Rediscovering the Anabaptist Vision: Communities of Discipleship and Mission
The idea of the church as a “committed community of discipleship and mission” is widespread in modern Christianity. Yet, the foundational contribution of the Anabaptist tradition to this concept is often undervalued. The Anabaptists, who integrated discipleship and mission into the core of church life, were ridiculed and persecuted during the Christendom era—a time when the church was perceived more as an institution or a sacred space rather than a living, active community of believers.
The Christendom Era and the Anabaptist Reformation
During the Christendom era, the church and state were deeply intertwined, with church membership often synonymous with civic identity. Attending church was a civic duty rather than an expression of personal faith or commitment to discipleship. Churchgoers were generally passive participants, and the church was seen as a provider of spiritual services, not as a community of mission. The idea of engaging in God’s mission was foreign to most, as society was already considered Christian. Mission work was delegated to the state or specialized agencies and was perceived as necessary only in regions beyond Christendom’s borders.
This separation between mission and community created a significant divide that persists today. Despite modern efforts to bridge this gap—through terms like “missional church” or “mission-shaped church”—many Christians still view mission as the responsibility of specialists, often in far-off places.
The early Anabaptists offered a stark contrast to this view. They believed that Christendom itself was in need of a mission. They saw their neighbours, who were nominally Christian, as needing conversion and their society as needing transformation through the gospel. This belief was revolutionary and countercultural. They did not just see mission as something that happened far away but as something necessary in their own communities. This perspective led them to adopt practices that were radically different from their contemporaries.
Stories abound of early Anabaptists, often uneducated but passionate, who shared their faith with those around them. They sent out members in pairs to plant new churches and spread the gospel. Hans Nadler, a needle seller, exemplifies this commitment. Though illiterate, he would engage people in conversations about God, using the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed to explain how one could be “born anew.” Nadler’s simple yet profound method allowed him to communicate deep spiritual truths in a way that was accessible to everyone, regardless of their education level.
The Anabaptists were among the first to embrace the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) as a mandate not only for baptizing believers but also for engaging in mission. Unlike the state-church system of Christendom, which relied on infant baptism to incorporate individuals into the church, Anabaptists insisted on believer’s baptism as a conscious choice, signifying a commitment to discipleship and mission.
Discipleship Beyond the Monastery
In the Christendom model, discipleship was largely reserved for clergy and monastic communities, with ordinary Christians expected only to attend church and conform to societal norms. The Anabaptists challenged this model, believing that all followers of Jesus were called to be disciples. This belief was rooted in their understanding of grace. While the Reformers emphasized grace as the justification of sinners through Christ’s work, the Anabaptists viewed grace as the transforming power of God in the lives of believers, empowering them to live as true disciples.
The Anabaptists were often labeled “new monastics” because they rejected the traditional monastic system, which they saw as creating a two-tiered church, and instead called all believers to a life of radical discipleship. This conviction was not merely theological but was lived out in their communities. They planted churches composed of individuals who committed themselves to following Jesus, often at great personal risk.
Menno Simons, a prominent Anabaptist leader, articulated this vision: “True evangelical faith… cannot lie dormant; it clothes the naked; it feeds the hungry; it comforts the sorrowful; it shelters the destitute; it serves those that harm it; it binds up that which is wounded; it has become all things to all men.” This quote encapsulates the Anabaptist commitment to a faith that is active and engaged in both discipleship and mission.
The Legacy of Anabaptist Discipleship and Mission
The Anabaptists’ commitment to discipleship and mission laid the groundwork for what would become the free church movement, a movement that emphasizes voluntary church membership and the call for all members to be active disciples. This model of church, which we take for granted today, was born out of great suffering and courageous resistance.
Today, Anabaptists continue to nurture and develop churches where discipleship and mission are central commitments. However, in our post-Christendom and postmodern context, where the Christian narrative is often unfamiliar and very often misunderstood, the relationship between belonging, believing, and behaving has become more complex. Many people now need time to explore the Christian faith before fully committing. Anabaptist churches, with their emphasis on allowing gradual and gracious discipleship, provide a welcoming environment for seekers.
This approach is illustrated in the story of a gentleman Bernard, a Jew and agnostic who attended Wood Green Mennonite Church in London for eighteen years before embracing the Christian faith and being baptized. The church welcomed Bernard without pressure, allowing him to journey with the community at his own pace. This gradual process reflects the Anabaptist understanding of discipleship as a lifelong journey of following Jesus.
A Centered Approach to Mission and Discipleship
Anabaptists have historically maintained a “bounded set” approach to church, where clear boundaries distinguish insiders from outsiders based on belief and behaviour. However, Contemporary Anabaptist churches can find the “centred set” approach more congruent with their convictions. This model emphasizes the direction in which people are moving rather than their current status. The focus is on the core convictions of the Christian community, which serve as a centre around which individuals gather, allowing for open edges that welcome those who are on a journey toward faith.
Paul Hiebert, an Anabaptist anthropologist, describes the centred set as a community defined by its strong core convictions but with open edges that allow people to explore and move toward the centre at their own pace. This model is particularly helpful for communities committed to both mission and discipleship, as it allows for a dynamic and inclusive approach to faith.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Anabaptist vision of the church as a committed Christian community of discipleship and mission remains as relevant today as it was in the sixteenth century. While it may seem commonplace now, this vision was revolutionary in its time and continues to challenge and inspire contemporary churches. As we seek to be communities of discipleship and mission in our own context, we would do well to remember the courage and conviction of the early Anabaptists, who lived out their faith in ways that continue to resonate today.
Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”
James 2:17: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
These verses support the Anabaptist conviction that faith and discipleship are inseparable, calling all believers to active participation in God’s mission.
