Anabaptist Perspectives Episode - What Happened to Anabaptists who stayed in Europe

[JohnH]

In a secular state, you do not need to share all of the values of that country - you just need to obey its laws - there is no requirement or expectation that the citizens will share all of the beliefs of the political leaders (couldn't keep up with the constant changes anyway ).

That sure isn't how it worked in the USSR, unless one is going to take the position that the USSR wasn't a "secular state".

[Neto]

In a secular state, you do not need to share all of the values of that country - you just need to obey its laws - there is no requirement or expectation that the citizens will share all of the beliefs of the political leaders (couldn't keep up with the constant changes anyway ).

That sure isn't how it worked in the USSR, unless one is going to take the position that the USSR wasn't a "secular state".

Yes, you are right. I was thinking of the countries where we (all of us on this forum) are living now, and I was blind to other countries where Christians are actively persecuted.

[JohnL]

The story of the Anabaptists in Europe reminds me of the Israelites in Egypt. God appointed Moses to lead them out of Egypt. Was there a leader or group of leaders who led the Anabaptists out of Europe?

[Pelerin]

Through interaction in a FB group dedicated to Plautdietsch history and genealogy I have heard of many people in both Russia and Ukraine who only discovered their 'Mennonite heritage' after doing DNA tracing. These are those who are lost to our people, many no longer following Jesus in any tangible way. Is the percentage of this loss greater there than the loss here in North America? I do not know - possibly not. (There was a woman whose name is identical to my oldest daughter's full maiden name who was a very active Canadian Communist. All I can say is to repeat, "God has no grandchildren.")

I thought I knew who you referring to here. There’s a book that’s been on my reading list for a while but when I looked I saw the subject was from Kansas instead.

But to the point I think Anabaptism can only really work if we live amongst the world. If the church should be made up only of those who have counted the cost and made the choice to commit the world right there to absorb those who choose not to instead of just being unregenerate members of the church because that’s the only option.

[Neto]

Through interaction in a FB group dedicated to Plautdietsch history and genealogy I have heard of many people in both Russia and Ukraine who only discovered their 'Mennonite heritage' after doing DNA tracing. These are those who are lost to our people, many no longer following Jesus in any tangible way. Is the percentage of this loss greater there than the loss here in North America? I do not know - possibly not. (There was a woman whose name is identical to my oldest daughter's full maiden name who was a very active Canadian Communist. All I can say is to repeat, "God has no grandchildren.")

I thought I knew who you referring to here. There’s a book that’s been on my reading list for a while but when I looked I saw the subject was from Kansas instead.

But to the point I think Anabaptism can only really work if we live amongst the world. If the church should be made up only of those who have counted the cost and made the choice to commit the world right there to absorb those who choose not to instead of just being unregenerate members of the church because that’s the only option.

Maybe it's just because I'm so tired, but I cannot understand your last sentence.

The Canadian I was talking about was Annie Buller. I may have just assumed that she had Mennonite background, but these two articles do not agree as to her birth place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Buller
https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/buller_a ... -1973.html

I know that there are Bullers of Jewish descent, as well as British. How that happened is unknown to my family. (I am a Buller.)

[Pelerin]

…
If the church should be made up only of those who have counted the cost and made the choice to commit the world right there to absorb those who choose not to instead of just being unregenerate members of the church because that’s the only option.

Maybe it's just because I'm so tired, but I cannot understand your last sentence.

I realized I never replied to this. I think I was tired when I wrote it.

What I mean is that it’s good for Mennonites to live among the world because it offers a real alternative option for those who grew up in the church but don’t want to join and let’s the church keep itself pure. An isolated church without that alternative isn’t going to be healthy in the long term.