The Vision- Newness

The second major element of the Anabaptist Vision was "newness of life" and "applied Christianity." By this they meant a commitment to personal holy living. They defined "holy living" as imitating the example of Christ and living in practical, daily obedience to his teachings. At the time of the Reformation, Protestant (and Catholic) local church membership included everyone who lived in a certain geographic area- all in that area were deemed to be Christians because of where they lived, not how they lived. Today, almost six-hundred years later there is a similar situation- where the term "Christians" often includes everyone who chooses to call themselves by that name. The problem is that the lives and attitudes and beliefs of so many "Christians" are no different from those around them- those who don't know Christ.