Post on 23-Feb-2016
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from the Columbia Bible College Anabaptist Pilgrimage, July 2013
There were impressive cathedrals in Germany…
Koln
Einsedeln
beautiful scenes in the Swiss Alps…
lively entertainment in Austria…
and engineering marvels in the Netherlands…
Afsfluitdijk
construction overseen by a Mennonite, Cornelius Lely
Canals in Amsterdam
but we were there primarily to encounter stories from 16th century Anabaptism
Trachselwald Castle where Anabaptists were imprisoned
Stocks in a cell in Trachsewald where Anabaptists were kept
In the reformed city of Zurich,
Ulrich Zwingli…
met for Bible study with a group of young radical students…
who baptized each other as an act of obedience to Scripture but rebellion towards the authorities.
The water source for the first “Anabaptism” in Zurich
who baptized each other as an act of obedience and rebellion
The water source for the first “Anabaptism” in Zurich
This act had drastic consequences as Felix Manz was given his “third baptism”--- by drowning.
The Limmat River near the spot he was thrown in from a fishing platform
His mother stood on the shore exhorting him to stand strong.
Hutterite missionary, Leonard Dax was imprisoned at Alzey Castle. He testified boldly of his faith in this castle courtyard.
Our group testifying through song in the Alzey castle courtyard under more amiable
conditions.
In Bern, Switzerland…
Anabaptists were bound, put in boats, and sent down the Aare River.
In the city of Augsburg…
an Anabaptist congregation met in this house for an Easter sunrise worship service in 1528. All 88 members were arrested.
485 years later on Easter morning
this plaque was unveiled
We were the first North American pilgrimage group to see it!
The road to Schleitheim,where an important meeting took place.
We went up by tractor and wagon, and on foot
“Anabaptist path”
A monument put up to commemorate the meeting that took place at Schleitheim in 1527 to develop some unity of Anabaptist convictions.
The Anabaptists had to worship in caves for fear of being apprehended.
Cave near Baretswil, Switzerland
view from the cave
In 1529 the Protestant canton of Zurich and the Catholic canton of Zug lined up for battle here on the border between their territories.
Instead of fighting, a peace treaty was enacted with “milch suppe” and bread, so the bloodshed was averted.
In this house the Amish bishop, Jakob Kupferschmidt, hosted Napoleon’s army general
with food and songsof the Gospel.
In the hills near Salm, France
He planted this oak tree nearby in gratitude for the exemption from military service that was granted.
While Menno Simons was a Catholic priest …
…in this church in his hometown of Witmarsum
in the city of Munster the Anabaptist movement went horribly awry.
Some leaders who thought themselves prophets and kings called on followers to take
up arms in preparation for God’s kingdom.
Close-up of a sculpture in Munster: Note apocalyptic images, a walled Munster and tools of violence.
It was not long before the powers of church and state put down the revolution as violently as it arose. The three main leaders were executed, and their remains hung from the tower of St. Lambert’s Cathedral in three cages which hang there to this day.
Why do
human beings
do such
violence in the
name of
Christ…
Peace inlay in a Munster street in order to remember that horrific event
when Jesus absorbed and abolished violence
centuries earlier?
The same sculpture as seen earlier with Jesus Christ on the cross surrounded by WW2 era religious figures; on the right is John the Revelator holding Munster plates, weapons below.
Menno Simons was so moved by this event at Munster,
and by the example of Christ he found in Scripture
that he left the priesthood and joined the Anabaptists.The Menno Simons monument near Witmarsum
Centuries later Hitler also tried to set up a pure “kingdom of God” by exterminating Jews, journalists, homosexuals, the disabled, artists, intellectuals, and anyone who would speak out in protest.
Dachau Concentration Camp
It too was defeated by bigger and better armaments…And sadly, it has happened again.
What lessons are we
learning from
history?
Mennonite Church sign in Amsterdam