John Ruth explores the historical backdrop of the land that many of the early Anabaptists settled in Pennsylvania. How did this affect the indigenous population that lived in this region? Were the Mennonites culpable in the appropriation of native lands? This Very Ground This is the 243rd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new an...
Nov 28, 2024•44 min•Ep. 243
Elizabeth Vendley was born into the Roman Catholic Church and embarked on a long journey of trying to find a church and community to integrate into. Ultimately, this led her and her family to join the Amish, and then through life circumstances a Mennonite church. Elizabeth shares her story, what she learned along the way, and lessons for those that are searching for a church to be a part of. Developing As A Servant course - Frank Reed Anabaptist Perspectives Partners Essays for King Jesus This i...
Nov 21, 2024•40 min•Ep. 242
Conversations about the environment, climate change, and “going green” quickly become mired in controversy and fierce debate. But what does God say? Are there principles from Scripture that can teach us how to be proper stewards of the world God has made, and how have Anabaptists in the past cared about the creation? More episodes with Matt Landis This is the 241st episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist li...
Nov 14, 2024•54 min•Ep. 241
Some claim that there are variations in the manuscripts that our English Bibles are translated from, and therefore this proves the Bible is false. Others say that the King James Version is the only true Bible. How should we think about these issues? What is a proper understanding of textual variants, and is the KJV a good translation? David Bercot presents a framework for how to think about these issues, and explores the history of some of the texts that English Bible translations are based on. ...
Nov 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 240
Ben Harris is a computer scientist researching LLM’s. He also cares about spiritual formation, thoughtful living, and education. Ben and Marlin discuss the formative role of studying in church and school and how to simultaneously protect education from technologies that replace study and teach students to use technologies that support active study. Business, Math, and Righteous Living with Dr. Benjamin Harris – Episode 004 Into the AI Flood by Ben Harris This is the 239th episode of Anabaptist P...
Oct 31, 2024•40 min•Ep. 239
Ruth Anna Kuhns shares from her experience teaching neurodivergent students. How can we better understand and care for those that are different from standard ways of learning? How can parents, teachers, and schools make the educational experience better for all students? Episode with Kyle Stoltzfus on higher education This is the 238th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for ou...
Oct 24, 2024•31 min•Ep. 238
We are all busy and seem to be getting busier all the time. Overload and burnout are natural consequences of our lack of rest; Merle Burkholder explains what we should do when pressure stops increasing performance and starts producing burnout. What are ways we can see the problem coming and avoid it altogether? Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles Hummel Two-part series with Joel Yoder on burnout: Part 1 Part 2 This is the 237th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channe...
Oct 17, 2024•45 min•Ep. 237
Revelation is often used to explain present day politics. But is this the proper approach? What is God telling us through Revelation about the beast, earthly empires, and the antichrist? And how is this relevant for us today? Paul’s former episodes on Revelation: How to Read Revelation & Avoid the Mark of the Beast The Nation-State of Israel & the Church This is the 236th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservativ...
Oct 10, 2024•48 min•Ep. 236
Ben Harris is a computer scientist and business professor researching LLM’s. Ben and Marlin discuss AI optimism (pessimism) with a focus on the nature of artificial so-called intelligence. Statement on AI risk CNN report on CEO survery Business, Math, and Righteous Living with Dr. Benjamin Harris – Episode 004 Into the AI Flood by Ben Harris This is the 235th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and...
Oct 03, 2024•48 min•Ep. 235
Merle Burkholder has spent over four decades in ministry; he shares some of the stories from his life and ministry, along with the insights and lessons from them. This is the 234th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content! Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus content! Visit our YouTube ...
Sep 26, 2024•50 min•Ep. 234
This is a sample chapter from David Bercot’s book “In God We Don’t Trust.” David examines the history of the American revolution and contrasts it with the behavior that trust in God should produce. Get the audio book on any major platform. Audible Apple Books Print the ebook directly from Scroll Publishing Previous episode with David Bercot on this topic Sample chapters previously released as audio on our podcast: What It Means to Trust The Other Triangle of Evil The Myth of the Valley Forge Pra...
