Articles
Our desire is that these resources will point you to the Way, help you know Truth and how it is applied in life.
Sin: Nature, Consequence, and Answer
The Nature of Sin Sin is a word that is often used in the language of the churched, in the rhythms of their gathering, in the words of their prayers and songs, and in the words that they speak and read. Sin is not, however, something that is easy to…
Functional Pelagianism and Our Children
As someone who was raised within the Anabaptist tradition, I greatly appreciate the focus most Anabaptist cultures place on creating strong families with disciplined and faithful children. Unfortunately, many conservative Anabaptist communities increasingly struggle to retain young people past early adulthood.[^1] Some move toward more liberal expressions of Anabaptism, while…
An Introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy
In an essay entitled Drawn Eastward: The Attraction of Eastern Orthodoxy for Western Christians, James R. Payton, Jr. writes, “Since the 1980s, interest in Eastern Orthodoxy has mushroomed in the West.”[^1] One prominent example of that interest is Franky Schaeffer, who joined the Greek Orthodox Church in 1990. Franky (the…
Anabaptism: A Primer
Introduction What is Anabaptism? Why does Anabaptism matter? This article is an attempt to briefly answer those two questions. One of the most defining moments in church history occurred in 1523 in Zürich, Switzerland. The religious atmosphere in Western Europe throughout the medieval period was predominantly Roman Catholic, but change…
The Hidden Framework Reshaping Anabaptist Faith: How Good Intentions and Scholarly Appeals Are Quietly Redefining the Gospel
Conservative Anabaptist communities today face tremendous pressure from progressive theology. As mainline Mennonite conferences have embraced positions incompatible with Scripture, faithful believers have sought solid ground. Many have turned to historical scholarship, early church fathers, contemporary scholars, seeking frameworks to defend biblical faith against liberal drift. When progressives dismiss biblical…
Learning Simplicity from Jesus
I was born into an Anabaptist home, but I am not an Anabaptist solely because of that. I do, however, consider it very influential and a blessing. But, I am a happy Anabaptist! I believe conservative Anabaptism, although filled with imperfect people, has strengths as a system of Biblical interpretation…
A Bucket List Mentality
So, what do you have on your bucket list? You know, that list of things that you “just have to do” before you “kick the bucket.” There are so many places to go, people to meet, and things to do! A quick Google search of “favorite places to go” reveals…
A Fruitful Retirement
Charles Simeon was the pastor of Trinity Church, Cambridge, in the late 1700s. In 1807, after serving for 25 years, his health suddenly deteriorated. He was only 47 years old. His condition necessitated a leave of absence from the ministry. This debilitating health condition lasted almost 13 years, but it…
Body Shame
Almost everyone experiences some form of body shame during their lifetime. Body shame comes from negative judgment either from others or from oneself when he fails to meet his own standard. The person then feels exposed because of his differences which leads to distancing from others and God because he…
Why the Bible Needs to be in the Common Language
God the creator calls mankind to follow Him. He transcends the creator-creature gap by speaking to His people through prophets, apostles, and His son. This means God wants to be heard and obeyed. Since God’s words are his primary way of communicating to humanity and they have been written down,…
Towards a Theology of Risk
As the global body of Christ takes the gospel into security-challenged environments, its members face significant risks. In response, some elevate risk as a spiritual value, flirting with recklessness; others shun risk, drifting towards a fear-driven paralysis. This article attempts to promote a balanced stewardship, which neither shuns risk nor…
A Biblical Perspective on Suffering
When one of our children was born, a quietness settled into the room as the expected cry of a child experiencing their first breath did not happen. There was not a lot of talking, but there was quick, quiet work by the nurses’ expert hands, along with the arrival of…
