Celts and Anabaptists: Wisdom from the Margins for Tomorrow’s Church?

[Eliacin Rosario-Cruz]

Via The Anabaptist Network

Among the fascinating things that are going on today are the reemergence from the margins of Christendom of the Celtic and the Anabaptist Christian traditions. There are many differences between these traditions. The Celtic tradition is very old; it emerged in the sixth century in the Christianization of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Northumbria; it is a tradition associated with the evangelization of the Celtic peoples and the development of Christendom among them. The Anabaptist tradition, by contrast, is younger - it is only 475 years old; it sprang up in the 1520s in three areas of central Europe, and spread out across Europe and around the world from there. It was a protest against the coercive, compulsory Christianity of Christendom, and indeed has been the progenitor of the free church traditions. As such, it has functioned as one of the solvents of Christendom.

Read full post at The Anabaptist Network

[Carl Peet]

As an exile from churchianity, i have found comfort and a spiritual reawakening through both of the traditions discussed here. I quite literally was churched out, and had reached the stage of "if this is what i was saved for then oh dear...." But through reading, discussion and prayer God has opened my eyes to my spiritual heritage as a Welshman, coupled with a burning desire to live authentically as a follower in my societal context. i'm presently living in liverpool and my wife and I hold an open door policy and have been involved in homeless outreach and drugs rehab/recovery. but we both feel drawn back to Wales, to continue this process of learning and service. We've both always had a deep love and connection with the countryside we were raised in, and met God many times in these places. Also we've experienced a deep longing for being all out for Jesus and experiencing deeper level relationships and community, and after reading and exploring practices of my spiritual forebears, i really feel like I'm 'home'. But to echo your point about projection, I've really felt that often times we can mediate the teachings of marginal groups to compound our own experiences. I view the celtic way as an attitude of heart, an appreciation of His presence in all and through all, and our response towards that awareness. I agree that a drawing out of the essence of these teachings and an application to our context is necessary.There are certainly parallels between the times of the early celtic church and our own, the pressing in of empire, disparate people clinging to identity and a massive redefining of societal norms and structures. However I don't believe an expression of faith preserved in aspic is the answer to corporate churchianity, I believe the aspects of each tradition which resonate with our spirits deeply are the reflections of Christs character within them, radical, earthy, authentic, courageous, these heart reflections of God speak to our own experience. I believe the communities who are prophetically embracing these heart reflections are blowing the shofar in these times. Appreciating and drawing from the experiences and traditions our forebeas have passed down, yet not bound to form and precious about their tradition. We're heading back to Anglesey in the new years ( one of the seats of the cearly celtic church) with a heart to be available, get in touch with the beauty of the place and people, simplify and serve. hope to keep you all posted and tap your experiences and wisdom.....

[Andrew Cornelius]

Like the Hebrew prophets demonstrated, God's wisdom generally comes from the margins. I too find it fascinating.