Anabaptist Perspectives

 “There is nothing, nothing harder to do in my life than church.” Dean Taylor responds to audience comments on deep disappointment with Anabaptism and on difficulties in understanding the bible due to textual complications and lack of historical context. We will often be surprised at the results if we are willing to be humbly and honestly up front with our church leaders. Dean also argues for...

How can we engage in mission as “little Christs” and not as Americans? Kai Steinman and Rebekah Mui encourage us “learn Christ” in His humility, service, and laying down of Himself. Christ, when He is lifted up, will draw people to Himself.  While our guests acknowledge the dangers of empire and arrogance, they encourage all who reach out in humility for the sake of Christ.  “Empire is a...

Western missions were tied to imperialism and colonialism. Kai Steinman and Rebekah Mui discuss the interweaving of empire, Christendom, and mission with all its dark sides. At the same time, they call our attention to the beauty of Christ’s kingdom shining among the ashes.  The China Mirage by James Bradley  The Way of the Cross by Guy Hershberger  Rebekah discusses and quotes exte...

Are Christians naïve to advocate accepting immigration? Staff members, Jaran Miller, Reagan Schrock, and Marlin Sommers respond to listener comments and discuss pertinent biblical teaching and practical realities. Also, a listener asked how to access our videos without using YouTube. See below for links to our Telegram/CloudVeil channels. Jesus, a Refugee by Josh Nisly Anabaptists and Muslims by D...

How can we see Bible study as a tangible way to know God? Kristi Mast shares how she moved from intimidation at Bible study to delight in seeing God through scripture. She also reflects on cultural factors that can make serious biblical engagement more difficult for women in conservative circles.  She calls all of us to study the Bible together in our pursuit of knowing God.  This is the...

Galatians is about God’s New Creation, as Paul Lamicela helps us see. This episode probes major themes in Galatians in light of Jesus bringing the newness that redeems us from the present evil age. For much more detail listen to Paul’s four espisode series on the Think Truth podcast https://think-truth.org/2022/01/18/galatians-series-the-big-picture/ https://think-truth.org/2022/01/31/galatians-se...

The internet is an “attention economy.”  Websites sell your attention to advertisers and use sophisticated algorithms to personalize your feed.  Myron Eby and Verlon Miller discuss the downsides of an internet built around selling ads, and encourage us toward some ways to combat those dangers by intentionally seeking good sources of information.  12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You &...

What is Digital Minimalism? Does it describe conservative Anabaptist groups? Verlon Miller and Myron Eby discuss Mennonite and Amish hesitations about new information technology and the pros and cons of churches choosing to selectively adopt new technologies.  Digital Minimalism  by Cal Newport This is the 169th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel tha...

Does internet filtering work? Is it just a cop-out from the hard work of cultivating a pure heart? Verlon Miller and Myron Eby discuss various tools designed to protect us from the dark side of the internet. They also discuss these tools in relation to the role of community and also guarding our hearts.  This is the 168th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channe...

Does communion involve the literal body of Jesus? Does baptism save us? Dean Taylor addresses listener comments regarding baptism and the Lord’s supper. These questions were responses to Dean’s episode “The Essence of Anabaptism” in which he emphasized believing scripture “without a complicated interpretation.” Some viewers argued that doesn’t fit with Anabaptist views of communion and baptism. Yo...

As our board and staff were together recently, we hammered out a vision statement.   “Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’s sacrificial kingdom.”  We also discussed operation improvements. Until now we have run this podcast by seasons and currently we are in Season 4.  Going forward, we will not be using seasons. We will instead release episodes biweekly and av...

[Note: After this episode, we will be shifting to a biweekly release schedule.]  One YouTube commenter wrote: “In the Anabaptist worldview, we value community above almost everything else. We are often even reluctant to discuss controversial Bible passages for fear of disrupting our sense of community. In the academic world, on the other hand, promoting, debating, and defending your own contr...

