Inside Mennonite Life and Thought: Anabaptist Core Values - Paperback

by Karl R. Landis (Author), Michele Hershberger (Foreword by)

What makes Mennonites and Amish different from other Christians? What do they have in common with other Christians (probably more than you think)? Anabaptist pastor, sociologist, and theologian Karl R. Landis provides clear and focused answers to these questions for a general audience.

As Greg Boyd, author of The Myth of a Christian Nation puts it, "With clarity, precision, and insight, Landis masterfully unpacks the core beliefs of Anabaptism, seamlessly connecting them to its central practices."

Landis offers a concise and easy-to-follow summary of New Testament faith as understood in the Anabaptist tradition (which includes Mennonites and Amish). His summary includes both the scriptural basis for Anabaptist beliefs and relevant quotations from Anabaptist authors. Landis argues that Anabaptist practices are based on six core beliefs, noting that the practices vary as different groups live out the core beliefs in different cultural settings.

Landis points to the ways in which Anabaptist core beliefs have impacted the beliefs and practices of other Christian groups while also highlighting practices that remain distinctive for Anabaptists today.

Due to his broad interdenominational experience and sociological perspective, Landis is able to discuss the variety in Christian expressions with warmth and respect. His tone is inviting and engaging. This book is an excellent resource for Christians who seek to understand Anabaptist life and thought as Anabaptist themselves understand their beliefs and practices.

Contents: Landis' presents the six core beliefs in six chapters: "Jesus Is Lord Over Absolutely Everything--Core belief 1: Jesus Is Lord"; "The Kingdom of God Is Where People Unite Under the Lordship of Jesus--Core belief 2: The Kingdom of God"; "We Choose to Follow Jesus--Core belief 3: Choose"; "We follow Jesus in Everyday Life--Core belief 4: Follow"; "We Follow Jesus Together--Core belief 5: Together"; "We Surrender Our Lives in Love Like Jesus Did--Core belief 6: Surrender Our Lives in Love."

The main chapters are framed by Michele Hershberger's foreword and an introduction followed by a first chapter on "Core Beliefs" by Landis. Then final chapters address "Practices Based on the Core Beliefs" and"Anabaptist Core Beliefs Today" before the book concludes with "References and Resources."