Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything: Recent Episodes
Anabaptist Perspectives
Nazism grows slowly out of nationalism. A YouTube commenter warned not to underestimate the depth of complicity with the Nazi regime or the continued potential to succumb to the same kinds of temptations. Reagan Schrock discusses this with Marlin Sommers and Kyle Stoltzfus
I (Marlin) asked Paul Lamicela a few bonus questions before we tackled two episodes for our main podcast. What’s your favorite book related to the New Testament? (Paul gave two recommendations, I immediately ordered the first book, and can attest that it is worthwhile.) The Crucified King, Jeremy Treat: https://amzn.to/3TWKBAL (https://amzn.to/3TWKBAL) {affiliate link} https://amazon.com/Crucified-King-Atonement-Biblical-Systematic/dp/0310516749 God’s Kingdom Through God’s Covenants, Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum: https://amzn.to/3Qyo8Hj (https://amzn.to/3Qyo8Hj) {affiliate link}
What’s it like to write an entire dissertation—hundreds of pages—about a NT book that is only a few pages long? (Paul wrote a dissertation on the use of the OT in 2 Peter.)
A commenter on YouTube has repeatedly exhorted us toward gnosticism. Reagan, Kyle, and Marlin respond with a discussion of the conflict between gnosticism and Christianity.
Are some tracks of study harmful to the Christian faith? Does a college education cut you off from your home community? Should we be able to connect with anyone? Vince Beiler and Rosanne Bauman respond to listener comments in today's bonus episode. Quotable quote: "A good teacher should be able to hold a conversation with anyone about anything at any time."
Does willful sin mean we immediately lose our salvation? Kyle Stoltzfus and Marlin Sommers discuss how we can recognize the real dangers of sin, while remaining confident in our relationship with God and the covenant He has made.
Can the farmer or carpenter have intellectual interests? Absolutely! Kyle Stoltzfus and Marlin Sommers dive into the relationships between reflection and hands-on work.
Should employers require employees to sign non-compete agreements? Kevin says there are some circumstances where it would make sense. We should think through why or why not.
A listener asks, "What really is God's name?" Does it matter if we refer to God as Yahweh or Jehovah? Do we need to use the divine name or can we just use titles like God or Lord? Marlin fills in a little biblical backstory and argues that using God's name is helpful, but not strictly necessary.
“I don’t have any experience living in a kingdom.” Kai Steinman explains why he connects more personally with the imagery of Christ as head rather than Christ as King. (Though he very much agrees that we should talk about the Kingdom.)
Anabaptists like to say that they as Christians should avoid politics, or that Christianity is not political. So a lot of people might wonder what the point could be to studying political philosophy. This is mainly a discussion of Rebekah and Marlin's respective experiences studying political philosophy.
What is the best bible translation? We refuse to identify one as the best but list several good ones. It's good to use different translations for different purposes. Join Marlin and Jaran as they share some practical advice for deciding how to choose good Bible translations.
Are schools a part of the Illuminati plan to make everyone a robot for their evil ideas? Is the education system designed to program our minds to the standards and values of the world? Jaran and Marlin discuss positives and negatives of the education system as well as encourage us to remain aware of secular values and mindsets in the schools we attend.
Do Anabaptists have devotion services on the Sabbath? In this episode of AAPA, Marlin, Reagan, and Jaran weigh in on typical Anabaptist services and the involvement of church members in those services.
"Books are my friends" Once upon a time, someone suggested that Chester purchase an Anabaptist library. The rest is history! Reagan, Marlin, and Chester discuss the value of reading in church history and how to get started. Primary sources are emphasized.
