The Anabaptists
Often overlooked, sidelined and under-appreciated
is the role that those comprising the Anabaptists contributed to the Reformation as a whole.
They were part of what is known today as the Radical Reformation,
distinguished from the Magisterial Reformation
due to the way that they related to the secular authorities.
Popular reformers such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin
are considered Magisterial Reformers because their movements of reform
were supported by the magistrates or ruling authorities.
The Radical Reformation, however,
believed that the church should not be supported by,
connected to, or in subservience to the state.
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This belief on authority was not the only difference.
As the name suggests, they had a different belief on the doctrine of baptism.
The word and 'anaptist' literally means 'rebaptism'.
They rejected the doctrine of infant baptism,
and believed that baptism is a decision
that needs to be made by individual personal conviction and surrender.
And so they sought to be baptized again,
a decision that brought much controversy
and persecution from both Catholics and Protestants.
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Throughout the sixteenth century
the movement would spread around Europe
to Holland, parts of Germany, Strasbourg, and here in Switzerland.
They believed that the Reformation had not gone far enough
and that some of the Reformers such as Zwingli
had compromised in their beliefs in order to gain favour with the State.
They believed they needed to go all the way,
and although they believed in justification by faith,
they aimed to live a life of high moral standard,
demonstrating their good works.
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It's hard to pinpoint a solitary founder
or a singular leader from the early days,
but one name that stands out is Felix Manz.
He was born here in Zurich and became a follower of Zwingli,
but after 1523 they believed that Zwingli's plans for reform
had been compromised with the City Council.
A public disputation was held in 1525
and Manz and Groebel, amongst others, tried to defend their position
and some parents refused to have their children baptized
but the council declared Zwingli the victor.
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This led to some making a break with Zwingli and the council
and the movement for radical reforms spread rapidly.
Manz was an early leader in it
and preached enthusiastically for the next two years as an evangelist.
Although he was arrested several times,
his life was never in danger until after the 7th of March 1526
when the Zurich Council passed an edict
making adult baptism punishable by drowning.
He was arrested again, and on the 5th of January 1527
Manz became the first casualty of this edict
and the first Swiss Anabaptist to be martyred at the hands of other Protestants.
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He was taken by boat to a spot just behind me on the River Limmat.
His hands were bound and pulled behind his knees
and then he was cruelly executed by drowning.
Many others would suffer the same fate,
and their witness and stories would inspire other Christians
to stand firm for their faith.
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The death of these Anabaptists clearly illustrates
that persecution wasn't just a Catholic-to-Protestant thing.
Protestants were not immune from the cancer of persecution.
Wherever there is a spirit of control
and an inability to appreciate others beliefs,
persecution will eventually follow.
Men such as Felix made a stand for their faith
and died, holding their convictions strong.
May we also stand for the truth as these believers did in the past,
and may we also be gracious to others
if we are in a position of leadership or authority,
recognizing that God expects everyone
to follow Him according to their own convictions.