What We Believe Together: Exploring the “Shared Convictions” of Anabaptist-Related Churches

**A Mennonite theologian explores the seven convictions shared by the Anabaptist denominations across the world.**Today, there are thriving Mennonite-related churches scattered across eighty-three countries on six continents. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe. Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by the Mennonite World Conference to write about the seven convictions shared among these various churches, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live. In a rich and engaging style, Neufeld delves into the meaning and significance of each conviction, drawing on Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world. Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America.This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and practices of Mennonite-related groups around the world today. This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout. Cover; Title Page; Acknowledgments; Copyright; Table of Contents; Introduction; Statement of "Shared Convictions"; Good News; Only God's grace enables us; We seek to live and proclaim good news; Reconciliation comes through Jesus Christ; We are part of the one body of Christ; We are linked to the past and scattered over many places; Even though we differ from each other, we share central convictions of belief and practice; 1. We Give Glory to the Father; We know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; The Creator is the restorer; Humanity has fallen; God is calling for a faithful people As God's people we want to be faithful in fellowshipAs God's people we want to be faithful in worship; As God's people we want to be faithful in service; As God's people we want to be faithful in witness; 2. We Give Glory to the Son; Jesus shows us who God is; The life of Jesus is our model; The teaching of Jesus gives us orientation; The death of Jesus makes us free; The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope; The faithfulness of Jesus enables us to be faithful; The way of Jesus redeems the world; Whoever is united to Jesus has eternal life; 3. We Give Glory to the Holy Spirit When the Holy Spirit came, the church was born as a community of believersWherever the Holy Spirit works, people turn away from sin; Wherever the Holy Spirit convinces, people acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord; Wherever the Holy Spirit takes hold of human life, people confess their faith through baptism; Whoever belongs to the church of the Holy Spirit wants to follow Christ in life; 4. We Read the Bible Together; We know the story of the Triune God through the Bible; This history and this information are the authority for our faith and life In order to understand the Bible's meaning for today, we need each otherIn order to understand the Bible's meaning for today, we need the Holy Spirit; Jesus Christ gives light to interpreting the Bible; We seek to discern and to do the will of God; 5. We Pursue Shalom; To be different from the world, we need the empowerment of the Spirit of Jesus; To be different from the world, we need to entrust all areas of our lives to God; We believe that peacemaking is a blessed duty; There is no peace without the renunciation of violence; There is no peace without unconditionally loving our enemies There is no lasting peace without the pursuit of justiceA Christian culture of peace enables us to share possessions; 6. We Worship and Celebrate Together; Our Christian community loves to get together; Worship is the main reason for Christian meetings; The celebration of the Lord's Supper and baptism are powerful experiences; We get together so that God may speak to us and we might listen; We make major decisions together in a spirit of shared responsibility; 7. We Are a Worldwide Family; What began small has become global, reflecting the dynamics of the kingdom of God Today, more than 1.7 million Christians are members of Mennonite-related churches. They are scattered across eighty-three countries. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe. What beliefs do these heirs of the free-church movement, only loosely connected to each other, hold in common today? This first-of-its-kind book explores seven convictions shared by these churches, now on six continents, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live. Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by Mennonite World Conference to write this commentary on the seven convictions. In a rich and readable style, he fills out their meaning and significance, drawing upon Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world. Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America. (The majority of members now live in the global south.) This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and the practices that have developed from them, held by Mennonite-related groups around the world today. This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout. A Mennonite theologian explores the seven convictions shared by the Anabaptist denominations across the world. Today, there are thriving Mennonite-related churches scattered across eighty-three countries on six continents. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe. Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by the Mennonite World Conference to write about the seven convictions shared among these various churches, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live. In a rich and engaging style, Neufeld delves into the meaning and significance of each conviction, drawing on Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world. Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America. This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and practices of Mennonite-related groups around the world today. This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout.