What is the essential element of genuine Anabaptism? In the opinion of this writer, genuine Anabaptism can be defined in three words: “biblically mandated applications.” If this is correct, the majority of those who identify themselves as Anabaptists today have gotten off the path. Many present-day Anabaptists exist merely as an ethnic subculture. They have biological and social connections with very few, if any, biblical convictions. They would present themselves as one big happy family and allow for a diversity of beliefs.
Another group of self-identified Anabaptists seek a separate Anabaptist worldview. When any question of doctrine, philosophy, or sociology is raised, these people want to identify a specific Anabaptist position. This becomes problematic because you can “proof text” almost any view from the huge diversity of historical Anabaptist thought. That is, if you have a personal opinion about something, you may be able to quote some remote Anabaptist and conclude that it is the Anabaptist position. This is a dangerous practice and ultimately becomes “sinking sand.”
The best position, in the opinion of this writer, is to say that we as Anabaptists are committed to a Christian worldview with the understanding that all Scripture must be applied by life experience. This approach results in a lifestyle that is anchored to the teachings of Holy Scripture. Many Anabaptists today are simply Evangelicals whose women wear a headship veiling. While the Bible clearly teaches that women should recognize the headship order by wearing a veiling, that is only one application among many others that need to be practiced.
The question is sometimes asked as to whether there would have been an Anabaptist movement if the Reformation had not happened. It is a very good question, and the answer would be based, to some extent, on supposition. This writer would wonder whether Anabaptism would have gotten off the ground if the magisterial reformers had never lived. The early Anabaptists accepted most of the theology of the Reformers but strongly objected to the lack of life application of said theology. In this sense, Anabaptism was a legitimate reaction to the Reformers’ lack of following through with life applications. It would seem that the early Anabaptists stood on the shoulders of the Reformers and took the Reformation to its logical biblical conclusions.
Thus, Anabaptism is far more than Evangelicalism or Protestantism because of one basic distinctive—a truly biblical lifestyle. It has been said that anyone who claims to believe the Bible but refuses to translate the teachings of the Bible into personal lifestyle applications is actually a pagan. Please be reminded that the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). We can say that we believe the Sermon on the Mount, but the biblical Anabaptist will live out those principles, and a truly Anabaptist congregation will mandate such with the practice of nonresistance. We can say that we believe in personal sanctification, but the true Anabaptist congregation will require specific applications of personal separation. We can say that we believe in biblical sexuality, but the true Anabaptist congregation will discipline offenders and expose predators. It has nothing to do with Anabaptist tradition. It has everything to do with Scripture.
The Anabaptist exclusive seems clearly to be biblically mandated lifestyle applications. This and this alone explains the difference between Anabaptism and Protestant Evangelicalism. Evangelicalism teaches truth and leaves lifestyle application with the individual conscience. Anabaptism teaches truth and requires lifestyle application under the God-given authority of the covenant community.
Does this imply that all Anabaptists must have exactly the same applications? No. What we are saying is that all Scripture, when properly interpreted, must be transformed into life practice or it is not truly believed. This is in accordance with Christ’s last command in Matthew 28:20. While salvation is by grace through faith, faith is not saving faith without resulting practice. This is the essence of Anabaptism.