Orthopraxy and a Faith That Sues the President

Fetus John the Baptist knew exactly who Jesus was, according to Luke. Adult John the Baptist sends emissaries to ask Jesus who he is. Jesus does not answer John’s question, but rather instructs the question-askers to simply report what they see and what they hear. It seems that, according to Jesus, his identity must be shown, enacted, embodied for it to be real. Similarly, our Anabaptist faith has a centuries-long history of being done, enacted, embodied. Our faith is a lived faith and has traditionally been proclaimed more in deed than in word. This is why the decision of our denomination to be the named plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Dept. of Homeland Security (Mennonite Church USA et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.) is completely in line with our 500-year history of following Jesus. Because our faith IS caring for our neighbor. So when the U.S. Government tries to prevent us from doing that, the free exercise of our religion is compromised and we must resist.

Sermon begins at minute marker 6:18

Luke 7:18-35

Resources

• BibleWorm podcast: Episode 626 – Are You Really the One?, Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson, Jr
• Iris de León-Hartshorn, “Our Anabaptist Witness as Mennonites,” (theological basis for legal action taken by Mennonite Church USA - see link below) February 12, 2025.
• “MC USA and more than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations sue to protect religious freedoms,” February 11, 2025.
• Mary H. Schertz, Luke, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Herald Press, 2023), 166.
• “Orthopraxy,” wikipedia article.
• Image: A valentine to Mennonite Church USA: “Roses are red | Violets are blue | You sued the President | I think I love you!”
• VT Hymn 428 Praise with Joy the World's Creator. Text: Iona Community (Scotland), 1985, alt., © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.) Music: John Goss (England), The Supplemental Hymn and Tune Book, 1869. Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929. All rights reserved.