“True evangelism is the result of a contagious holiness. Untrue evangelism is simply marketing or recruiting.” -Doug Wilson, from Blog & Mablog, http://www.dougwils.com Doug Wilson writes from a Calvinist / Reformed point of view, therefore we differ on some very fundamental issues of the Christian faith. Yet a lot of what he writes about the … Continue reading Contagious holiness
Anabaptist
A light shining in the darkness
In 1671 there arose a severe persecution of the Mennonites in Switzerland, causing many to flee the country. Brethren in the Netherlands came to their aid and gave them refuge. In all, about 700 persons, among them some very aged, fled Switzerland. They were destitute, their lands and properties having been seized by the Swiss … Continue reading A light shining in the darkness
Circling the wagons is not an option
The Western movies of my boyhood often contained a scene where Indians attacked a wagon train of settlers. The settlers would draw their wagons onto a circle to form a protective wall, then try to fend off the attackers with rifle fire. This would go on until the ammunition was gone and their doom appeared … Continue reading Circling the wagons is not an option
Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
To put it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected. Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail. It does have this much going for … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
A Closer Walk
This will be my 303rd post since I began blogging 15 months ago. I believe it’s time to reflect on why I am doing this and where I’m going with it. My original intentions were threefold: 1) to be a witness of the old Anabaptist faith in an era when the Christian faith no longer … Continue reading A Closer Walk
Steel-toed slippers
Non-resistance is one of the prime identification marks of a true Anabaptist. Many folks take this to mean that we believe it is wrong to put on a uniform and take up arms to defend our country. What it really means is that we believe in wearing figurative steel-toed slippers so that it never feels … Continue reading Steel-toed slippers
There is a famine – part one
Small town churches across Canada are rapidly disappearing. Fifty years ago, the town where I grew up had five churches. Only two remain, and they are the churches where one is least likely to ever hear sound Bible-based preaching. Smaller towns nearby have no churches at all. This is more than a demographic curiosity. It … Continue reading There is a famine – part one
Uncompromising faith
"Anabaptism was essentially a movement which insisted upon an earnest and uncompromising endeavour to live a life of true discipleship of Christ, that is to give expression in fellowship and love to the deepest Christian faith, with full readiness to suffer in conflict with the evil world order. So long as this willingness to suffer … Continue reading Uncompromising faith
A flower that could not be burned
[The following account is found in the Martyrs Mirror, pages 420-421. The English translation is from 1886, I have done some slight editing.] When the believers greatly increased under persecution and the cross, there was in Bavaria a learned priest of the mass named Leonhard Keyser. He examined the writings of Zwingli and Luther and … Continue reading A flower that could not be burned
This blog’s first anniversary
June 13 was the first anniversary of this blog, a milestone that suggests a need to reflect on what I am doing here and where I want to go. As a side note, June 13 was also the date of our daughter's fourteenth wedding anniversary. That is an event much more worthy of celebration. It brought … Continue reading This blog’s first anniversary
Flatlander Faith 