MENNONITES: The Next Generation

The Mennonite existence is changing. We are more engrained in politics, activism, consumerism, and economic investment than ever. We have droves of Mennonites carrying weapons, shedding their doctrine, but yet somehow still holding on to their Mennonite cultural roots. Little of the original doctrine of sacrifice and submission still exists, yet you see that most Mennonites go to Mennonite churches, work for fellow Mennonites, marry Mennonites, and socialize with Mennonites, but somehow refuse to call themselves what they are; Mennonite. A leopard may not change his spots, and simply not calling someone a Mennonite does not make them something else. If we are not pleased with what the previous generations of Mennonites have done, we do not need to try to remove our heritage, instead we need to improve our understanding of our history so that we can minister in an educated manner.

In this denial of our heritage, I find there are indeed some things that need to go. Old traditions that are simply the specters of a dead world need to die. But many parts of doctrine are being tossed out with tradition; this does not need to be so. We do not need to abandon solid, Christ-centered theology for doctrine taught elsewhere simply because we are ashamed of our fore-bears. Indeed, I see things that are not Christian at all, but simply American, (Capitalism, American Liberty, Patriotism) being taught by our generation as if it is divine.  These things may not be evil, but they are not of God, yet they are taught as such, making them equal with Christianity. This idol worship is very wrong. Capitalism may be good for the nation and useful to us, but that does not make it a morally good thing. Nor does it make it a morally bad one. However, we have starting incorporating it into Christianity, and that is wrong. 

We as a culture have come to a fork in the road: either we hold to our theology, that which is good and Christian (not simply the traditions), or we abandon the constructs of having a Mennonite society completely- close the doors and join the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. If we do not wish to be mennonite, let us not be so. But this nonsense of just removing the label and continuing as Mennonites in our culture is just pandering to our own ego. 

Rough waters are ahead for Mennonite Churches. As we become indistinguishable from our neighbors in all but last name, one may ask, "Have we just become to self-righteous to interact with the world?" For most of our generation marry, interact, and serve only those with the same culture as we ourselves have. If we have no doctrinal reason to separate ourselves from those around us, why do we do so? Why must we be our own sub-group? If we really want to stop being Mennonite, we should stop congregating within ourselves and actually assimilate with the culture around us. If we do not have any religious differences with our neighbors then the only reason we do not join them must be based on something more selfish; our pride.

It is time for our generation to take a stand in what we believe and teach as Mennonites. We need to do one of two things: abandon ship, or set about the maintenance that has been lacking for generations. The latter choice may be messy, painful, and difficult, but it needs to be done. I must play the hand we have been dealt, we are Mennonite. We do not have an American heritage, Canadian heritage, Mexican heritage, or Russian one. Our forefathers did not bleed and die for these nations, we have not right to appropriate them as if they did. We must accept our own heritage and build upon it. We can complain all we like, that does nothing. We must assess our situation and decide what we wish to do with what we have inherited.
I am delighted with some aspects of my heritage, and ashamed of other parts. Yet I will take and learn from it; not abandon it.

I cannot deny who I am, instead I will learn from it. I advise you to do the same.