It was a quiet Sunday morning in our small, home-based congregation. Bible study proceeded as usual. Somewhere in the discussion, a leader brought up one of the many things our church had learned from Bill Gothard’s “Basic Seminar”: The importance of not taking up offenses. I spoke up instantly, “This teaching was specifically developed to silence those speaking up about sexual abuse. It’s wrong, and isn't Scriptural.”  Others felt that I was…

“Why did the Anabaptist radicals reject the Zwinglian reformation?” Good question, and the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. You could say that they believed in believer’s baptism, in discipleship, in a purified church pursuing Christlikeness, and in the Kingdom of God… and you would be right. However, if we were to take a step back from well-worn discourses of Anabaptist theology, we will also find that they were addressing…

We are excited to share two videos from Anabaptist Perspectives on the subject of missions, imperialism, and colonialism involving Pastor Kai Steinman, Dr Marlin Sommers, and myself. Part 1: How Empire and Colonialism Perverted Missions Part II: Relearning the Kingdom Through Humble Mission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB8GMZwWjRM&t=1127s Continuing the discussion generated by these podcast episodes, this second installment of the Kingdom Outpost Study Series will begin to explore the history of Christendom. We could begin…

Loyalty This is my church. Right or wrong. I will defend my church. This is ideology.This is comfortable.This is the ten spies, not the two spies.This defends the status quo. This is playing politics.This takes no courage. We always did it this way.We will protect and defend even if some things are wrong. This destroys by allowing wrong to continue. Integrity This is my church, but something is wrong. Some things must…

[For an extended audio version of this article, check out the podcast episode]Theodicies are a big deal. Whether you know the term "theodicy" or not, you probably know a theodicy or two if you're a Christian. It's pretty much required, as remaining a Christian without knowing a few theodicies would be intellectually difficult. Whether you yourself have struggled with doubt about God and his goodness, or whether someone you know has struggled…

Why does the New Testament tell slaves to submit to their masters? Numerous passages give advice to slaves. Some give advice to Christian slave masters. How can this fit with the gospel of the Kingdom and the proclamation of God’s righteousness? If we hear these “slavery texts” rightly, they can offer us fresh insight regarding the upside-down kingdom of Christ and what it means to take up our own cross and experience…