To start, I see two main distinctions between Anabaptist theology and what could be called "mainline evangelicalism." I realize that is a loose term but I'll leave it at that for now. To start, it seems a healthy Anabaptist theology will take seriously an ecclesiology that embraces the Christian as part of a peoplehood, a community (although that is an overused buzzword). Although faith in Jesus Christ is a personal decision, it is not made in isolation. A follower of Jesus Christ is always a part of a larger work of God through his people. This people is committed to following Christ individually in specific situations: vocations, entertainment, labor, witness etc. However, it is never divorced from the corporate interpretation of Scripture, mutual exhortation, teaching, celebration, and ethical deliberation of the peoplehood of Christ. This is in distinction from the main evangelical view which sees the church as a collection of saved individuals that come together periodically. In the Anabaptist view, the follower of Christ cannot maintain an identity that is divorced from the peoplehood she is a part of. Being grafted into the body of Christ is indeed part of being his follower and life in Christ cannot be experienced apart from it. Thus, through the act of dying to self and rising to new life as seen in baptism the adult believer becomes grafted into the body of Christ.
Secondly, although there are churches in several different traditions that hold to it as well, the Anabaptist church almost unanimously teaches that the way of Christ must always be the way of peace. For centuries now, Anabaptists have looked at Jesus as the initiator of a way of peace, a way of bringing God's way (his kingdom) to earth. Jesus showed and taught that in his kingdom all are loved, all are treated as image bearers. This includes the oppressor as well as the victim, the evil as well as the good. Thus, the follower of Christ does not use violence to bring about good but rather puts and end to the oppressive myth of redemptive violence by actively and creatively bringing peace and reconciliation into hostile situations. This is a value that Anabaptist hold dear and I think needs to be listened to by our friends in other traditions.
So, thoughts? Am I right that these are Anabaptist distinctives? Are there more very important things I have missed?
