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Anabaptist Movement Changed Christianity by Marlin Jeschke, Goshen, Ind

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Anabaptist Movement Changed Christianity by Marlin Jeschke, Goshen, Ind Fall 2016 | vol 26, no 1 Anabaptist movement changed Christianity by Marlin Jeschke, Goshen, Ind. A new, good experience by Linda Young The presentation in the As a new volunteer at courtyard at Menno-Hof Menno-Hof, I was unsure shows a re-enactment of what would await me as I the first adult baptism in entered through the doors Zürich, Switzerland, in the first day. The other 1525. Most American volunteers I worked with that Christians have likely not day shared about their heard of this 1525 event, experiences with visitors although they likely have from places near and far. Experiences of how visitors heard of Luther, Calvin, would comment on the and Zwingli. Anabaptist story and then By 1500, most of share about their personal Europe had been journeys as well. sufficiently Christianized Though initially I was a that practically everyone little green and felt that in European society was a whatever words came forth Christian and member of from my lips would either the church —most likely make or break the RnDmS/Shutterstock.com experience for visitors, I soon baptized as an infant. found this not to be true. The In a scholarly tome experience and message of titled, “Baptism in the Menno Hof is very well First Five Centuries of the done—the programs speak Church,” patristics for themselves. There is so scholar Everett Ferguson much rich history and examines everything he information available that On March 7, 1526, the Zürich whatever one wants to glean can find on the doctrine and practice of (Switzerland) council passed an edict from the visit is up to them. baptism in those five centuries, and that made adult re-baptism punishable Several unique concludes that infant baptism likely arose by drowning. On January 5, 1527, experiences that I have because of high infant and child Felix Manz, one of the leaders of the Anabaptist movement, became the encountered there have only mortality. Baptism was seen as the door first casualty of the edict, and the first helped me become stronger to salvation, and Christian parents Swiss Anabaptist to be martyred. At in my knowledge of wanted their children safely “in” before 3 p.m. on that day, he was taken, Anabaptism and in my faith. they died. bound from his last imprisonment, to Recently, a large group be drowned in the waters of the river came to visit from Detroit, Infant baptism was made all the more Limmat (pictured above) which flows Mich. Since the group was so urgent by the teaching of the influential through the heart of the city of Zürich. large, we divided it in half North African church father Augustine Last minute efforts on the part of the and I took the first group to (d. 430), who claimed children are born clergy to cause him to recant were of no avail. He could hear the supportive the room that I refer to as the with original sin, and if that sin is not and encouraging voices of his mother church history room. It washed away in baptism and the children and his brother who stood nearby on spans from the time of Christ the shore. His last words were, "Into th brought into the church, children who die to the 16 century unbaptized don’t go to heaven. thy hands, O God, I commend my (cont. on page 3) spirit.” So, except for Jewish children, maybe also “gypsies,” by the year 1500, infant cont. on page 2 Anabaptist movement (cont. from front) Anabaptists were burned at the stake baptism in Europe was pretty well (which the Holy Roman Empire had universal. And none of the three major sanctioned in 1238 as a method of reformers questioned it, even though the execution), though many more died of church was characterized by a very diseases in prisons. Wish List unchristian moral life. In the end, that first baptism of adult believers in Zürich in 1525 turned out to ~new Thanks to Gutenberg, inventor of the be a historic game changer. To use a microwave for printing press in 1439, by 1525 literate term familiar to us in our computer era, volunteer Christians were reading their Bible and the beginning of the practice of baptism apartments becoming aware of what the church of the New Testament looked like and of of adult believers changed the default. ~flat screen TV how far the church around them fell Before 1525 the default was universal with built-in short of that model. And since just about infant baptism, through which everyone DVD player everyone agreed with Martin Luther that was automatically a Christian and a the Scriptures were authoritative for member of the church. After 1525 being faith and practice, some Christians in a Christian and a member of the church Zürich decided to re-start a church on began to be seen as a choice. It took that New Testament model. some time, but eventually the new They initiated the practice of baptism understanding also influenced infant of only adults who made a serious baptism churches. They introduced the profession of faith in Christ and accepted rite of confirmation, at least in Western accountable membership in a church. Christianity, in which those baptized in Anabaptists, they were called (from the infancy later need to decide for “There is a Greek “ana,” meaning “again”), though themselves whether they will be Christians. certain they discontinued the baptism of their own children and in that sense did not We still have some re-baptizers today, amount of make rebaptism an established practice. Christians visiting Israel who can’t resist mystery It may be hard for us to understand getting rebaptized when they come to the and many today, but both political and religious Jordan. But for some reason we don’t misconcep- leaders of Europe felt so threatened by persecute them. tions this voluntary church movement that surrounding they sought to stamp it out. Historians the Amish Marlin and his wife, Betty, are Menno-Hof volunteers and tell us that over 2,000 of these so-called attend College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind. Marlin is and Anabaptists perished in the persecution professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at Goshen Mennonite of the ensuing century. Some (Ind.) College. people. If you want to gain a little more Amish by the numbers fact-based source: Amish Studies by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College knowledge about 308,030 is the estimated population of Amish (adults and children) in the United States and Canada as of May 2016. these people 31 states have Amish communities as well as ...this is a 3 Canadian provinces. In 2016, the Amish established two new settlements in the province of great place Prince Edward Island. to get it.” —recent online Largest Amish settlements: review Settlement State Districts Estimated population Lancaster County Area Pennsylvania 210 35,070 Holmes County Area Ohio 263 34,190 Elkhart/LaGrange Area Indiana 172 23,565 “Amish Population Profile 2016.” Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College. http://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/statistics/amish-population-profile-2016 2 An invitation to give… We are thankful that Menno-Hof is sought out by so many individuals (around 18,000 a year!) and that we have the privilege of having their attention for over an hour as they listen and learn. At least 40% of our budget needs to come from donations. The staff and board are diligent in being good stewards with what God has given. We invite you to consider Menno-Hof in your year-end giving. If you have already given—thank you! Your gift makes a difference. Contributions are tax-deductible and can be sent to: Menno-Hof, PO Box 701, Shipshewana, Ind., 46565 A new, good experience (cont. from front) Mennonites, Amish, Hutterites—we are no “I can Reformation. As the last people were being better than any other Christian religion, but that is honestly say seated, one gentleman came to me and asked, where my roots are. It is something that I truly I understand “Is this room talking about religion?” I explained cherish. To have the opportunity to be able to that it was and he said, “I don’t think some of us share that with others through my experience at the Amish so will go through.” I told him that was fine but then Menno-Hof has truly been a blessing. much better every one of the persons that were with his now. Linda grew up in Middlebury, Ind., where she resides today. group, got up and left the room. The tour She is a member of First Mennonite, Middlebury, and enjoys A couple that had listened to the initial was so Anabaptist story in the first room, but was not reading and traveling. Her job as a registered nurse fuels her informative part of that group, stayed behind. Later as this passion for helping and comforting others. Linda began couple completed their tour, the gentleman said volunteering at Menno-Hof in April 2016. and staff was to me, “I noticed a few people had noted their so friendly. religion in the guest book by the cash register as It's just atheists. Why would they want to come through beautifully here?” I had no answer for that but it helped me THANK YOU done, would understand why they did not want to hear any highly more “talking about religion.” Beginnings & endings recommend.” A rather amusing visitor interaction involved hosts & hostess the multimedia presentation from the first room. —recent online Frederick & Sandra Gingerich, AuGres, Mich.
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