• Becoming Anabaptist…

    July 4, 2008

    I have found myself lately considering my own faith and where is it is leading me.

    I grew up in the church of Christ (non-denominational/accapella) where my father was a minister for a few years in Brisbane. So, for a couple of years we lived in USAmerica while he studied to become a minister with the churchof Christ. While, most of the folk I have met along my journey in the cofC have been wonderful, caring and loving folk, I must say that the cofC as a whole is very legalistic and extremely conservative. There are even a couple of unwritten beliefs that when expressed publically get denied.

    Anyway, now as I approach forty and have travelled away from the cofC, done the Forge internship, and continue to read, pray and explore, I do find myself identifying more and more with the Anabaptist’s. I have been lent some great material from Bessie at Oikos about the Anabaptist’s which I am thoroughly enjoying.

    I must admit that a small part of me still says No! It’s not the Church of Christ! Silly, I know! So, I continue to explore and question, pray and read, talk and listen to wiser ones than I. I believe that some of the reasons for identifying more with the Anabaptist’s has a lot to do with the stripping away of the man-made crap that has become religion and the church in the last few centuries (Pagan Christianity by Barna and Viola was a great read and help in this area)! Social justice and following Jesus as a disciple are other reasons for identifying with them.

    But, at this stage, I also find myself going to a post-modern but kinda tradiitonal we’re-not-offcially-baptist-but-are-baptist church.

    I’ll write more about this as I can. But as for prayers and any comments you may have!

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    • Jill said...

      1

      The sequel to “Pagan Christianity?” is out now. It’s called “Reimagining Church”. It picks up where “Pagan Christianity” left off and continues the conversation. (“Pagan Christianity” was never meant to be a stand alone book; it’s part one of the conversation.) “Reimagining Church” is endorsed by Leonard Sweet, Shane Claiborne, Alan Hirsch, and many others. You can read a sample chapter at http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org. It’s also available on Amazon.com. Frank is also blogging now at http://frankviola.wordpress.com/

      07/31/08 4:33 AM | Comment Link

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