HOW SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND THIS?

On 11 August 1527, the Zurich Town Council agrees to suppress Anabaptists. It is difficult to grasp the  suppression part, which included torture and death [may be ‘murder’ is a more appropriate word] by the Zürich Town Council.

The winds of change were sweeping the whole of Europe. Enlightenment was all around. Reformation ideas were firmly rooted, and were fast gaining ground. The world that was till then, was crumbling down, and the new thinking, new ways of life and living was spouting, despite oppression and suppression by the powers that be of that day. The Protestant movement was on full steam. It was rolling out at great speed, and nothing, and no one, was able to stop it. Yet, it is such a tragedy to see such incidents in the ranks of very people, who were pioneering the reformation. 

“Most Anabaptists were pacifists who opposed war and the use of coercive measures to maintain the social order; they also refused to swear oaths, including those to civil authorities. For their teachings regarding baptism and for the apparent danger they posed to the political order, they were ubiquitously persecuted.” [Brittanica]

Reformation itself was a strong refusal, and a bold rejection, of what the Church and it authoritarian “rulers” decided, what is right, and what is wrong. The reformation stood on the principles of the Three Solas – Sola Fide – By Faith Alone; Sola Gratia – By Grace Alone; and Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone. If so, how can those who stood for reformation, employ the very same principle of authoritarian decisions, that they were fighting against?

Secondly, to persecute someone and kill [murder] someone merely because they don’t agree with our theology, doctrine, thoughts, opinions and ideas is nothing but wrong. Even if the Anabaptists were wrong in their thinking, and their beliefs, it is absolutely wrong. Is this not exactly what the Church of the day did, to the people who believed in reformation ideas?

Washington Post in its article *”Atonement For 2 Centuries Of Persecution”* of June 2004, says, “Anabaptists were severely persecuted. Thousands were drowned, beheaded or burned at the stake. Others fled across Europe and eventually to the Americas in search of security to practice their faith.” What a tragedy in the middle of reformation.

Thankfully, the Evangelical-Reformed Church in Zürich has made amends with those it actively persecuted…it took 500 years though. “The World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which includes Presbyterians and Congregationalists, apologized more than 20 years ago.” “Evangelical-Reformed Church in Zurich is taking responsibility for what happened in its territory centuries ago. “This is the canton [jurisdiction] that did the first executions,” said Sharp, who will lead a delegation of about 80 U.S. and Canadian Mennonites and Amish to the event. “This is the canton that did the persecution. This is the canton that was intolerant.” [Washington Post]

The LORD Jesus is our example, and we should follow Him in all aspects of our faith. Especially those who oppose our views, and those who hold differing views on matters of Christian faith…even against those who are not Christians, and believe in different gods. We hold on to our faith, as in the Bible, but we most certainly deal in a civilised manner, with those who oppose us. 

The world needs demonstrable witness of the Church, being faithful and obedient in our walk with the LORD, and not merely and religiously holding on to what our church says. May the LORD help us.