Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2026 12:46 pm
Honestly I think we can all learn from each other “something”. I’ve said before our orthodox priest friend said they all have a piece of the pie. (denominations)
It's lost to history so I can't quote it exactly, but Wayne in Maine had a post years ago about wishing that Anabaptists could be appreciated for our theology. Instead, when outsiders look at us, all they think of is "pies cooling on the windowsill."
I think the “pies cooling on the windowsill” flows from anabaptist theology naturally like JohnL mentioned earlier in the thread. Anabaptism doesnt offer much in the way of systematic theology, its a (in my eyes) more practical, lived out experience of being a christian.
But it does, in fact, have a systematic theology, the 1963 confession is chock full of it. Ever hear of a publication called “Sword and Trumpet.” It has fairly frequent articles that would fall under the heading of Systematic Theology.
In reality though, it is more a lived experience than any other branch of Christianity I am familiar with.
The early church got along for quite some time without a lot of systematic theology and I wouldn't say the introduction of it was marked by improvement.
I was recently reading in Acts when Paul was sent by the other apostles to the gentiles, the single charge he was given was to "remember the poor." I wonder how much better off the American church would be if we set that as a priority above all systems of theology.
ohio jones wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2026 12:52 pm
It's lost to history so I can't quote it exactly, but Wayne in Maine had a post years ago about wishing that Anabaptists could be appreciated for our theology. Instead, when outsiders look at us, all they think of is "pies cooling on the windowsill."
I think the “pies cooling on the windowsill” flows from anabaptist theology naturally like JohnL mentioned earlier in the thread. Anabaptism doesnt offer much in the way of systematic theology, its a (in my eyes) more practical, lived out experience of being a christian.
But it does, in fact, have a systematic theology, the 1963 confession is chock full of it. Ever hear of a publication called “Sword and Trumpet.” It has fairly frequent articles that would fall under the heading of Systematic Theology.
And there is the old standby, the 640 page Doctrines of the Bible by Herald Press. Some Ultra-conservative Mennonite grandmothers are likely still giving a copy of this book to their grandsons for their 16th birthday.
0 x
"The old woodcutter spoke again,
'You people are obsessed with judging. Don’t go so far. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments...
It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions.' "
barnhart wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:35 am
The early church got along for quite some time without a lot of systematic theology and I wouldn't say the introduction of it was marked by improvement.
I was recently reading in Acts when Paul was sent by the other apostles to the gentiles, the single charge he was given was to "remember the poor." I wonder how much better off the American church would be if we set that as a priority above all systems of theology.
I have witnessed a lot of giving to the poor in Churches we attended, both by the tithes and offerings collected but many other forms of outreaches. It’s an expectation in all American churches I know of.
barnhart wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:35 am
The early church got along for quite some time without a lot of systematic theology and I wouldn't say the introduction of it was marked by improvement.
I was recently reading in Acts when Paul was sent by the other apostles to the gentiles, the single charge he was given was to "remember the poor." I wonder how much better off the American church would be if we set that as a priority above all systems of theology.
I have witnessed a lot of giving to the poor in Churches we attended, both by the tithes and offerings collected but many other forms of outreaches. It’s an expectation in all American churches I know of.
Same here.
Some people, however, confuse "remember the poor" with "vote for my preferred political party".
barnhart wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:35 am
The early church got along for quite some time without a lot of systematic theology and I wouldn't say the introduction of it was marked by improvement.
I was recently reading in Acts when Paul was sent by the other apostles to the gentiles, the single charge he was given was to "remember the poor." I wonder how much better off the American church would be if we set that as a priority above all systems of theology.
I have witnessed a lot of giving to the poor in Churches we attended, both by the tithes and offerings collected but many other forms of outreaches. It’s an expectation in all American churches I know of.
The difference between churches is whether congregants are expected to give sacrificially, or whether they are free to live luxurious lifestyles, and only give token gestures toward the poor or only give a certain percentage of their income.
1 x
"The old woodcutter spoke again,
'You people are obsessed with judging. Don’t go so far. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments...
It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions.' "
barnhart wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:35 am
The early church got along for quite some time without a lot of systematic theology and I wouldn't say the introduction of it was marked by improvement.
I was recently reading in Acts when Paul was sent by the other apostles to the gentiles, the single charge he was given was to "remember the poor." I wonder how much better off the American church would be if we set that as a priority above all systems of theology.
I have witnessed a lot of giving to the poor in Churches we attended, both by the tithes and offerings collected but many other forms of outreaches. It’s an expectation in all American churches I know of.
The difference between churches is whether congregants are expected to give sacrificially, or whether they are free to live luxurious lifestyles, and only give token gestures toward the poor or only give a certain percentage of their income.
Wife: to be fair, I would say that is a similar problem in Anabaptist circles. We have the teaching every now and then, but that doesn’t mean that everybody actually follows it. Maybe it’s better followed in certain congregations that place more emphasis on it, but it’s definitely not universal among the Anabaptists.
I have also seen some of that teaching in evangelical circles, although there’s certain of those circles that get into the prosperity gospel, and then other circles that don’t really bother with anything more than the 10% to the church, if that. Protestants are a very wide group.
I think the “pies cooling on the windowsill” flows from anabaptist theology naturally like JohnL mentioned earlier in the thread. Anabaptism doesnt offer much in the way of systematic theology, its a (in my eyes) more practical, lived out experience of being a christian.
But it does, in fact, have a systematic theology, the 1963 confession is chock full of it. Ever hear of a publication called “Sword and Trumpet.” It has fairly frequent articles that would fall under the heading of Systematic Theology.
And there is the old standby, the 640 page Doctrines of the Bible by Herald Press. Some Ultra-conservative Mennonite grandmothers are likely still giving a copy of this book to their grandsons for their 16th birthday.
I had to buy my own copy. It is actually well done.
Ernie wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:09 am
And there is the old standby, the 640 page Doctrines of the Bible by Herald Press. Some Ultra-conservative Mennonite grandmothers are likely still giving a copy of this book to their grandsons for their 16th birthday.
And they say it's by Daniel Kauffman (edited by him, to be precise). I'm a little surprised they haven't sold off the rights to R&S or someone, but the last sentence might explain that.
