Opinion

'It might surprise you how many people are interested in hearing about your faith journey and your God experiences when you share them honestly, clearly and humbly.' (Image by athree23/Pixabay)

Unlearning ‘Christianese’

“Christianese” is what some people call insider jargon Christians use to talk about God and faith. One of the primary problems with Christianese is that it doesn’t make sense to... Read More
November 20, 2019 | Opinion | Troy Watson

'We desire to go deeper in our relationship with God and with our neighbours both inside and outside the church walls.' (Image by congerdesign/Pixabay)

Going deeper together

If you have been paying attention to what the regional churches are up to recently, you may have noticed a common question and a common longing. A question expressed at both... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Editorial | Virginia A. Hostetler

Readers write: November 11, 2019 issue

‘This is our church’ Re: “ How to talk about money at your church ,” Sept. 30, page 10. I read this Viewpoint piece, which I thought may give me insight into the responsible use... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Opinion | Various Contributors

(Image by Natalia Lavrinenko/Pixabay)

I smile because I’m grateful

There’s canola in my bed and it makes me smile. Perhaps I should explain. Currently, harvest is in full gear. I see my husband at mealtimes (maybe), and when he crawls into bed... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Opinion | Kirsten Hamm-Epp

Photo credit: The Canadian Mennonite / Mennonite Archives of Ontario

Speed sprayer

Readers raised on fruit farms—including this archivist—may remember the high-pitched whine of an orchard pesticide sprayer in action. Pictured , Peter J. Sawatzky of Ruthven, Ont... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Opinion | Laureen Harder-Gissing

'Pay attention to a child close to you. Give thanks for holy lessons available nowhere else.' (Photo courtesy of flickr.com/Lance Shields)

Allow a little child to lead you

My good memories of Thanksgiving 2019 will be focused on children. On Oct. 13, I preached a sermon at Grace Mennonite in Prince Albert. Church culture has me arriving an hour... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Opinion | Ed Olfert

(Image by Tumisu/Pixabay)

Confronting a drastic future

It’s been a month since Greta Thunberg—the 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden—came to my town for a climate rally. The Edmonton reception was decidedly mixed. One reception... Read More
November 6, 2019 | Opinion | Randolph Haluza-DeLay

'What does it mean if we see the Bible as the book above other books?' (Image by StockSnap/Pixabay)

Shaped by our essential book

The name Arab Christians use for the Bible translates literally as “The Holy Book,” and they often shorten it to “The Book.” Article 4 of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Editorial | Virginia A. Hostetler

(Graphic by Betty Avery)

Readers write: October 28, 2019 issue

Point:Counterpoint—Differing views on AMBS hiring Re: “ Boshart next AMBS president despite expressed concerns ,” Sept. 30, page 27. Thanks to Canadian Mennonite for covering the... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Various Contributors

(Image by Thomas B./Pixabay)

Speak Jesus

In the mid-1960s, Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman coined the phrase “the social construction of reality.” The phrase emphasizes that the world of power and meaning is created... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Ken Warkentin

Photo: By Rudy Regehr / Mennonite Heritage Archives

Bethel Bible Institute

Can you help identify these three men at Bethel Bible Institute (BBI)? Is John Poettcker in the centre? The formation of Bethel in Abbotsford, B.C., was proposed in 1937 at the... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Conrad Stoesz

'We can forgive and trust God’s healing power to transform our broken hearts.' (Image by succo/Pixabay)

Rhythms of reconciliation

My two-year-old has developed a habit of throwing his bowl across the kitchen when he’s finished his food. Sometimes it clears the dining area and we find it in the playroom with... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Christina Bartel Barkman

'Who is a Canadian Mennonite?' Arli Klassen asks in the first instalment of her new column, The Church Here and There. (Photo courtesy of Arli Klassen)

Walking in the church

Who is a Canadian Mennonite? I stood in line for supper at the start of a church convention this summer, and looked at my turquoise toenails, a splurge in the airport during a two... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Arli Klassen

