March 15 - Still baptizing

March 15 - Still baptizing

The Anabaptist movement was just beginning, even though they were harassed by the Roman church and the Protestants alike.

Another leader, Michael Sattler, was a former monk. He was arrested in 1525 for hanging out with the Anabaptists, but released when he renounced their teaching and promised to leave Zurich. He met a woman and got married. She gave him courage as he rediscovered the truth of the Anabaptists.

Because this movement drew so much opposition and attracted such strong personalities, a secret meeting was called in Schleitheim, Switzerland. They drew up a 'confession' to bring order and a sense of direction to the movement. Sattler was more than likely the author of this document.

This confession had seven points that have become such a part of our lives we don't realize the depth of change they wrought in this period of history. Firstly, baptism is only performed for those who repented of sins and believed in Christ. Secondly, came the 'ban' in which a member who sinned was given two private warnings and then shunned if they continued. Third was the teaching that communion was done in memory of Christ and was not a sacrament. Fourth came the idea of separation of church and state. After years of the church running many of the governments in Europe, this was a fresh idea. The fifth idea was that congregations would be allowed to select their own pastors. The last two portions of the confession came from Christ's teachings. Number six heralded their belief in pacifism. Christians are armed with the armor of God, people of the world use steel and iron. The last taught that no man would take an oath.

Zwingli and Calvin both denounced this confession, but the ideas have persisted throughout the centuries.

Michael Sattler was executed in May of 1527. He refused a lawyer at his trial, stating that this was a defense of faith, not a legal issue. His wife refused to recant her beliefs and was executed by drowning a few days later.