US Baptists called to radical discipleship
-24/06/06
American Baptists, who live in th
US Baptists called to radical discipleship
-24/06/06
American Baptists, who live in the worldís most affluent and heavily armed society, have been challenged to take ëradical discipleshipí and following Jesus in peacemaking with renewed seriousness.
At the denominationís General Board meeting in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, this week, the churchís leaders heard a call for an active contemporary reading of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus was not advocating ìsome kind of perfectionist love,î said Dr Glen H. Stassen, a California-based professor of Christian ethics and life-long American Baptist. Instead he taught ìregular practicesî to deal with anger, greed, conflict, and other human behaviours. The command ìBe perfectî really means ìbe complete in your love, to all kinds of folks,î Stassen said.
Other commentators, like African ecumenist John Pobee, point out that in the famous Beatitudes ñ where Jesus blesses the poor, peacemakers, and those who struggle for justice ñ he is not just advocating a new way of life but creating a new community of people ignored by the ëpowers that beí in the world.
Glen Stassen teaches Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, and is the author of Living the Sermon on the Mount and Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in a Contemporary Context. He has also written a foreword to Mennonite theologian Willard Swartleyís comprehensive New Testament study, Covenant of Peace.
Speaking to leaders of a denomination that has had to deal recently with divisive issues (including sexuality), Stassen said people on both sides of controversies often have a clear solution to them-those on the other side should repent. But, he said, ìWe’ve got to repent, all of us. We’ve all got to learn to be a little more humble.î
Glen Stassen suggested there is a three-part plan behind the Sermon on the Mount, rather than simply an antithesis of two positions ñ evil and perfection. Using anger as an example, he observed that Jesus states a wrong, diagnoses the vicious circle involved, and only then presents an alternative course of action.
ìJesus never commands us not to be angry ñ itís about when you’re angry, what do you do about it,” he continued.
In a question session, he was asked what he would like to see as the theme of the church’s biennial meeting next year. He suggested ìa focus of following Jesus in peacemaking.î
When another questioner asked whether he was giving enough weight to idealism, he replied that he was not so much interested in people striving toward impossibly high ideals as in seeking ìGod’s gracious deliverance.î
American Baptists are distinct from the hard-line conservative Southern Baptist Convention, the largest US denomination.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites and Catholics seek to cooperate on peacemaking; Mennonite educationists touch global vision in Egypt; Mennonites lend support to the hurricane clear-up; Mennonites to play mediating role in Congolese election; USA and Iran should pursue talks, say Mennonites; Continuing concern for Vietnam Mennonites; Mennonites describe Indonesian earthquake horror; UK Anglican election observer invited to Congo by Mennonites; Cambodian tree project backed by fossil fuel-free Mennonites; Norman Kember given standing ovation at 2006 Baptist Assembly; Iraq war brings unity for black Baptists; Religious leaders call for end to detention without trial in Iraq; Baptists to tackle controversial social and political issues]
US Baptists called to radical discipleship
-24/06/06
American Baptists, who live in the worldís most affluent and heavily armed society, have been challenged to take ëradical discipleshipí and following Jesus in peacemaking with renewed seriousness.
At the denominationís General Board meeting in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, this week, the churchís leaders heard a call for an active contemporary reading of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus was not advocating ìsome kind of perfectionist love,î said Dr Glen H. Stassen, a California-based professor of Christian ethics and life-long American Baptist. Instead he taught ìregular practicesî to deal with anger, greed, conflict, and other human behaviours. The command ìBe perfectî really means ìbe complete in your love, to all kinds of folks,î Stassen said.
Other commentators, like African ecumenist John Pobee, point out that in the famous Beatitudes ñ where Jesus blesses the poor, peacemakers, and those who struggle for justice ñ he is not just advocating a new way of life but creating a new community of people ignored by the ëpowers that beí in the world.
Glen Stassen teaches Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, and is the author of Living the Sermon on the Mount and Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in a Contemporary Context. He has also written a foreword to Mennonite theologian Willard Swartleyís comprehensive New Testament study, Covenant of Peace.
Speaking to leaders of a denomination that has had to deal recently with divisive issues (including sexuality), Stassen said people on both sides of controversies often have a clear solution to them-those on the other side should repent. But, he said, ìWe’ve got to repent, all of us. We’ve all got to learn to be a little more humble.î
Glen Stassen suggested there is a three-part plan behind the Sermon on the Mount, rather than simply an antithesis of two positions ñ evil and perfection. Using anger as an example, he observed that Jesus states a wrong, diagnoses the vicious circle involved, and only then presents an alternative course of action.
ìJesus never commands us not to be angry ñ itís about when you’re angry, what do you do about it,” he continued.
In a question session, he was asked what he would like to see as the theme of the church’s biennial meeting next year. He suggested ìa focus of following Jesus in peacemaking.î
When another questioner asked whether he was giving enough weight to idealism, he replied that he was not so much interested in people striving toward impossibly high ideals as in seeking ìGod’s gracious deliverance.î
American Baptists are distinct from the hard-line conservative Southern Baptist Convention, the largest US denomination.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites and Catholics seek to cooperate on peacemaking; Mennonite educationists touch global vision in Egypt; Mennonites lend support to the hurricane clear-up; Mennonites to play mediating role in Congolese election; USA and Iran should pursue talks, say Mennonites; Continuing concern for Vietnam Mennonites; Mennonites describe Indonesian earthquake horror; UK Anglican election observer invited to Congo by Mennonites; Cambodian tree project backed by fossil fuel-free Mennonites; Norman Kember given standing ovation at 2006 Baptist Assembly; Iraq war brings unity for black Baptists; Religious leaders call for end to detention without trial in Iraq; Baptists to tackle controversial social and political issues]