By Nolan Martin
What are the distinctive beliefs of Anabaptists? The first
difference, and perhaps the only difference many Anabaptists would mention, is
their belief in nonresistance, which Evangelicals do not hold.
Although this
visible divergence is a significant difference, it springs from deeper
doctrinal differences. The most basic of these differences lies in the
interpretation of Scripture. Although both groups believe in the authority of
Scripture and would even use similar methods to interpret Scripture,
Anabaptists approach the Bible with some different presuppositions that lead to
vastly different outcomes.
First, an Anabaptist interpretation of Scripture is centered
on the teachings of Christ and his call to discipleship. The rest of Scripture
is then viewed through this lens and interpreted so as not to contradict the
teachings of Christ, the head of the church. This produces different conclusions
than when interpretation is centered on the writings of Paul as often seen in
Evangelical teaching. A Christ-centered interpretation maintains that Christ's
teachings can be followed with God's enabling grace and must be followed if an
entrance into the kingdom of God is to be gained. A Paul-centered
interpretation tends to overemphasize man's sinful nature and makes man utterly
helpless in the pursuit of good. Consequently, many of Christ's teachings are
considered unattainable in the present. In fact, some who interpret the Bible
this way postpone the validity of Jesus' teachings to some future time. God's
mercy and forgiveness is emphasized in this system rather than careful
obedience.
Second, Anabaptists believe the New Testament takes
precedence over the Old Testament. They believe the Old Testament points
forward to Christ, whereas the New Testament is the final and ultimate
revelation of Christ. On the other hand, many Evangelicals have a "flat
Bible," putting the Old and New Testaments on the same level. Except for
Jewish ceremonial and dietary laws, Evangelical morality closely resembles
Jewish morality. Oaths, accumulation of wealth, participation in war, and
divorce and remarriage are acceptable for Evangelicals because they were
acceptable in the Old Testament. For the Anabaptists, the New Testament
teaching on these issues trumps the Old Testament teaching.
Third, Anabaptists believe the Bible is best interpreted
when the believer is committed to obeying it. Early Anabaptists were concerned
about how the learned of their day “twisted” the Scriptures to get around the
force of a command. Anabaptists today reject the common distinctions made
between New Testament commands on the one hand that are binding both in form
and spirit upon Christians for all time and those on the other hand that are to
be observed only in spirit. Many hold that to the former class belong such
items as baptism and communion, whereas to the latter class belong such
commands as to greet one another with a holy kiss, to wash one another's feet,
and to anoint the sick with oil. Anabaptists hold that these New Testament
commands as well as communion and baptism are to be observed by all Christians
everywhere until the end of the age. Mennonite theologian J. C. Wenger said,
"There is no exegetical consideration against the observance of feet
washing, for example, which would not also bear against the observance of
baptism."
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