Five things Friday roundup: Things you leave behind when your church is Jesus-centric but not Anabaptist

— Edward Cisneros on Unsplash

As Christian nationalism continues to lay claim to the gospel, I (Josh) have encountered a growing movement of communities that describe themselves as “Jesus-centered.” In answering the question, “What is an Anabaptist?”, I often describe Jesus as the focal point — Anabaptists use the Jesus story as a lens to understand the scriptures.

Groups like Jesus Collective are working to bring Jesus-centered theology to the masses, which is exactly what the world needs. This has brought new life and clarity to many communities, especially as people seek to follow Jesus outside of institutional frameworks.

However, I’m familiar with a growing number of communities that are opting to drop the Anabaptist language and connection in favor of using a more streamlined “Jesus-centered” identity. While both approaches bring something valuable to the table, I have witnessed firsthand the potency a uniquely Anabaptist* perspective brings to postmodern, post-Christendom society. Opting for a Jesus-centric framework without the Anabaptist tradition might ultimately lead to a softer, less radical engagement with the world and with discipleship. Here are five qualities that could get lost.

1. Jesus is the foundation

Anabaptists emphasize that Jesus is not just the center but the foundation – the starting point from which everything else flows. Arguably, starting anywhere else, even with a Jesus-centered approach to faith, can easily result in the same pitfalls that marked the Christendom era.

For example, the Nicene Creed focuses on the Christ event (birth, death, resurrection) and has often been used as a unifying statement for faith communities. However, in some cases, starting here and moving toward Jesus has allowed theological frameworks like Christian nationalism to marginalize Jesus’ life and teachings.

Conforming Jesus to the whole of the Old Testament can lead to the same result. Similarly, beginning with the image of Jesus in Revelation can lead to unhealthy, even violent, theology. Interpreting the Bible with Jesus as the lens emphasizes both his salvific work and the call to follow him in practical, everyday discipleship.

2. Communal context

While many Jesus-centered communities place a beautiful focus on personal faith (as do many evangelical traditions), they may miss out on the communal dimension of practices like baptism and communion. Many Anabaptists view these not just as personal experiences but as communal acts of mutual accountability and fellowship. Losing this may increase the risk of isolation and accountability that Western society struggles with as a whole.

Historically, Anabaptists have viewed baptism as a voluntary pledge to discipleship within the community, a visible expression of shared faith. The mountaintop experience is replaced by a commitment to active participation in the church community. Communion, similarly, is about reconciliation — not only with oneself and God but also with those around us. Jesus breaks bread and shares wine in the context of a literal meal and calls us to remember him in the same communal setting.

3. Shared leadership and participation

The Anabaptist tradition developed among dissidents who were ordinary people hearing and sharing a different telling of the Gospel. Their belief that the Holy Spirit is at work in each person’s life and mature disciples emerged through communal participation and led to a multi-voiced church structure where all could be heard, not just those in formal leadership. Today this is modeled through practices such as intentionally including a diverse range of voices in worship and consensual decision-making, which is not to be confused with pursuing unanimity. And, while the gift of leadership isn’t to be marginalized, it’s expected that leaders are entrenched in the community and, in participating in mutual accountability, experience transformation, as does everyone else.

A multi-voiced church values shared leadership and active participation, encouraging members to contribute their gifts and insights. Without this, a Jesus-centric church might default to a more common hierarchical model, which may inadvertently concentrate power, allow fewer voices to dominate the conversation and diminish the role of the Spirit in empowering all believers.

4. Speaking truth in love and to power

Historically, Anabaptists have emphasized the importance of speaking truth in love and speaking truth to power. While these terms aren’t found in early Anabaptist writings, they describe Anabaptists challenging the leaders of church and state to change their ways — even when those challenges led to martyrdom. However, this is not only about personal honesty. Following Jesus means being willing to confront injustice, being a voice for the voiceless and enabling the silenced to speak up for themselves, even when it’s uncomfortable. Today, groups like Mennonite Action continue this tradition.

While many Jesus-centered communities do challenge injustice, Anabaptists may more explicitly connect truth-telling with a prophetic witness that confronts power structures, rooted in the historical practice of nonviolence and resistance. Without this core part of discipleship, a Jesus-centric church may be more apt to avoid the discomfort of confronting societal injustice. With issues like climate justice and economic inequality hanging over the world, Jesus cannot be reduced to a figure of personal comfort when a radical challenge to oppressive systems is needed.

5. Living simply and sharing

The early Anabaptists were inspired by the Acts church, where believers shared everything in common. They asked, “What if this is the most appropriate response for those closest to Jesus’ life and ministry?”

Simplicity and sharing are practices found in groups such as the Hutterites and often in other Anabaptist communities. These values push back against consumerism and materialism, encouraging a lifestyle of generosity and stewardship. In contrast, the allure of capitalism has made it all too common for faith communities — even Jesus-centered ones — to interpret Jesus’ teachings on economic injustice (and redistributive justice) as either hyperbole or solvable through calls to charitable giving and tithing.

“Spiritualizing” these teachings risks losing the radical, countercultural vision that early Anabaptists practiced, which included resource redistribution and communal living.

 

Author’s note: * Modern Anabaptist communities are not a monolith, and Anabaptists don’t hold a monopoly on the values in this list. Yet these examples of practices rooted in both tradition and adaptation are often central to what it means to follow Jesus in the Anabaptist way.

This article is inspired by the first five chapters of Stuart Murray-Williams’ new book, The New Anabaptists, a follow-up to his well-known The Naked Anabaptist.

Alisha and Josh Garber

Alisha and Josh Garber are in a season of discernment. After over a decade of mission work in Europe, they Read More

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