With
what could the believers at Elmendorf work?
Seeking unity
with seekers in Europe, we wrote on 24 January 2002:
For our relationship with believers in Europe to be at all
meaningful, it will, of course, have to develop within a
context of common understanding. This, in very brief form,
describes what we hold to:
Faith in Christ. We understand Christ to be embodied in his
example, his teachings, his redemptive work, and what he
now is at the right hand of God. We cannot have one part of
Christ (his redemptive work, for instance) without having
all the rest, his example and teachings included. We
believe everything—absolutely everything—necessary for
salvation is found in the four Gospel accounts. The rest of
the Scriptures (the Old Testament, the Epistles, etc.) bear
testimony to the same. Our faith in Christ becomes evident
in how we walk with him every day.
The Church. Every local church (if it is a church) is an
earthly reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven. Local churches
may vary and operate “autonomously” but they must all fit
into the wider fellowship of saints, not considering
themselves above all the rest, and gladly accepting the
advice and correction of others. We are not interested, at
Elmendorf, in being totally “independent.”
Believers’ Baptism. Only those that profess faith in Christ
should be baptised with water. Baptism involves commitment
to the Church of Jesus Christ in its entirety, and to the
local congregation—full fledged “church membership” in
modern terms. But if the Lord ever calls a baptised
believer to serve him elsewhere (in another community,
another country, or even another fellowship setting) he/she
is free to go. The church will not stand in anyone’s way if
it becomes clear that such a call is from Christ, and
membership in the local community must remain absolutely
voluntary. Read, however, what is described in the
following point:
Commitment. It must be understood that commitment to a
Christian community involves much more than to join a group
of private households. On entering a community, one gives
oneself and all one has, to Christ and the believers. This
remains the case for life. To remain in the community one
can only travel, buy things, or move places with the
agreement and approval of the rest. If one goes against
their approval one is faced with the consequences of being
outside again and doing it alone—minus whatever has already
been given away.
Breaking Bread. Our communion in bread and wine is for
baptised believers. Everyone participating in communion
must show evidence of walking with Christ, praying,
submitting to others, serving willingly, and walking in
holiness. People living in known sin may not take part in
communion unless they repent and forsake it.
Non-violence. We can stand in a close relationship only
with those that have committed themselves to absolute
non-violence. That is, no self defense, not serving in any
military capacity, refusing to take others to law, and
practicing a life of personal peace—making peace and
seeking unity where possible, while maintaining a clear
separation from the world.
Community of Goods. Not that we judge the human race by how
it handles money, but for us to have a meaningful
relationship with whatever might take shape in Europe we
would expect it to operate in total community of goods—that
is, with a common purse, a steward in charge of finances,
and everyone contributing what they earn for the benefit of
whole (local) congregation. Of course we would not expect a
full fledged Hutterite Colony to take shape overnight.
Neither would we “drop one from the sky” as has been done
in places. We would expect whatever develops to be a joint
effort between European believers and ourselves. To work
with a much smaller or less complete operation to start
with, would not be a problem to us, perhaps even with
believers working outside the community to earn their
living (as in the days of the Anabaptists and Early
Christians). Only we would expect them to live at the same
place, eating, praying, and working together in whatever
possible way. We believe this way of life has tremendous
spiritual, social, economic, and even legal advantages. To
attempt some “half-way community” would look too
complicated and risky to us.
Ethnicity and Tradition. We, at Elmendorf, would not expect
European believers to follow our Hutterite traditions
exactly, in areas that are strictly cultural (the foods we
eat, the language we speak, and in our exact forms of
worship, dress, work, etc.) Yet we would expect just as
distinct a communal pattern to take shape. One cannot live
together without rules and a common understanding. And
where the clear teaching of Christ and the Apostles becomes
involved (women wearing their hair long and covering their
heads, refusing to swear oaths, not living in adulterous
unions, etc.) we would expect computability with what the
Church of Christ has always believed and practiced.
Who is a Christian? We have no right to call anyone a
Christian but the person that walks like Jesus did (1 John
2:6). Certainly we may (and should) establish kind and
loving relationships with anyone, but to receive whoever
says he is “born again” as our brother in Christ is a
serious mistake. We go by the Life, not by the words. Our
choice of fellowship determines what we become.
The future. To whatever degree believers in Europe are
willing to commit themselves to us, we are willing to
commit ourselves to them. We cannot promise anything, other
than to proceed “as the Lord wills.” We believe he will
show us plainly what to do.
And in the end we hope to see happen again what happened in
Paul’s day, as Tertullian (ca. AD 197) wrote: “Family
possessions, which so often tear brothers and sisters apart
in the world, create real unity among us. Being one in mind
and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods
with one another. We hold all things in common except our
wives.”
Such unity, such a light to the world, can only become real
as we are one with Christ, one in our spiritual communion,
and one in our material pursuits, as he is one with God.
Then his children will shine like the sun in the kingdom of
heaven, for his glory is its light and its sun is the Lamb
on the throne.
He has conquered. Let us follow him!