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The Hutterite Mission Machine Said: Look Like? Several Areas of Early Hutterite Missions Stand Out

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The Hutterite Mission Machine Said: Look Like? �������������������������������������������������� Several Areas of Early Hutterite Missions Stand Out that most of the early Anabaptists were active in evange- lism and mission work. However, when it comes to actual recorded history from this time period, compared to the early Hutterites nothing even comes close. Where did the Hutterites come from? In the early 1500s radical Christianity was at a peak. Mar- tin Luther became an overnight celebrity when his 95 the- ses were translated to German and spread all over Europe. [ In Switzerland, another zealous reformer, Ulrich Zwingli, began reforming the city of Zurich. Soon after arriving in Zurich, Zwingli began preaching through the Bible in the common language. As people heard the Word of The Hutterite God preached, revival broke out and many had their lives changed in powerful ways. Mission Machine Another important aspect of this revival was that the New Testament was being published in the common lan- The Marine Corps of the early [ Anabaptists of the Bible produced another wave of the Reformation that historians have called the “Radical Reformation,” By Dean Taylor from which sprang the “Anabaptists.” few issues ago we published an article entitled “The Moravian Mission Machine” in which we The Anabaptists A highlighted the mission activity of the Moravians The Anabaptists were birthed out of a group of young of the 1700s. We used the label “mission machine” to de- converts who were studying the Bible with Ulrich Zwing- scribe their particular type of church structure, where the li. Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and Conrad Grebel were church community utilized everything they had—their among these zealous young converts. The young converts lives, their homes, and particularly their businesses—for prospered for a time, but as they studied the New Testa- the propagation of the kingdom of God. ment, they soon found a big sticking point over the con- Since then, my studies of early Anabaptist churches cept of a state church and the way their teachers were have led me to discover another group that was anoint- treating the words of Jesus. As the Reformation went for- ed in nearly the same way almost 200 years earlier: the ward, they felt that the words of Jesus were getting ne- Hutterites. Birthed out of the “Radical Reformation” of glected or explained away. The young converts objected 1525, the Hutterites combined an unusual dedication to to this sharply. For example, Conrad Grebel, a natural the words of Jesus with a decidedly organized missionary leader among the young converts, objected in a letter ar- outreach. guing this point to an estranged friend. In this letter Greb- As with all the Anabaptist groups of their day, evange- el wrote something that I think encapsulates the whole lism and church planting had to be done in secret. Martyr- Anabaptist movement in one sentence. He said: dom was a frequent end for many missionaries and evan- The teaching of the Lord has been given for the pur- gelists. Because of this persecution, things like strategy pose of being put into practice.2 [ It wasn’t long until the new group started believer’s bap- and be the “quiet of the land” was strong. But apparently tism, rebaptizing adults on the profession of their faith. Jesus’ command to “go into all the world” was even stron- In their day rebaptism was a capital offense. Even in Zu- ger. When I started to read the history of the early Ana- baptists, I saw that just about all of the groups fought this 1 To this day the Mennonites, Amish, Hutterites, and even many of the Church of the Brethren would claim this spiritual war valiantly and died bravely. But in particular history as their origin. Many newer groups also throughout I was impressed when I read about the tenacity, determi- the centuries have shared the same convictions and therefore nation, and—especially—the systematic approach the would have shared the “Anabaptist” name. Hutterites had for missions and evangelism. Based on the 2 Get your highlighter and mark this quote. It is a core number of converts and court testimonies, it is assumed gospel concept. The Heartbeat of the Remnant • July/August 2013 rich the Protestant Reformers issued the death sentence only two were left! The persecution was brutal. Some re- for these who practiced it. It was from this practice of canted and gave up; others hid or moved to remote areas. rebaptism that the Anabaptists got their name: their en- Regardless of the persecution, evangelism and mission emies called them “Anabaptists,” which simply means continued. In spite of the persecution, Anabaptism was “re-baptizers.” From the start, persecution poured out on quickly popping up in all parts of Switzerland, south Ger- the new Anabaptists from both the Catholics and Prot- many, Austria, Moravia, and