The Beatitudes query

[MaxPC]

Do all Anabaptists preach the Beatitudes?

What position of priority do the Beatitudes hold within your fellowship?

[Josh]

Do all Anabaptists preach the Beatitudes?

What position of priority do the Beatitudes hold within your fellowship?

Generally speaking, yes, they do.

They are a high priority, although I'm not sure there is a "priority" we hold for various parts of scripture.

[Sudsy]

Do all Anabaptists preach the Beatitudes?

What position of priority do the Beatitudes hold within your fellowship?

In all the time I was in the Mennonite Brethren church I don't recall any sermon on the Beatitudes. I do recall sermons on bad attitudes though.

[JimFoxvog]

The whole Sermon on the Mount has been a central teaching of the two MC-USA churches I have been a member of.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

In my experience, the biggest difference between the Anabaptist tradition and Baptist/Evangelical is the focus on the Sermon on the Mount. Anabaptists take it as written, prescriptive for followers of Jesus. Baptist/Evangelical have various means of downplaying it.

The beatitudes, however, are descriptive. The prescriptive parts of the SotM come later. So "preaching the beatitudes", to me, does not mean teaching that we have to be more meek, merciful, poor, hungry, or suffering. The beatitudes are a declaration that these conditions, usually seen as a sign of curse or lack-of-blessing, are actually the first people who will receive the blessing of Jesus' upside-down Kingdom.

[MaxPC]

In my experience, the biggest difference between the Anabaptist tradition and Baptist/Evangelical is the focus on the Sermon on the Mount. Anabaptists take it as written, prescriptive for followers of Jesus. Baptist/Evangelical have various means of downplaying it.

The beatitudes, however, are descriptive. The prescriptive parts of the SotM come later. So "preaching the beatitudes", to me, does not mean teaching that we have to be more meek, merciful, poor, hungry, or suffering. The beatitudes are a declaration that these conditions, usually seen as a sign of curse or lack-of-blessing, are actually the first people who will receive the blessing of Jesus' upside-down Kingdom.

This is one of the best descriptions of the Beatitudes and Sermon on the Mount I have read. Thank you.

[JayP]

Really Max? I think the best description of the Beatitudes is the Beatitudes.