A listener commented “I love the theology and cannot stand the exclusivity” in reference to John’s episode “ The Kingdom of God in Anabaptist Thought .”   John affirms the existence of other Kingdom Christians. His comments also clarify what he means by Kingdom theology. We are to be a city set on a hill, which is a light to the world as a community, not just as individuals. We are to be a so...

Whether, it’s a Sunday school lesson, topic, or sermon, teaching scripture can feel overwhelming. Verlon Miller gives helpful tools and pointers from years of preaching experience. Verlon calls us to diligence in study, whenever we have the opportunity to share. Tools discussed include cross-references, commentaries, and simple software.  This is the 164th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives,...

Should Christians “own” all of church history? How do evil things done by those who take the name of Christ relate to us?  And switching gears, how does one become Mennonite? What if I want to be Anabaptist but there is no congregation near me? Jaran, Marlin, and Reagan discuss these questions that were posed on earlier episodes. Listen to Allen Roth’s discussion of what to do when there is n...

Why do some church plants fail? How can an older church help start a new church? Allen Roth speaks from experience and observation. Church planting calls for much prayer, clear vision, and a whole lot of practical steps and hard work.  Suggested Resources  Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts by Griffith and Easum [affiliate link] Global Church Planting by Ott and Wilson [...

The church planter is like a rubber tire between the bumpers of two vehicles.  Allen Roth describes the challenge of operating with integrity and with respect for both the sending culture and receptor culture while engaged in cross-cultural evangelism.  Allen describes what he sees as Anabaptist core values, noting how we can easily be blind to our own spiritual heritage and to how we ar...

“How does one plant churches, teaching people to obey clear commands of Scripture that go in the opposite direction of many accepted norms of prevailing culture?” Allen Roth doesn’t stop with asking the difficult questions, but pushes us to be confident in scripture, humble in our understanding, and devoted to knowing scripture. “The Holy Spirit can’t bring to our memory scriptures we don’t know.&...

Our founders, Reagan and Jaran, tell the story of Anabaptist Perspectives from their perspective. Why they started, humor and encouragement along the way, and what keeps them excited five years in.  As they say in the episode, we are especially grateful for all of you who have sustained this ministry with your gifts.  Recommended Resources: Plough Publishing House Life Together Podcast “...

We should learn from monks and nuns. Monastics were responsible for the revival of agriculture, in addition to schools, libraries, and hospitals. These works of service accompanied their focus on the interior life and recovering personal wholeness. Stephen reminds us of the origins of monasticism in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Timothy 5:9-12), and highlights the possibility that those...

Kristi Mast highlights women, past and present, who have inspired her. As the conversation progresses, she highlights the power of reading scripture congregationally. Then she offers a brief review of egalitarian and complementarian ideologies in contemporary Christianity. Kristi encourages women to see themselves first as disciples, rather than any other identity. She calls all of us to keep comi...

Are commentaries cheating? Marlin emphasizes first hand direct engagement with the text of scripture. If used carefully, commentaries can actually help this process. Marlin also discusses free study resources and biblical language tools. This conversation continues themes from Marlin’s essay “The Inside-Out Sandwich.” Read Marlin’s essay The Inside-out Sandwich: An Approach to Studying and Teachin...

What does humility mean for studying the Bible? Can only the educated understand scripture? Vince and Roseanne respond to audience comments from Vince’s prior episodes with Anabaptist Perspectives. How can we grow in our understanding of Scripture? Do we need to have an answer for every question?  View prior episodes with Vince:    Does Academia Cause Loss of Faith   Why I...

What did a team of four students learn when they spent several days (and nights) on the streets of Dallas? Their goal was to hear from people experiencing homelessness and get a small taste of that Homelessness directly affects about 580,000 Americans, but most of us don’t encounter these individuals face to face. Our guests in this episode temporarily surrendered their comfort and ease to live am...

Years ago John taught the book of Luke in a high school classroom. This launched his journey of faith into what he terms “voluntary poverty,” or non-accumulation of wealth. In this episode he shares some practical parts of this journey and comments on when the rubber meets the road in his later years.  This is the 153rd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel...