Small but inspiring
Though tiny, a multicultural Mennonite Brethren conference on the tip of one corner of Europe might be the continent’s clearest embodiment of the global Anabaptist church. The relatively short but diverse...
[read more]Never again
Never again. These words have a specific connection to the Holocaust. But their power is not limited to remembrance of Nazi genocide against Jews. In the United States in 2018, they are the cry of youth who...
[read more]Awake, O sleeper
When a congregation has a lot of funerals in a short time, the shadow of death looms large. At the same time, the light of the Resurrection shines. Darkness and light, sorrow and hope, compete for power over...
[read more]Resurrection reality
As we enter the Easter season, we’re celebrating not merely a feel-good story but an actual event in history. In the person of Jesus, God entered our space and time as one of us. He lived, died and returned...
[read more]Ecumenical evangelist
Gospel “crusades” have passed into history, but the era of mass evangelism still inspires. The death of Billy Graham on Feb. 21 at the age of 99 caused Christians to look back on the legacy of itinerant...
[read more]A name worth keeping
What’s in a name? For Tim Unruh of Hillsboro, Kan., it’s more than a hill of beans. His decision to name his Menno Beans coffee roasting venture after Menno Simons is an ode to his faith heritage and an...
[read more]Prince of Peace’s troops
President Trump wanted a military parade. Were the troops and the brass eager to strike up a band? “I used to watch them in Bulgaria,” tweeted retired Gen. Michael Hayden, implying a dim view of such...
[read more]Join the resistance
Since President Trump took office a year ago, U.S. Christians have been bitterly divided over whether his actions and words are good, bad or even worth being concerned about. Some peace-minded Christians...
[read more]Godless state’s good way
The Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in Europe, yet it upholds principles of equality and compassion better than the predominantly Christian United States. Post-Christendom, as practiced by the...
[read more]Evangelist overthrown
For those who think evangelism is too hard, or don’t like the idea in the first place, the best advice might be: Go and join God’s work in the world. Wherever we go, God arrived before us. Whomever we talk...
[read more]A time to grow
The seasons of the church calendar reflect the highs and lows of our walk with Christ. Much is written about the valleys of Advent and Lent and the heights of Christmas and Easter. Less talked about are the...
[read more]Shaped by persecution
As part of a privileged Christian majority, do Mennonites in North America still carry remnants of their martyr past? For centuries, persecution shaped the character of Mennonite communities. Early Anabaptists...
[read more]The tax reform we need
The pliable instructions Jesus gives for paying taxes leave plenty of room for interpretation: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt....
[read more]Pushing nuclear buttons
On New Year’s Day, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed “a nuclear button is always on the desk in my office.” In this respect he is no different from any other commander of a nuclear power —...
[read more]True evangelical faith
The most important religion story of 2017, according to the Religion News Association, was “Trumpvangelicals.” Until a couple of years ago, no one could have imagined such a discordant blend. Yet now the...
[read more]Convictional inaction
Since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2016, the role white evangelical Christians played in his victory has been thoroughly analyzed — and puzzled over. Christians and non-Christians alike...
[read more]Year of the tribe
Among the trends of 2017, tribalism stands out. All around us, people define themselves by separating one group from another. Republican or Democrat, black or white, Christian or Muslim. The distinctions...
[read more]Christmas imperfections
The screams were interrupted by yet another festive tinkle of shattering glass. Another ornament hit the hardwood floor, sending shards of Christmas cheer in every direction. The kids were helping decorate....
[read more]Dusting off the soul
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Often attributed to Pablo Picasso, this quote belongs to a 19th-century German writer, Berthold Auerbach, who cited music as the cleansing agent....
[read more]Oil for our lamps
In Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25, the women get drowsy and fall asleep while waiting for the bridegroom, who is running late. It’s not an Advent parable, but it is a warning for those who...
[read more]Freedom to resist
Some Mennonite colleges play the national anthem before sporting events. Some don’t. Some say it’s a chance to reflect on liberty. Some say it’s a chance to honor those in the military who fight for that...
[read more]Toxic masculinity
Public shaming of sexual predators is pushing toxic masculinity out of the shadows. A surge of reports of men’s abusive behavior has raised awareness that sexual harassment is appallingly common — and not...
[read more]Identity redefinition
Anabaptist denominations are having an identity crisis. Or at least an identity redefinition. This is happening in several ways: making or considering name changes; ending old affiliations, beginning new ones...
[read more]Healthy worship diet
Are hymnals still relevant? It’s a question worth asking in light of the MennoMedia “Resonate” project, which will produce a new hymnal for Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada in 2020. It...
[read more]A white man with guns
Was it terrorism? No. The shooter was white. The mass shooting that took the lives of at least 59 people and injured hundreds at an Oct. 1 country music concert in Las Vegas revealed much about American racial...
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