Mennonite Nazis SeriesThis is the last in a three part series of Partner content expanding on and engaging with comments on Chester Weaver's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9SKXc9WZw (lecture about Mennonite Nazis). A listener asked what lessons we should learn from the failures in the face of Nazism. How should we approach current evils in our day. Chester urges us to overcome evil with good through creative, proactive work. Marlin warns about the dangers of embracing one side of cultural wars. Bibliography: Days of Terror (1979) by Barbara Claassen Smucker - written especially for young people River of Glass (1980) by Wilfred Martens - a story of the dramatic Mennonite escape across the Amir River into Harbin, China, to achieve freedom A Russian Dance of Death: Revolution and Civil War in the Ukraine (1977) by Dietrich Neufeld - "This is a story of terror and brutality, of murder, plunder, and suffering. Willa Cather, noted American writer said, 'I cannot doubt that this is the story of an actual experience. It has made me realize the terribleness of the Russian Revolution more vividly than anything else I have read.'" (from back of book cover) Red Quarter Moon: A Search for Family in the Shadow of Stalin (2012) by Anne Konrad - "A compelling and highly personal narrative, [it] adds much to our knowledge on the lives of the individuals and families who survived the Stalin era, yet lived behind the Iron Curtain for so many years." (from back cover) Miracles of Grace and Judgment (1974) by Gerhard P. Schroeder - "A family strives for survival during the Russian Revolution" My Harp Is Turned to Mourning (1990) by Al Reimer - "This panoramic historical novel unfolds in the years 1905 - 1924, a momentous period that saw the secure and prosperous Mennonite colonies in the central Ukraine ravaged by revolution and civil war. Set mainly in the large Molochnaya settlement, this epic story follows the fortunes of the Fast family which has been farming in the village of Blumenau since coming to Russia from West Prussia in 1804."
Mennonite Nazis SeriesThis is the second in a three part series of Partner content expanding on and engaging with comments on Chester Weaver's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9SKXc9WZw (lecture about Mennonite Nazis). The Bolshevik story for Mennonites is older and better documented than the story of Mennonites and Nazis. Some commenters on YouTube seemed to want to justify Nazism because of the horrors of Bolshevism. Chester replies that this is a failure to understand the Kingdom of Christ. Most of the story is suffering under communism, but in Nazi Germany much of the story was collusion. Bibliography: Days of Terror (1979) by Barbara Claassen Smucker - written especially for young people River of Glass (1980) by Wilfred Martens - a story of the dramatic Mennonite escape across the Amir River into Harbin, China, to achieve freedom A Russian Dance of Death: Revolution and Civil War in the Ukraine (1977) by Dietrich Neufeld - "This is a story of terror and brutality, of murder, plunder, and suffering. Willa Cather, noted American writer said, 'I cannot doubt that this is the story of an actual experience. It has made me realize the terribleness of the Russian Revolution more vividly than anything else I have read.'" (from back of book cover) Red Quarter Moon: A Search for Family in the Shadow of Stalin (2012) by Anne Konrad - "A compelling and highly personal narrative, [it] adds much to our knowledge on the lives of the individuals and families who survived the Stalin era, yet lived behind the Iron Curtain for so many years." (from back cover) Miracles of Grace and Judgment (1974) by Gerhard P. Schroeder - "A family strives for survival during the Russian Revolution" My Harp Is Turned to Mourning (1990) by Al Reimer - "This panoramic historical novel unfolds in the years 1905 - 1924, a momentous period that saw the secure and prosperous Mennonite colonies in the central Ukraine ravaged by revolution and civil war. Set mainly in the large Molochnaya settlement, this epic story follows the fortunes of the Fast family which has been farming in the village of Blumenau since coming to Russia from West Prussia in 1804."
Mennonite Nazis SeriesThis is the first in a three part series of Partner content expanding on and engaging with comments on Chester Weaver's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9SKXc9WZw (lecture about Mennonite Nazis). Bibliography: Days of Terror (1979) by Barbara Claassen Smucker - written especially for young people River of Glass (1980) by Wilfred Martens - a story of the dramatic Mennonite escape across the Amir River into Harbin, China, to achieve freedom A Russian Dance of Death: Revolution and Civil War in the Ukraine (1977) by Dietrich Neufeld - "This is a story of terror and brutality, of murder, plunder, and suffering. Willa Cather, noted American writer said, 'I cannot doubt that this is the story of an actual experience. It has made me realize the terribleness of the Russian Revolution more vividly than anything else I have read.'" (from back of book cover) Red Quarter Moon: A Search for Family in the Shadow of Stalin (2012) by Anne Konrad - "A compelling and highly personal narrative, [it] adds much to our knowledge on the lives of the individuals and families who survived the Stalin era, yet lived behind the Iron Curtain for so many years." (from back cover) Miracles of Grace and Judgment (1974) by Gerhard P. Schroeder - "A family strives for survival during the Russian Revolution" My Harp Is Turned to Mourning (1990) by Al Reimer - "This panoramic historical novel unfolds in the years 1905 - 1924, a momentous period that saw the secure and prosperous Mennonite colonies in the central Ukraine ravaged by revolution and civil war. Set mainly in the large Molochnaya settlement, this epic story follows the fortunes of the Fast family which has been farming in the village of Blumenau since coming to Russia from West Prussia in 1804."