Sep 19, 2024•20 min•Ep. 233
Janelle Glick is interested in how churches that are trauma-informed can better extend the grace and light of Jesus for people joining us from any place in their lives, especially those who have experienced difficult circumstances. Janelle casts a vision for churches that are educated in understanding how past trauma can present itself in human interactions in a variety of settings and that find space inside our current structures and our systems of beliefs for more compassion and learning and l...
Sep 12, 2024•36 min•Ep. 232
This is a sample episode from a lecture series we are releasing on its own channel. Click through to subscribe on your favorite platform or find us in podcast apps as “Developing as a Servant.” Website YouTube Telegram/CloudVeil These lectures were recorded at Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute in 2014 from two of Frank Reed’s classes. Two lectures will be released weekly until the series is complete. This series offers biblical teachings and spiritual principles. The content in these videos does ...
Sep 05, 2024•53 min•Ep. 231
Did Paul teach the kingdom of God? Why do some perceive a tension between the teachings of Jesus and Paul on this topic? Marlin Sommers explains his personal journey with coming to an understanding of the kingdom, and how this theme runs through all of Scripture, not just in the Gospels. Episodes The Importance of the Kingdom of God - Episode with John D. Martin Exile and the Storyline of the Bible - Episode with Paul Lamicela Jesus' Genealogy Is NOT Boring - Paul Lamicela Episodes with John Cob...
Aug 29, 2024•43 min•Ep. 230
What does proper leadership look like? Merle Burkholder outlines principles for how we can lead in a Christlike way, and what serving leadership looks like. Essays for King Jesus This is the 229th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content! Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus content! Vi...
Aug 22, 2024•41 min•Ep. 229
Over the last year, a number of changes have happened within Anabaptist Perspectives. Marlin and Reagan talk through the mission and vision for this podcast, and where we are going in the future. Why have we chosen to use digital media? Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter Join our Partners program Our Phone Number: [737 773 2848] (PERSPECTIV) Get the audiobook In God We Don't Trust Jaran and Reagan describing Anabaptist Perspective's beginnings Two episodes with Lucas Hilty: What Happened ...
Aug 15, 2024•33 min•Ep. 228
Initially, the early Christians refused to fight. Over time, they adopted a Just War stance, and in time used this to justify the forcible conversion of conquered peoples. With the Crusades, Just War was expanded to include what was called “Holy War,” and Christendom went to war in the Middle East with the Islamic empires. Stephen Russell outlines these critical pieces of the church’s history and explains how the church modified the Islamic concept of jihad to justify attacking their enemies. Ru...
Aug 08, 2024•39 min•Ep. 227
Janelle Glick suggests that, as we come to peace with our own lives and the God who is working in us, we are more at peace with others and God who is working in them, which makes unconditional love and peace in community possible. Janelle also offers that reading through the New Testament and watching closely for the presence of women brings pleasant messages of hope for women. As male and female, we are called by Jesus to serve together in our communities. This involves hearing from each other ...
Aug 01, 2024•41 min•Ep. 226
For hundreds of years, there was a vibrant, growing church across the Middle East, spreading across places like Iraq and Syria, expanding as far as China, India, and beyond. These Christians have largely been lost to history; what happened to them? What events led to their disappearance, and what does that mean for us today? Lucas Hilty explains this largely forgotten disappearance of a once well-established church network. The tragedy of a region losing Christianity is a sober thing, and there ...
Jul 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 225
High profile cases of those who have failed morally and ethically disappoint many of us. Merle Burkholder describes how he personally has experienced this disappointment. This episode explores what we should do with this disappointment, and how we can address the avalanche of moral failure as a church and as individuals. This is the 224th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for...
Jul 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 224
How can we learn to read the Bible as a whole story, instead of as disjointed fragments? In this episode Paul Lamicela explains biblical theology, using the storyline of Scripture for better understanding the Bible, and what we can learn from the theme of exile in the Bible. Paul's episode on Galatians Paul’s website This is the 223rd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for our...
