus: Anabaptist Convictions for the Twenty-First Century(Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007).

The Lamb’s Way of Victory (Introduction)

The Book of Revelation is best read as peace literature, even though most Christians in the past 2,000 would not agree. I will be developing the case for such a reading in a series of posts. These will be drawn from a set of sermons I am presenting at Shalom Mennonite Congregation in Harrisonburg, VA, during 2008 and 2009.

In the posts I will summarize the main points of my argument that are developed at more length in the sermons. The full written versions of the sermons will be available in the “page” area of this site. Click here for the first sermon, “Living in Apocalyptic Times.”

Thoughts in Response to Jacques Ellul’s Anarchy and Christianity

Years ago, I read everything I could get my hands on by Jacques Ellul, the French Protestant social thinker and “lay theologian.” I still consider books such as The Presence of the Kingdom and Apocalypse: The Book of Revelationto be some of my most formative books. By the time his little book, Anarchy and Christianitywas published in English (1991) I had not been keeping up with this ever-prolific writer. I did buy a copy that year, but only this Spring did I finally read this book.

I am glad I read it; it helped me remember why I found Ellul a stimulating thinker. I don’t really regret not having read it sooner, though. It is not a very substantial book. And, like too many of Ellul’s books, it’s written in a pretty haphazard style.

However, this is an important book for not other reason than that it does remain one of the few works by a serious theologian who also takes anarchism seriously.