Some of the top world leaders have been educated in American universities. Where are the Christians? Allen Roth shares memories from his childhood when his parents hosted many international students on their farm and presents the opportunities that still abound today.
How and why did the Christian school movement start? Although it had a rocky beginning and often inadequate vision, this movement provides an opportunity that we should take full advantage of while we have it. "Our teaching should not spare anything!" "We ought to have all kinds of curiosity."
Chester Weaver tells of an unexpected run in with the President. "He's not a God! He's just another human being!" Reagan mentions this episode on our main channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugUkTGiQcT8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugUkTGiQcT8)
What should I do if there is no Anabaptist congregation near me? Why are there not Mennonite churches in more places, especially cities? These are common questions from our audience. We took them to Allen Roth who not only gives an explanation but also issues a challenge to form faithful churches wherever we find ourselves. Allen has been a guest on several episodes discussing his own church planting experience. "The world at our doorstep" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6AqJSuMQSs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6AqJSuMQSs) "The Urban Challenge" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up3Cj9AbZn4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up3Cj9AbZn4) "Planting a Church in Brooklyn" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLGeYcfxbi0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLGeYcfxbi0)
Are conspiracy theories harmless? How do you respond to people who believe them? We have an obligation to the truth, but don't want to fall into 'foolish controversies'. Love, concern, education, and teaching are some good ways to respond.
Are Anabaptists the only group who understands kingdom theology? Jaran and Marlin address the concern that Anabaptists think they are the only ones who understand this concept. 'Kingdom' is a buzzword in larger circles than ours. Current Anabaptist enthusiasm for the Kingdom derives partly from a recovery of Kingdom vision by non-Anabaptist writers.
Do Anabaptists currently believe in baptismal regeneration or not? Does something significant happen at baptism or is it just a symbol? You Tube Commenters have faulted us both for teaching baptismal regeneration and for not teaching baptismal regeneration.
Can you be a Mennonite without a Mennonite church? Marlin, Kyle, and Reagan comment on the question and the difficulties and pitfalls when searching for another church tradition.
How do Anabaptists today react to fundamentalism? Are those reactions adequate? Reagan Schrock, Marlin Sommers, and one of our pastors, Verlon Miller, discuss these questions. This follows up an audience question from our live event on Fundamentalism held on October 24, 2020.
A listener asks how we can make time for studying the scriptures and the truly important things in life when under financial and cultural pressure to be very busy with work. No easy answers are given, but we discuss things we have found helpful and good examples we have seen from other people.
What can Anabaptists offer the rest of the world? How should we view Christians who serve in Government?To tackle these questions, Marlin and Reagan are joined by pastor Verlon Miller from our home church.
Somebody left this comment in response to Dean Taylor’s “Essence of Anabaptism,”: “Anabaptist theologian Herold Bender encourages Anabaptists to consider reading Church fathers such as Augustine and others. Anabaptists have a general assumption that they can escape from any tradition and teaching. But basically church fathers are also a cloud of witnesses or community of believers who really took faith seriously. We can get a tremendous help from them. So rather than dichotomizing Anabaptist tradition and the church history and tradition, they need to learn from others too.” In this episode of Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything, Kyle Stoltzfus and Stephen Russell respond. Watch Dean's episode here: https://youtu.be/DcnIA_NDafY (https://youtu.be/DcnIA_NDafY)
Several among our audience have protested the labels that we occasionally use for ourselves, "Anabaptist," "Mennonite," etc.. In this episode, Stephen Russell responds to this caution.