Jul 11, 2024•50 min•Ep. 223
We are once again in a presidential election year in America. This is bringing up all the many conversations the church has been having for hundreds of years around issues like political involvement, voting, and separation from the world. What are ways that we can positively contribute to society and properly influence culture? Merle Burkholder shares practical ways the church can contribute to society much more effectively than through political involvement. ViewPoint article referenced in this...
Jul 04, 2024•41 min•Ep. 222
How are we to read the Old Testament when it describes things that are so evil compared to how we are called to live today? Stephen Russell outlines the concept of “uplift through covenant”, and explains how through the story of Scripture God is bringing his people forward to the coming of the Messiah and the practice of radical enemy love. Stephen Russell’s book Overcoming Evil God's Way Stephen’s other episodes with AP This is the 221st episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and ...
Jun 27, 2024•32 min•Ep. 221
We should not see salvation as a single event, John Coblentz says, but as God’s ongoing work. Focusing on a time when we “made a decision” or “went forward” in response to an invitation or “prayed the sinners prayer” can trouble believers who should have assurance and confidence while giving false assurance to those not walking with Jesus. John discusses union with Christ and the Spirit as a stamp and a guarantee of our inheritance. Am I a Believer (Doubt Is not Sin. It is Temptation.) - Daniel ...
Jun 20, 2024•22 min•Ep. 220
For hundreds of years, the Middle East was home to a thriving church network. Who were these people? What can we learn from them? Lucas Hilty explains a largely forgotten piece of the church’s history, and brings out lessons for us today. The Patient Ferment of the Early Church This is the 219th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought. Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains...
Jun 13, 2024•41 min•Ep. 219
Roseanne Bauman offers a definition of forgiveness, looks at an example of forgiveness from the Bible, and speaks about her own story of forgiveness. Forgiveness requires a commitment to not dwell on the injury mentally, to not bring it up and accuse the other person with it ever again, and to not gossip about it. This commitment must be chosen over and over again. Roseanne’s previous episodes: What if My Friend is Abused? Responding to Abuse: Past and Present This is the 218th episode of Anabap...
Jun 06, 2024•26 min•Ep. 218
In the West, we have abundant access to the Bible. But in many parts of the world, believers and sometimes even pastors don’t have access to God’s Word. Tony High shares about the power of the Scriptures in places that don’t have access to it, and how the Bible is so transformative in the lives of those that read it. Tony High is director of Heralds of Hope Ministries Training2Send was mentioned, and how they are shipping English Bibles to believers in West Africa. If you have Bibles you would l...
May 30, 2024•39 min•Ep. 217
John Coblentz writes, “The church in its current state is not always glorious to us. We are still imperfect - our music is at times off-key, our theology is at times wide of the mark, and our interactions with each other fall short of the love we profess.” John encourages us to see what God wants to do and to work for the broader church, even in the face of difficulty, failed or abusive relationships, and the inherent tendency to shrink our associations to those like us. John talks about appreci...
May 23, 2024•32 min•Ep. 216
We’re seeing growing conflict once again in the Middle East, with America and its allies getting more involved. How should we be thinking about it? How do we avoid the temptation to take sides and think of this in patriotic terms of “our” country beating the “enemy”? Stephen Russell shares how he came to believe in nonresistance, and principles for how the Anabaptist people should be thinking about politics, war, and foreign policy. Instead of trusting in worldly nations, we should be trusting i...
May 16, 2024•29 min•Ep. 215
God’s Assembly (”Church”), says John Coblentz, is to show God’s glory, not just to people but to the principalities and powers. We should see local churches within the bigger picture of what God is doing in gathering a people. John shares the pain he has felt over division in the church and ways he has purposed to walk in unity. An Anabaptist View of Church - Val Yoder John Coblentz’s devotional commentary on Ephesians This is the 214th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and Yo...
May 09, 2024•20 min•Ep. 214
