Orthoxy, -isms & -ologies 3

Major Sticking Point

Zwingli, Luther and Calvin all held to infant baptism

Paedobaptists

Anabaptists believed that only believers should be baptized

First re-baptism took place in 1525

That said, the form of baptism was generally by pouring…at least in the early times

Supersessionist view of OT

The church replaces Israel as God’s chosen people

Oppressed and persecuted by Roman Catholic and protestants alike

Most Anabaptists adhere to a literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount which precludes taking oaths, participating in military actions, and participating in civil government.

They considered the public confession of sin and faith, sealed by adult baptism, to be the only proper baptism. They held that infants and young children are not accountable for sin until they become aware of good and evil and can exercise their own free will, repent, and accept baptism.

Martyrdom

Many martyrs within Anabaptist history—shameful mark on the reformers

According to historian Justo Gonzalez, more Anabaptists were martyred at the hands of other Christians in the sixteenth century than there were Christians martyred by Roman pagans during the first three centuries of the church

All because they re-baptized

Plain People

The background comes from the sect known as “Swiss Brethren”

We know them as three general types

Mennonites

It was named for Menno Simons, a Dutch priest who consolidated and institutionalized the work initiated by moderate Anabaptist leaders.

A 2nd generation of Anabaptist leaders, converted in 1536

Codified and consolidated the beliefs

Amish

Named for Jakab Ammann

Jakob Ammann (c. 1644–c. 1730) was a Mennonite leader whose controversial teachings caused a schism among his coreligionists in Switzerland, Alsace, and southern Germany. Ammann insisted that any excommunicated Mennonite church member should be shunned socially and that anyone who lied should be excommunicated. Following Jesus’ example, he introduced foot washing into the worship service and taught that church members should dress in a uniform manner, that beards should not be trimmed, and that it was wrong to attend services in a state church.

Hutterites

Still hold to the tag Brethren

Lesser known member of the Hutterian Brethren, a branch of the Anabaptist movement, originally from Austria and South Germany, whose members found refuge from persecution in Moravia. It stressed community

Anabaptists Today

Hutterites are the least known

Most are in western Canada and the Great plains of the US

Live in communal groups

Appears to be consistent from place to place

Emphasize the pattern of the early church in Acts

Can’t find a clear statement of the need for personal faith in Christ

Very clearly defined patterns of behavior

We would generally agree on the spiritual value of each component

Amish are most widely known

“rules” vary from community to community

On the surface, it appears that theirs is a salvation based upon works and joining the church

Some groups are clear on salvation by grace—but mostly not

Some groups only read from the German Bible…and only the passages they like