Church: another take

THE NEW ANABAPTISTS:
Practices for emerging communities
By Stuart Murray, with contributions by
Alexandra Ellish, Karen Sethuraman
and Juliet Kilpin
Herald. 208 pages. £14.98
ISBN 978 1 513 812 984

In January 1525, in Zurich, a little group met at the home of Felix Manz. They’d been close to the great reformer Ulrich Zwingli. But now Zwingli agreed with the city-state’s government that all citizens must, by law, conform to the ‘new religion’. This included baptising their infants. The deal would get the Bible taught in the city’s Grossmünster.

But, for these rebels, it was a compromise too far. They prayed. George Blaurock asked Conrad Grebel to baptise him. George baptised the rest. People derided them as ‘Anabaptists’ – re-baptisers. In 1527, Felix Manz’s punishment was to be tied up and drowned in the Limmat. He was the first of many Anabaptist martyrs.

This isn’t (mainly) about ‘credo’ vs ‘paedo’ baptism. It’s about who belongs to the earthly church, and (humanly speaking) who’s in control. The Anabaptists said ‘church’ means believers. Congregations and their chosen leaders run them. Kings and Councils can keep their noses out.

This was a massive challenge to state power. At huge cost in blood and liberty, the Anabaptists eventually won. So that moment 500 years ago inaugurated the free church in a free society. Freedom of thought and association begin with that idea of the free church.

Stuart Murray’s 2010 book The Naked Anabaptist is a handy introduction to Anabaptism. So what is Anabaptism now? How is it different from everyday evangelicalism? His new book examines this.

He lays out six distinctives. ‘New Anabaptists’ are Jesus centred – I hope that applies to us all! – and, of course, commend believer’s baptism. Communion remembers Christ in a ‘peacemeal’ which also celebrates and grows mutual commitment. Worship is ‘multi-voiced’ rather than hierarchical. Anabaptists believe in truth telling, in simplicity and sharing, and practical witness to peaceful co-operation. Anabaptists are missionaries who build communities, not institutions. He backs this with practical examples including peacebuilding in Belfast and restorative justice. There are suggested discussion points, liturgies and prayers. No one is going to agree with everything here. But I think any church will find something to stimulate, enthral and prompt change.