The journey, for our forbearers  begin in 1517, during the time of the Protestant Reformation. The early leaders of this movement took the road less travelled and joined in with the radical reformation. The radical reformers believed that the reforms of the church were good but that they did not go far enough. Many of them were students of the early reformers and were disappointed in Zwingli and Luther for the apparent compromises they made. As a result, the Anabaptists were persecuted as heretics by the Protestants and we were persecuted as heretics by the Catholics. 

From the radical reformation, these groups, and their beliefs, found their way into the new world.  And in the new world was formed a unique family that eventually became known as the Brethren in Christ in the US and in Canada as the Tunkers and then the Brethren In Christ and then the Be In Christ.

During its journey from 1517 to the new world our denomination would be formed by four theological streams of thought. This is one way we are different from the Mennonites.  We were not formed just by anabaptism.  We have other forces at work in our denomination.  All mennonites are anabaptists but not all anabaptist are mennonites.

ANABAPTISM

If we start from the very beginning, we should say that Anabaptism was the first original theological stream of the BIC and it is the one we most focus on. Someone said, in our theological history, anabaptism is the trunk of the tree and the other streams are branches. 

The term anabaptist was used to describe and define certain Christians during the Reformation. Since many of them had been baptized in their infancy, they chose to be baptized as believing adults.  So their enemies called them anabaptists – “re-baptizers.” 

Additional resources on Anabaptism are included below this section. More in depth lectures are provided on our theological identity at New Pastors Orientation and in the Emerging Pastors program. 

PIETISM

The second stream, Pietism, comes from the 17th century German believers who rejected an overly intellectualized expression of faith that had become popular. Pietism emphasizes a conversion experience and heart-felt religion. And it was Pietism that first led our forbearers out of the Mennonite church, for they believed that faith shouldn’t be over-intellectualized. Correct doctrine and believing all the right things was not enough for the early anabaptists. And besides, who has perfect doctrine? Real faith must lead to real heart change, a real relationship with Jesus, and a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.  Those were the marks of true believers.

For BIC, the Christian faith is a relationship with God that is to be enjoyed with the heart, even as it is affirmed with the head.

A favourite hymn of Pietism was Happy day, happy day, Jesus washed my sins away. Or people would say things like, Now that I know Jesus the sky is a little bluer, the grass a little greener. 

WESLEYANISM

The third historical stream that has shaped the BIC is Wesleyanism (named after John Wesley-founder of the Methodists), and the Holiness movement that was closely associated with Wesleyanism, especially in the US.

The Holiness movement in the US used Wesleyan language to promote the idea of a completion of sanctification in this life, or Christian perfection. This was part of BIC discussion even in the 1990’s, but its influence has not lasted.  

What was most important about Wesleyanism to the BIC was it was where we found Arminianism. It was an idea that was compatible with BIC views on discipleship and the freedom to follow Jesus faithfully, or not, as opposed to the Calvinistic view of predestination and eternal security.

EVANGELICALISM

The fourth stream which has made its way into our denomination is evangelicalism. This one is the most recent and more controversial among some long-term, theologically oriented BIC, especially due to the political climate today and the aberrations that go along with evangelicalism. However, there is no denying the force that evangelicalism has had on the BIC and where those distinctives are positive reflections of Jesus we welcome them.