A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

the new law on divorce (Mt. 5:27-32). He commands his followers to be truthful, not 305 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH to swear an oath, to accept injustice and to love our enemies (Mt 5:33-48). Matthew chapter six speaks to our stewardship and prayer, the test of our basic values, material possessions ver- sus spiritual treasures, the cure for anxieties and the exhorta- tion to seek first the kingdom of God. The seventh chapter warns against judging others without recognizing our own im- perfections. The conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount sets forth a fourfold admonition and warning: (1) The road leading to life is narrow, and few there be that find it" (Mt. 7:13-14). (2) Genuine Christlike character leaves no room for de- ception-"by their fruits ye shall know them" (Mt. 7:15-20). (3) Mere piety and religiosity are not enough. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 7:21). (4) Profession without obedience is like building a house on sand. "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock" (Mt. 7:24). The first century church understood the implications of discipleship. James, the aposde, was killed with the sword, Peter, according to tradition, was crucified. John spent his last years on the Island of Patmos. Stephen, the first deacon, was stoned. Paul's life ended in a Roman prison. Hebrews 11 summarizes the triumphs of faith and martyrdom in the Old Testament that were duplicated in the New Testament and which continue through the centuries of time, Mermonite Brethren are no strangers to the demands of discipleship. Our own history, not to mention that of our An- abaptist forebears, has had its share of heroic martyrs for the faith. Today we are not called to face firing squads because of our acts of discipleship. Today we are more likely being 306 A CALL TO COMMITMENT called to take an unpopular stand against comfort, greed and self-fulfillment. In our culture of relativism, pragmatism and religious pluralism, that stand, if properly understood and fol- lowed, may also carry its costs. SELF-EXAMINATION The three church-wide surveys of the Mennonite Brethren-1972, 1985, 1989,7-all point to two disturbing con- clusions regarding the consistency of faith and practice. 1. "There is a continuing, strong affirmation of the basic tenets of the Christian faith among Mennonite Brethren. This is the case regardless of social infl