Anabaptist Essentials
Ten Signs of a Unique Christian Faith
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- CHF 10.00
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- CHF 10.00
Beschreibung des Verlags
What is the essence of Anabaptism?
Jesus. Community. Reconciliation. These sum up the core values of Anabaptist faith and life, writes pastor Palmer Becker in this concise new resource. In Anabaptist Essentials, Becker introduces readers to the key convictions and practices of Anabaptism, the Christian tradition of the Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren in Christ. From the believers within a sixteenth-century movement to those today who try to follow Jesus, create community, and practice peace, Anabaptists have a rich witness to offer the wider world. Designed for study by small groups and for use as a resource for Christian formation and conversation, this clear, readable guide to what makes Anabaptism unique will equip readers to live out a more radical commitment to Jesus.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Becker (What Is an Anabaptist Christian?) offers a concise, informative, insightful history of Christian Anabaptists timed to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The Anabaptist tradition, including Mennonites, Amish, Hutterites, and Brethren in Christ, grew out the tumultuous Reformation in northern Europe, but found favor with neither Catholics nor Protestants in part because Anabaptists refused to fight in war. Now Anabaptists are in 80 countries; two-thirds are in the Global South. Becker is a Canadian Mennonite pastor, educator, and missionary with a delightfully empirical mind. His book is built on three concepts (Jesus, community, reconciliation), from which proceed three key statements: "Jesus is the center of our faith; 2) community is the center of our lives; and 3) reconciliation is the center of our work." The section on Anabaptists and conflict should be assigned reading for every Christian for its clear-eyed assessment of conflict and its effective nonviolent strategies for engaging and transforming it. "Reconciling conflict is hard work.... However, there is no greater joy than to live a reconciled life," writes Becker. This slim volume, with illustrative graphics and discussion questions, is an easy, engaging read for those who want to learn, or be reminded of, what Christianity is all about.
