|
Chapter 8 Anabaptists, Through Water and Fire Friend or Foe? In life few thing are simple. Thus, the Reformation must be viewed as a revolution that grew out of many different motives. As Catholic nations rejected Rome's authority, the Scripture was enjoyed by many. However, ecclastical money and power were also made available. Thus, greed revealed the worst in kings, governors and sometimes the new Protestant churches. Because Satan was hard at work, some true Christians suffered under the new Protestant powers. Protestants of the Reformation had put on a new name but many were still possessed by the Gospel hating spirit of Rome. That spirit opposed the free worship of Christ and vexed the Evangelical message when ever possible. Dead religion has always hated the new wine of Christ's true Gospel. We must point out that the intolerance of some Protestants was very small compared to the Roman inspired holocaust of the past. Nonetheless, the Anabaptists were caught in the middle of the Roman - Protestant conflict. They refused to follow any church that lacked the message of heart conversion and they paid dearly for their faith. Anabaptists Everywhere (1400s and Forward ) Before and during the early Reformation the scarlet thread of the Gospel moved from one heart to the next. Reading the Scripture and repentance spawned the New Birth and many new congregations of saints. The world seldom recognized such faith but God has always marked his people with good living, Gospel preaching, and miraculous signs. Huss and Janowsky foresaw a wonderful revival. Their prophecies were fulfilled in the formation of the Brethren movement in 1457. Their enemies normally called these Brethren Anabaptist's. They trace their beginning to the Waldenses that carried the Gospel throughout Europe. The Brethren hold a direct link to John Huss and his followers who were originally influenced by Wycliffe's writings. Therefore, Anabaptists were popping up everywhere. Although unnumbered Anabaptists were killed or imprisoned, by 1500 the Bohemian Brethren numbered 200,000 with 400 congregations in Bohemia and Monrovia.30 They were missionaries in spirit and owed no allegiance to any formal religious body. Often, they held all material possessions as common. The Scripture was their guide as the Spirit filled their hearts. The light of their message has now passed to our present day. Some who still follow the heart of their teachings are: Baptists, Evangelicals, Holiness, Mennonites and Pentecostals. These all hold a common view of the New Birth and holy living as a mark of conversion. ------------------------------ 30 History of the Christian Church, Schaff, v. 6, p. 399 ___________________________ Holiness and Spirit Filled In the fourteenth century the Anabaptists were severely persecuted by the Catholic Inquisition. Therefore, they tried to become unobtrusive. Their names such as Winkeler and Grubenheimer, denote people who had their homes in hideouts or in the woods. During that time the Anabaptists were also called the good, the pure, and the perfect. They were also called spirituales, that is, men of the Spirit, and enthusiastai. These titles fit in well with modern names such as Holiness and PENTECOSTAL. All of these old and new groups retain the same doctrines, emotional commitments and all enjoy the New Birth! Anabaptists Knew Christ Anabaptists held that the Bible was inspired while still acknowledging that Christ's Sprit was a present guide. They knew that Christ was with them according to his promise, "Lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world." They believed that the Holy Spirit entered into the hearts of those who were dedicated to Christ. They believed that a committed Christian must deny oneself and follow Jesus. Their lives were to be no different from the life that Jesus himself had lived, in both its inner nature and its outward form. They believed the spirit of truth writes the Word of God into the heart of the believer. 31 Their name reflected their practice of baptizing converts rather than infants. These understood baptism to be an outward confession of inner faith. Anabaptists and the Gifts of the Spirit Anyone that accepts the reasoning of Scripture understands that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit are to be a part of the Christians everyday life. The following accounts are just a small sample of the power that worked through the early Anabaptists. Their trials were great but God was greater! Their history echoes the miraculous faith of Hebrews eleven. Peter Riedemann wrote from prison about in 1530. He gave a written confession of faith in which he defined the work of the Holy Spirit. He said the Spirit was a father of the poor and miserable, strength to the week, a comfort to the mourner, a guide to the truth, a light to those in darkness, a lifter to the fallen, and a giver of ALL the varied gifts of God. He said, Through the Holy Spirit we receive victory to take us to the place that Christ has prepared for us. 32 --------------------------- 31 The Early Anabaptists, --Eberhard Arnold, (1883 - 1935) Reprint, Plough Publishing House, Rifton, NY 1970 32 Love is Like Fire, The confession of an Anabaptist Prisoner, --Peter Riedemann (about 1530) Plough Publishing House, Farmington PA, 14357 ____________________________ Miracles in the Hour of Trial In 1592 Thomas Haan of Bavaria, was beheaded for his Evangelical testimony and faith in Jesus. After his death the executioner placed the body on the woodpile and lit the fire. As the body burned the head moved close to the body and the hands raised themselves up. Although a strong wind was blowing, the smoke rose straight up to heaven and was witnessed by all. This sign was extraordinary in that the same miracle was seen every day at the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Historians