even Holland. estants. Many were imprisoned and soon the Anabaptist sealed their beliefs with martyrdom, beginning when the To Moravia Protestant Reformers drowned Felix Mantz in the Limmat After a few years of hard persecution, a break came for River. some Anabaptists. Lord Liechtenstein of Nikolsburg opened up Moravia to the Anabaptists. Testifying to the Jesus said “Go” evangelism activities of these early Anabaptists, 12,000 In the days of the Reformation, the Protestants did not spiritual refugees took up Liechtenstein’s offer and moved have a developed teaching on evangelism and missions. to Moravia. For a while the region around Nikolsburg In their thinking, most was almost completely new Christians entered the Anabaptist. Liechtenstein church as infants, and pros- himself was even re-bap- elytes were usually made tized. Unfortunately, how- by converting the king of ever, the peace was short a country or province. In lived. The Muslim leader contrast, the new Anabap- " ' tists were trying to look at had pronounced a holy the Bible as a blueprint. war—Jihad—on Chris- Because of this, their view tian Europe. Inadvertently, \ - these Moravian Anabap- rally out of the way they tists found themselves on read the New Testament. the front line. With the fear The Anabaptists saw Jesus’ of enemy attack and pres- teachings on missions and sure from superior nobility, evangelism not as mere his- Liechtenstein ordered all torical notes, but as com- citizens to wear the sword mands. 58 out of 60 missionaries who attended and be ready to defend the Within days after the PSQ country at all times. Sad to birth of the movement, with \ say, most of the Anabaptists death sentences still over [ their heads, the early Anabaptists went into neighboring and picked up the sword. cities with remarkable success. In one account, Conrad Grebel went north to St. Gall and interrupted an Easter The few parade with the preaching of the kingdom of God. By However, a small band of approximately 200 refused the end of the day over 500 new believers repented and to compromise. Meeting together and upholding Jesus’ believed. Following Grebel’s lead, the new converts ac- teachings on things like the sword and radical views of tually left the procession and were baptized in the river #([ \ from their former brethren. Feeling the pressure from his superiors, Lord Liechtenstein ordered them out of the Dangerous work country. It was tough. Hardly a year had passed since most As the work continued, the early Anabaptists started to of them came to Nikolsburg, now they were heading into organize. In August of 1527 a group of about 60 mission- the wilderness armed with nothing more than the Word of aries and leaders met in Augsburg, Germany to divide up God and zeal to follow the Lord anywhere He led. the different regions and to discuss strategies for spread- 3 “Direction: Anabaptists and the Great Commission in the ing God’s kingdom. The meeting is known as the Martyrs Reformation,” Hans Kasdorf, http://www.directionjournal. "[#$%# org/4/2/anabaptists-and-great-commission-in.html. The Heartbeat of the Remnant • July/August 2013 Once out of the city, the group stopped to evaluate ended his life heroically. Being sent out on a mission their situation. Surveying the sick and weak among them, trip to his home area of Tyrol, Austria, Jacob fell into the they covenanted to stick together and help each other to hands of his persecutors. In February of 1536 Jacob was the very end. The Hutterian Chronicles records the mo- taken to Innsbruck, where he was severely tortured and ment happening in the spring of 1528. interrogated. When they saw that Jacob would not deny These men then spread out a cloak in front of the the faith, he was taken to the city square and burned at people, and each one laid his possessions on it with the stake. a willing heart—without being forced—so that the Following the lead of Jacob Hutter, a new type of needy might be supported in accordance with the leaders emerged in the Hutterites with an even greater teachings of the prophets and apostles. zeal to spread the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. The small band petitioned the ruler of Austerlitz, Moravia The high ideas and rare dedication to the words of Jesus if they could occupy one of his old burned-out farms. The attracted gifted men from all around Europe. This infused lord enthusiastically accepted them. Starting out poor and this new movement with talent and exceptional leader- weak, the brethren in Austerlitz modeled themselves after ship. the book of Acts and set up a little settlement with full community of goods. Get organized Amazingly, right from the beginning the little group These were tough times. With the Muslims advancing started following Jesus’ command to reach out. The Hut- # > [ terian Chronicles records: West, and death threats and warrants posted in every land, As the members of the church began to increase in the persecution was strong and effective.
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