'People who are sceptical of organized religion are actively seeking out insights on Jesus and spirituality from people who aren’t overtly affiliated with the church. People like Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Russell Brand (pictured) . . . to name a few.' (Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/RussellBrand)

Credible Christians

“People are no longer interested in religion or church, but they are still interested in Jesus.” This is a statement many Christians, including myself on occasion, proclaim... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Troy Watson

Marlene Friesen of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford, B.C., enjoys a sunrise view of the Dead Sea during a walking tour of the West Bank last spring. (Photo by Albert Friesen)

Walking a different path

When we first started telling people we were going to hike the Masar Ibrahim Trail in the West Bank, Palestine, they were incredulous. “You’re going where? You’re doing what?”... Read More
October 23, 2019 | Opinion | Marlene Friesen

'A storyteller I know recently alerted me to an incomplete story...' (Image by StockSnap/Pixabay)

Stories told and untold

This past summer I attended an event focused on Mary Magdalene , at which guest speaker Amanda Witmer reviewed what scholars know about this early follower of Jesus—not very much... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Editorial | Virginia A. Hostetler

Readers write: October 14, 2019 issue

Queer hymns cause deep concern for Ontario churchgoers Re: “ Queer hymns now online ,” Aug. 19, page 35. The undersigned from St. Catharines (Ont.) United Mennonite Church are... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Opinion | Various Contributors

'Take courage, make eye contact, smile and be the first to give this simple greeting and then go on with your daily routine.' (Image by rawpixel/Pixabay)

Just say ‘hi’

We live in a fearful world. People persecute, slander, ignore, bully and oppress other people. It can be depressing catching the news of yet another hate crime, whether it’s on... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Opinion | Brian Bauman

Photo: Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Pioneer Mission Photo Collection

Helena Kruger's sewing class

According to CBC, Canadian households buy four times as much clothing as they did 30 years ago, and throw away 46 kilograms of clothing per year, of which 85 percent ends up in... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Opinion | Conrad Stoesz

'Christian social scientists use the research-based tools of their trade to probe the issues of the day, then combine them with theological tools. Only together do they serve the goal of figuring out how to live so that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' (Image by Tumisu/Pixabay)

Informed ethics

A man saw the title of the book I was reading with my morning coffee. It was something religious-sounding, so he engaged me about faith. Eventually he asked what I did, and I said... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Opinion | Randy Haluza-DeLay

'My leather welding gloves are quite old. But I keep them, you see, even though the left glove has a hole in the thumb...' (Image by Free-Photos/Pixabay)

A burning issue

In Elise Epp’s “ Clothes to match your values ,” she pointed out the ecological harm posed by the overuse of highly processed leather products. I immediately felt warm . . . and... Read More
October 9, 2019 | Opinion | Ed Olfert

'If they had had the chance, how would the diverse disciples have voted in matters affecting their community and their land?' (Image by Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay)

Disciples and citizens

A group of men and women travelled the dusty roads, meeting people, eating together, hearing stories, pondering deep sayings, seeing miracles and conversing with their leader... Read More
September 25, 2019 | Editorial | Virginia A. Hostetler

Readers write: September 30, 2019 issue

Senior aches over ‘what the issue of LGBTQ+ has done’ Re: “ Queer hymns now online ,” Aug. 19, page 35. This, as I remember it, is my second letter to Canadian Mennonite over the... Read More
September 25, 2019 | Opinion | Various Contributors

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the largest building in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. (Image by Johannes Plenio/Pixabay)

Where heaven and earth meet

The Temple of Heaven is one of my favourite places in China. It was the place where the emperor went several times a year to offer sacrifices and receive wisdom from the spiritual... Read More
September 25, 2019 | Opinion | Jeanette Hanson

Photo: MCC Ontario / Mennonite Archives of Ontario

Aylmer community store

The Aylmer (Ont.) Mennonite Community Store and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Aylmer Resource Centre are pictured after 1989. Both represent the response of the local... Read More
September 25, 2019 | Opinion | Laureen Harder-Gissing

Pages