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

act and more on radical covenantal relationships. 3. Local congregations should develop discernment groups which focus not only on fellowship and prayer but 317 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH also on faithful discipleship, 4. Pastoral and educational resources need to be devel- oped to meet the needs of individuals and families torn apart by the impact of individualism. 5. Since affluence tends to reinforce individualism, we must continue to uphold the ideal of a simple lifestyle and address with greater clarity issues of economic inequality locally and in our larger world, 6. We must develop meaningful service programs that challenge our young people to serve in inner cities, north- ern communities and underdeveloped countries, POSTSCRIPT This research activity was undertaken upon the encour- agement of a number of individuals and several confer- ence boards- We have attempted to portray accurately the attitudes, beliefs and practices of Mennonite Brethren, and we have subjected our understanding of these findings to the scrutiny of faithful believers. It is our sincere prayer that the insights and concerns derived from this study will serve as an incentive to greater faithfulness to our high calling in Christ Jesus.25 The membership profiles provide a description of who the Mennonite Brethren currendy are. The trends indicated may not apply to all individuals or all local groups. But in general they suggest that Mennonite Brethren have strayed from a consistency between faith and practice, profession and lifestyle. These findings are at odds with the character of New Testament discipleship and commitment. It is not a conscious apostasy. It is something like what Paul describes as a "form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Tim, 3:5). Loss of discernment sneaks up slowly in the form of worldly pleasures, self-indulgence, luxurious living, familial erosion and the desire to please. When we 318 A CALL TO COMMITMENT took our first steps into modernity we were not planning to be taken captive; we honestly wanted to evangelize those be- yond our cultural boundaries, no matter what the cost. Pas- tors who withheld from their congregations the warning let- ters sent by the conference were not doing so out of mali- cious intent but out of an expression of individualism. They may have meant well, but they erred, Mennonite Brethren were caught off guard by the rapidi- ty of cultural change. We were wrenched out of our narrow ethnic enclave in one generation, a process that frequently takes several generations. We have been sincere in our