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Change of Allegiance  /  Two Kingdoms: An Anabaptist Perspective on Warfare  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
He critiques the Garden City Confession and similar frameworks for treating kingdom ethics (nonresistance, separation, taxes, dress) as “Restrictions” tacked onto a basically Protestant theological system; how has framing these teachings as “restrictions” shaped your motives—compliance, pride, fear, cultural identity—and what would change if you saw them as the natural “flow” of Jesus-following faith?
Another way to ask: Taylor says some systems treat kingdom teachings (like nonresistance and separation) as extra “Restrictions” instead of the natural result of following Jesus. How has thinking of them as “restrictions” affected your motives, and what would change if you saw them as the normal “flow” of faith?

Direct Answer Taylor argues that labeling kingdom practices as “restrictions” trains people to treat them as external rules to protect a culture, not as the joyful outworking of loyalty to Jesus. Seeing them as “flow” would shift motives from mere compliance or identity-maintenance to active discipleship rooted in new birth and allegiance to the King.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says many inherited nonresistance “from the wrong direction… you got there in the wrong way,” so Jesus’ emphasis isn’t lived “in its fullness.”
  • He describes the Garden City Confession ending with an article called “Restrictions,” where topics like “paying taxes… church and state… non-resistant separation… godly dresses” are placed.
  • He notes Kaufman’s Doctrine of the Bible “did the same thing,” adding “restrictions” at the end.
  • He warns this framing helps explain why “your children… you start losing people,” because it feels like “tacked on restrictions.”
  • He states plainly: “I don’t believe these kingdom teachings are intended to be restrictions. They flow out of a Jesus following faith.”
  • He ties true Anabaptist impetus to practicing Jesus’ teaching: “given for the purpose of being put into practice.”
Discussion Follow-ups Taylor’s critique asks whether your obedience is mainly defensive (“stay safe, stay separate”) or missional (“show the world what it looks like to obey the King”). What would your church emphasize differently if the second became primary?

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