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Recently celebrated by some and oblivious to many was the five- hundred year anniversary of the anabaptist movement.  When we think of the reformation names such as the German Martin Luther and the Swiss Huldrych Zwingli come to mind who were key players in the reformation that changed Christendom forever.  But the anabaptist movement was a major factor in the reformation as well and the sacrifice of those precious saints should not be forgotten by believers today.

They firmly believed in adult baptism as an obedient act to be undertaken when one was old enough to understand the significance of the act.  As a result, they decided to be re-baptized hence the name ‘anabaptist’.  These actions were deemed to be heretical and viewed as rebellion against the organized state church of the day.  Severe persecution, torture and death was the result for many. They also believed the words of Jesus when he told his followers to “turn the other check” and believed in forgiving even those who harmed them. In 1596 Dirk Willems was arrested and imprisoned for his anabaptist beliefs. He escaped and fled across a frozen lake but was pursued. He was thin due to prison conditions but the man chasing him was fit and strong and fell through the ice. Willems was free but seeing his pursuer drowning he turned back and rescued him which resulted in his capture, arrest, torture and execution.

While the specific beliefs of anabaptists are important what was behind these was an overriding belief that the scriptures were the final source for matters of faith, not the organized church or its officials. This view sometimes viewed as ‘sola scripture’ was the driving force behind the once small group that continued to grow in spite of the persecution. Over time it became an integral part of several expressions of faith that are still prevalent today such as Mennonite, Brethren, and Brethren in Christ congregations.  Grebel College, part of the University of Waterloo is named after one of the anabaptist reformers. Our own denomination until 1947 was known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. Today, we have no interference from the state as to how and when we can be baptized.  Thank you Lord for those who were willing to give their life for this privilege!  We live in a world that could use a lot of forgiveness and a world that desperately needs more of those who would turn the other check. Pastor Dave