Kyle,

Just so you know, I am not leaving because I have felt unwelcome here. In fact, even in my difference I have felt welcome here. However, there’s a difference between staying in a discussion to maintain diversity and beating dead horses in a place where everyone rides camels anyway. The metaphor is mixed, but the point is this: this blog is not for posting/commenting on the five points of Calvinism, making good cases for Augustinian just war theory, talking about why the Puritans were cool, or why I don’t like Brian McLaren’s books.

I’m a kid who has found himself at a Dungeons & Dragons convention with my gnarly Magic: The Gathering goblin deck and no intention of rolling dice. I’m not going to go to every table, where everyone is happily playing D&D, and see who wants to play Magic. I’m going to go to a Magic convention.

So I have been more than welcomed here by the administrators and contributors. But I think it’s time for me to find a different conversation.

Phillip,

Right now, I attend a Charismatic/Pentecostal church pastored by a man who was once a pastor in MC(USA) and is now a pastor in the Assemblies of God. It is composed mostly of refugees from Uganda, Burma, Ethiopia, and immigrants from Cuba and Puerto Rico. I share a home with the pastor, and the church is on my block, so for the spiritual vitality of my own neighborhood I attend there.

As for where I lean denominationally and theologically, I would say Anglican, but Anglican in 1650. So, I’ll likely never find a church where I am totally comfortable, and I think that’s ok. Church doesn’t have to be comfortable to be a sanctuary.

Very interesting combination of books there. I’d heard of the first two, but not the third. I’m interested to hear more about what you found helpful in The Law.

A couple books you might find intereting.

We Who Dared to Say No to War: American Antiwar Writing from 1812 to Now

Blowback, Second Edition: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire

The Law by Frederick Bastiat

Thanks for taking the time to write so thoroughly about your reasons for leaving YAR. Its quite refreshing to have someone come out clearly and state their differences when leaving. Everyone else who has stopped contributing over the years (aside from somasoul and Katie) has gone with the drifting-off-without-explanation option. I think its probably a Mennonite conflict avoidance things. Or apathy. Hard to tell.

Thanks for the contributions you made to a lively debate here on YAR over the years. I haven’t always agreed with you, but I value the perspective your experience as a new (and now former) Mennonite gave you. You also engage strongly with theological issues in a way that shows you’ve done deep thinking and praying about them.

I respect your wish not to have a debate with people you don’t know about a journey that is personal and deeply felt. I enjoyed the chance I did have to meet you and talk with you in 2007 and if you ever come through Chicago, I’d welcome the chance again.

Sincerely,
Tim

First, in a perfect world, being “Mennonite” shouldn’t matter. I mourn every time someone comes to a Mennonite event and does not feel welcome because they aren’t named Yoder, have never played Dutch blitz, don’t sing every song in four part harmony, and have never heard of, let alone been to Lancaster, PA.

Second, I mourn that you think your opinions are not welcome. A difference in opinion is a healthy and necessary part of discernment. Disagreement forces a community to look at new issues from new perspectives. We can all offer our ideas as gifts. Again, I mourn if you’ve felt that your gifts have not been accepted.

I guess I don’t really know what to say about your third reason, so I won’t say anything at all.

I hope you find the enrichment you’ve wished on YAR readers, whether you find it here by stumbling back to the YAR site or in conversations elsewhere, online or in person.

Blessings. And like Jonny said, thanks for being honest.

(1)Not all Anabaptists conflate political liberalism with Biblical pacificism. They are two VERY different things. In fact in the US nearly 60% of Pentecostals were pacifist before WWII because of a robust Spirit-based Christology.

(2) LGBTQ position of many of us is based on common humanity NOT buying into secular arguments with their shifting nature of orientation, sexuality, etc. From a pentecostal-Anabaptist perspective all sexuality is tainted by sin and is fulfilled in the life of the world to come. Those on the political left and right of the issue are elevating the issue FAR above Jesus clear teaching on it’s finite and brokenness.

(3)Emerging what? Emergent? Yeah, it’s pretty much dead - BUT a 3rd way approach is not dead. If we are not making converts (in non-coercive ways) to Jesus then any movement that claims Jesus as the center will be boring and SHOULD die.

(4) Calvinism - well there you lost me. Determinism that one cannot actually live in real life is bad theology. Moreover strangely enough on this issue Anabaptists are more inline with Eastern Orthodoxy and the RC church. Which is comforting in some ways.