In response to Stephen Russell's https://youtu.be/CKz6gEbiiEQ (episode about nonresistance in historical Anabaptism), Tim asked: "Can one be nonresistant and still protect his loved ones against a drugged up person who breaks into your house and threatens to kill your family? Scripture tells us to love our enemy's, but it doesn't tell us to love our enemies more than our loved ones. It seems to me that if you don't stop a crazed drunk from raping your daughters, or trying to kill your family, is not love, but hate. Just my 2 cents." Mr. Russell responds to Tim's question and comment in this episode of Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything.
This episode references Russell's book "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3994541-overcoming-evil-god-s-way (Overcoming Evil God's Way)."
In this epsisode, two of Anabaptist Perspectives' advisers, Kyle Stoltzfus and Stephen Russell, respond to a question from Jordan: "Respectfully, I find it strange how you emphasized, quite emphatically, that you approach what the scriptures say (Particularly Jesus’s words) with a simple receptivity and yet deny the real presence of his body and blood in the supper. He clearly states “This IS my body and...this IS my blood shed for the remission of sins.” Same with baptism, in 1 Peter 3:21 the scripture states 'Baptism now saves you'. Am I missing something?" Dean Taylor's episode on the Essence of Anabaptism (https://youtu.be/DcnIA_NDafY (the first episode we every published)) is the context for this question.
Duane, one of our patrons, submitted a question about models of atonement theory. Stephen and Kyle respond to this question until Jaran derails the conversation with a comment about liberation theology. The conversation ends after noting the importance of the cross, providing a caution against immanentizing the eschaton, and observing problems with the church seeking political power.
Phillip asked, "Could one of you explain what the anabaptist’s originally believed about conversation and the new birth and how today’s new order Mennonites came to believe differently than the old order groups on this issue?" This is an excellent question, Phillip! Stephen Russell and Kyle Stoltzfus respond in this episode.
Abram asked us, " A hot topic among Anabaptists. The gifts of the Spirit. Do anabaptists focus to much on the fruit of the Spirit and ignore the gifts of the Spirit??" In this episode, Stephen Russell and Kyle Stoltzfus, two of our advisers, respond to Abram's question.
In this recording, Stephen Russell and Kyle Stoltzfus, two of our advisers, respond to a question that we received from a supporter about Christmas.
Are we exempted from racial concerns as Anabaptist? In this exclusive episode of "Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything" Reagan, Marlin, and Jaran explore options that might not be as foreign to us as we would like to think.
Welcome to the 4th episode of "Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything" exclusively on patreon. You'll find this episode gets quite interesting. Let's dive in!
This man reads a copious quantity of books. How does Dr. Kuruvilla consume so many? He explains in this brief conversation that he and Reagan had between structured interviews.
Since we were unable to live-stream our July interviews with Dr. Finny Kuruvilla, we're giving our patrons early access to the almost-unedited audio from Dr. Kuruvilla's mic from his interview about ethnic specific churches.
Occasionally listeners share the concern that Anabaptist Perspectives is promoting “works salvation” or “works righteousness.” In this episode of Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything, Marlin, Reagan, and Jaran (well mostly just Marlin, actually) address this concern.
This is a Patreon-exclusive, early release of an interview we recorded in July with Dr. Finny Kuruvilla about academic work in the early Anabaptist movement. This episode is scheduled to be made publicly available on February 6, 2020.
A member of Anabaptist Perspectives’ audience encouraged us to share the Gospel with those who are not Christians by preaching that the Earth is flat rather than spherical. In this episode of Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything, Marlin, Reagan, and Jaran respond to this suggestion and somehow end up talking about Young Earth Creationism too.
During July's episode-filming tour, Reagan and Jaran live-streamed most interview sessions. Due to a flight-booking mishap, we were unable to stream our interviews with Dr. Finny Kuruvilla. Over the next few weeks, we'll post the barely-edited-at-all audio from Dr. Kuruvilla's mic so you don't have to wait until the winter to hear this excellent content. Here's our first interview about studying biblical languages.
This is the first episode of a podcast exclusive to our patrons. In this episode three of the Anabaptist Perspectives staff discuss two questions that we have received from our audience: 1. Do Mennonite women go to college? 2. Do Mennonites Have Arranged Marriages? We are calling this podcast "Ask Anabaptist Perspectives Anything", feel free to send questions or comments; we will do our best to respond to them.