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Jumpstarter 10 of 10

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Question 10

The Anabaptists expected a disciplined church using only reproof and the ban (not civil punishments), believing discipleship is the whole body’s responsibility, and they also expected members to devote possessions to the brotherhood in need; what would it practically look like in your church to recover that kind of mutual accountability and costly sharing without coercion or legalism—and what inner resistance does that expose in you?

Another way to ask: The Anabaptists wanted church discipline through correction and the ban, not government punishment, and they expected members to share possessions to meet needs. What would mutual accountability and costly sharing look like in your church without pressure or legalism, and what resistance does that stir up in you?

Direct Answer The transcript implies this would look like a voluntary brotherhood where members openly accept responsibility for one another’s discipleship and materially support each other as needed—using only spiritual tools (reproof and, if necessary, disfellowshipping), not state force or manipulation.

Support from Transcript:

Bercot says Anabaptist discipline used “only tools… reproof and, if necessary, the ban or disfellowshipping,” rejecting civil enforcement.
They believed “the members of the Church share… responsibility of discipleship… If you sin… it’s your brother’s concern as well.”
On possessions, candidates for baptism were asked whether they would “devote all their possessions to the service of the Brotherhood… [and] not fail any member… in need.”
Bullinger reported they taught a duty “for motives of love” to use “all his possessions” to supply needy brethren.
Bercot stresses this was not “dead legalism”: “people voluntarily took these responsibilities and obligations upon themselves,” driven by “the fire of God.”

Discussion Follow-ups Where would your heart resist most: being corrected by brothers, losing privacy, or making resources available? What would need to change for accountability and sharing to be truly voluntary rather than pressured?

Jumpstarter 10 of 10