THE MESSENGER | WINTER 2018
BAPTISTS AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Period was widespread and regularly brutal. It must be understood that the were designated as such for their protest term “Anabaptist” was used as a broadhen I hear a against Charles V and the domination of brush pejorative to describe a wide local church the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). This array of theological and philosophical congregation Diet is notable in that it granted an initial positions under attack by both the sing a rousing rendition of measure of legitimacy to the blossoming RCC and Protestants alike. Those Protestant Reformation, but it was also who practiced re-baptism, as a visible Martin Luther’s hymn “A marked by a very dark side. In the face of testimony of their break from the RCC Mighty Fortress is our God,” the looming Turkish threat, the RCC and or Protestantism, were lumped into the these newly-minted Protestants agreed category of Anabaptist. Mature history my heart thrills. to unite together in a pincer movement has proven that numerous disparate of persecution against the Anabaptists positions were thrown under the umbrella Furthermore, when I see an artist’s of the Reformation Era, many of whom of this term. Included in this array were depiction of Luther nailing his 95 Theses are spiritual forefathers to modern day biblically-rooted groups like the Swiss to the door of the Wittenberg Chapel, I Baptists. Anabaptism or re-baptism, Anabaptists and individuals like Balthasar can almost hear the ring of the hammer which in actuality was believer’s baptism, Hubmaier, who actually disdained being on the nail. At times, my pulse has also was considered a capital crime since it called an Anabaptist. He knew that his quickened to envision Luther at Worms, visibly repudiated both the RCC and sprinkling as an infant in the RCC was not yet forty years of age, standing Protestant state-churches of the day. no baptism at all! Though individuals alone before Emperor Charles V and It was believed that toleration of the like Hubmaier came out of the RCC, the gathered powers of Europe, boldly Anabaptist movement would undermine they recognized the existence of ancient proclaiming, “Here I stand. I can do no the strength of a united Europe against baptistic believers throughout history other.” It is indeed compelling to consider Muslim advances into the West, so the who had never been a part of the RCC. the impact of this one man on our world RCC and Protestants agreed together to Hubmaier and others like him understood over the past 500 years. To be sure, persecute the Anabaptists for sedition that they were not beginning something Luther is only representative of numerous and heresy in order to force conformity new, but were rather joining a long line other courageous men and women of the and build uniformity. of New Testament Reformation. History demonstrates believers tracing “For Baptists to attempt that, in many instances, their existence back This being said, we can have appreciation to assimilate our Protestants were as to the first century. for these things as historical events, spiritual lineage with zealous, if not more All this to say, the but it is not necessary for us as Baptists zealous, in this persecution term “Anabaptist,” the Reformation in to form our history out of them. As a of Anabaptists than was broad as it was matter of fact, it would be duplicitous any vital way, and to even the RCC. Therefore, and misnomer that to do so, as well as dishonoring to our think of ourselves as knowledge of the origin it is, was used in spiritual heritage. For Baptists to attempt of the term “Protestant” Protestants is mistaken capital indictments to assimilate our spiritual lineage with the makes it impossible for me by Reformation Reformation in any vital way, and to think at best …” to consider myself one. Protestants against of ourselves as Protestants is mistaken at This leads to a second many believers with best and wrong at worst. Here are four reason why Baptists are not Protestants. whom we Baptists have common, New reasons why. Testament identity. Protestants opposed The Opposition of Protestants against men of Baptist faith and practice to the The Origin of the Term “Protestant” Anabaptists point of torture and execution. Read the The term “Protestant” did not originate The opposition of Protestants to words of the mandate resulting from until the year 1529, when at the Diet Anabaptism during the Reformation the Diet of Speyer in 1529, to which of Speyer, a group of Lutheran princes
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