HOW IS THIS CHRISTIAN???

I am unable to grasp the following two incidents, which happened in 1553 and 1569, in France and the Netherlands, and many more such incidents, in Western Europe, which is commonly called the Christian West.

On 16 May 1553 – the leadership of Roman Catholic church in Lyons, France, seize five young Frenchmen, who were trained by the reformers, Viret and Beza. Then these young men are  and burnt to death, despite the requests of the Reformed Swiss cantons, to let them go free.

On 16 May 1569 – Dirk Willem is burned at the stake, in his native Netherlands, for his Anabaptist faith. While escaping the prison, Willem was captured, because, he turned back to save the life of his pursuer, who fell through the ice, into the icy cold waters. The very man whom he rescued, had taken him captive, which costed Willem, his life, and burnt at the stake.

It is amazing, appalling and shocking to know that, these acts of “murder” are done by the Church – one by the Roman Catholic church, and the other by the Reformers. How can this cold-blooded killing of two people, for no other crime, than their religious beliefs, be called fair and just…all in the name of Christ, the LORD and the Saviour? Is Christ our LORD honoured by such acts? Would Christ Himself give His consent to us, if He were to be physically present?

How cruel, heatless and barbaric should those people be to even consider such a punishment? What the reformers have done is far worse, since they themselves faced and were still in 1569, persecution and death from the established Roman church. How can one actively indulge in the very same heinous, cruel, heartless and barbaric practice of “cold blooded murder” of someone who holds a differing view and opinion, while they themselves were being persecuted the very same thing?

Can we see authoritarianism/fascism here? I see it plain and clear. An authoritarian or a fascist demands utter and complete obedience to the “official” diktat that is given. If someone has a differing opinion, they can keep it to themselves, privately… secretly. If they dare to speak it out, and act on it, they will be met with the only punishment – death – we see this all through the reformation, and even after it. Max Blumenthal, an independent Jewish journalist, observes thus – “…they expect you to put conformity before your conscience.”

No wonder Jesus called the religious heads of His day as a brood of vipers – Matthew 12;34-35, and whitewashed tombs – Matthew 23:27-28. Jesus is spot-on and absolutely right. May the LORD help us to truly live for our LORD, and may our faith exceed that of the Pharisees and the Scribes – Matthew 5:20. Even so the LORD help us.