tell us that the smoke of the sacrifice would always rise straight up to heaven as the people lifted their hands and worshiped God. Thomas Haan became a living sacrifice for his Christ. His praise was unquenchable in the fire of affliction. Perhaps his movements in death signify that Thomas was truly still alive and was making a victorious entrance into Glory! "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalms 63:4) In 1531 a Martin Maler with six others were imprisoned at Schwabisch Gmund for their trust in Christ. They were condemned for refusing the Roman Church and clinging to Christ alone. As they were escorted across a bridge Martin prophesied and said, "No more of God's faithful will be taken across this bridge." Then the seven brothers entered God's kingdom through fiery tribulation. Amazingly, the bridge that the Christian brothers had crossed was carried away in a violent storm a few days later. On the evening of their execution, a traveler approached the city and passed the place of death. At that very spot he saw seven lights like burning flames and heard a remarkably sweet and beautiful angelic song. Upon reaching the city he asked what had taken place and what it was he had heard and seen. When the city council learned of his report they made a deal with him to remain silent. So, he said nothing more but many already knew of the heavenly witness. The modern missionary story, Through Gates of Splendor tells of a similar event. After Alca natives martyred five Gospel missionaries, their killers saw a bright light above the trees and saw the missionaries standing before heavenly Gates of Splendor! Elizabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the martyrs continued her husbands work and lead many Alcas to Christ. Her husband's killer was among her Alca converts, and told her the extraordinary story. Truly the angels of God are with Christ's martyrs! "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." (Exodus 23:20) We know that the Lord will do no less for us. In 1533 Jakob Hutter was the leader of the Hutterian wing of the Anabaptist. He wrote his followers in Tirol saying, "God's name be praise for you and all the believers. Praise God for the signs and miracles he has done and continues to do every day through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen We really needed this kind of assurance in our deep pain and sorrow. It was well-timed to help us; the lord surely came at the right hour." 33 ---------------------------------- 33 The Chronicle of the Hutterian Brethren, Translated by the Hutterian Brethren, Plough Publishing House, Riften New York, p.115 ________________________ In 1579 Hans Zuckenhammer and a tailor named Wolf, were captured in Salzburg while doing missionary work and witnessing for Christ. Upon apprehension Zuckenhammer was struck so hard he bled and then his hands were bound so tightly they turned black. While being escorted to prison the crushing grip of the ropes suddenly let go so that the constable had to retie them. These apostles of Christ were repeatedly questioned and threatened by the priests and others. Their faith stood firm as they continued to refuse the religious idols and all doctrines that took away from the work of the Cross. The warden threatened to bring scholars from Salzburg but they answered, "Let a whole city full of priests come, it will not matter; they will never be able to turn us from the truth or from the way of salvation that God has shown us." Suddenly, the ropes fell off of brother Wolf's hands of their own accord. At a later time the brothers were questioned again. As the men gave a good witness for the truth the ropes on brother Wolf's hands again fell off as everyone watched. The bishop's chaplain, provincial judge, and the others all fell silent. Wolf gathered them up and put them on the bench beside him. When the hearing ended, the judge himself carried the ropes out. After the men spent three more week in prison, the bishop of Salzburg ordered their release. They had born sixteen weeks of imprisonment and hunger. Now, they walked out of the town in the broad daylight. Their discharge was like a miracle from God. Never before had anyone every been released in this area. It is God that robs princes of their bravery, holds their hearts in his hand, and destroy the fangs of the wicked. With God all things are possible. The apostles saw the delivering hand of God in the Philippian jail and in Jerusalem's prison. (Acts 12:7, Acts 16:26) God sent angels and earthquakes to set his servants free. Those that suffered death were also mighty witnesses who followed in the master's steps. God help us not only to see the miraculous but to also be found faithful unto the end. A Faithful Generation As the persecution of the Anabaptist Brethren continued more and more people came to Christ. The persecution of this time was not unlike that of the early church. A mighty army of faith was rising in Europe. The real Reformation did not start on a Church door in Wittenburg but in the hearts of uncounted Anabaptist Brethren across Europe. When Luther wrote his 95 theses he was equivalent to the modern politician that jumps in front of the moving crowd. This Reformation train was already moving and bound for Glory. The seats were already full! Luther's 95 theses was only a call for tickets. Although multitudes of Anabaptists were martyred, God's hand was not slack. After a time the persecutors began to fear God's retribution. It was noted that if you touch one of these Anabaptists that death would follow within twelve months. God heard the cries of his people and began coming to their defense. The stories of such divine judgment are without number. Truly, God has never changed and the testimony of his people is always the same. What he has done for others he is still doing today!
|