MENNO SIMONS

In the early 1500's a young priest in the Netherlands would lead a movement that was so committed to following Christ's teachings of love, simplicity and separation from the world that they would become known as the 'quiet in the land.'

Menno Simons was born in the Netherland village of Witmarsum in 1496 and was ordained as a Catholic priest when he was twenty eight years old. Although sincere in his love and service to the Catholic church, he began to doubt some of the churches teachings. Through a systematic study of the New Testament and interacting with the writings of Martin Luther, he gradually came to agree with the Reformations position that the Bible should be the Christian's highest authority and found himself at odds with the doctrines of transubstantiation and infant baptism.

The Anabaptist (Re-baptizing) movement in the Netherlands also began to make a great impression on Menno. When his brother, a member of the Anabaptist movement, was martyred for his faith; it further thrust Menno's soul into confusion.

During this time a sect within the Anabaptist movement began to move away from its original leaders to embrace more extreme efforts at reform. One of the leaders was Melchior Hoffman. Hoffman began to announce that the return of Jesus Christ was only months away and gathered thousands to Strasbourg in the hopes that a New Jerusalem would become a reality there. The growing numbers of this radical element caused the city officials to take repressive measures and it soon became prophesied that the New Jerusalem would not be established in Strasbourg but, instead, in the city Munster which was known for its tolerance of Protestant views.

Soon the radicals took over the entire city of Munster, expelling all those who did not adhere to their fanatical views of polygamy and daily claims of various visions and direct revelations. The expelled Catholic bishop soon raised an army and surrounded Munster cutting off all food supplies and daily making military attacks. Finally in the Fall of 1535, the radicals were defeated and much of Munster destroyed.

Shocked by these developments, Menno was convinced that he had received some valuable insights through the Anabaptist movement in its earlier and peaceful days and burdened over the tragic developments at Munster, he came to a final decision. "The blood of these people, although misled, fell so hot upon my heart that I could not stand it, nor find rest in my soul," he wrote, " I saw that these zealous children, although in error, willingly gave their lives ... for their doctrine and their faith."

In January of 1536, Menno Simons quietly renounced his involvement in the Catholic Church to embrace the teachings of the Anabaptist's. This endangered his life and caused him to leave his home and community and begin an 'underground life' of prayer, study of the Scriptures and ministering to those inside and outside the Church.

By 1537 Simons sincere faith and leadership abilities were recognized by the scattered movements of Anabaptists in the Netherlands. Finally the founder of Dutch Anabaptism, Obbe Phillips, ordained him as bishop of the fledgling church and Simons became the undisputed leader of the Dutch Anabaptist's. He quickly set about protecting his flock from radical influences and renounced all "worldly reputation and fame .. and willingly submitted to stress and poverty under the heavy cross of Christ."

Throughout the rest of his life, he would travel throughout the Netherlands, Holland and Germany encouraging the more extreme branch of the Reformation to embrace pacifism, to separate themselves from the world, to be involved in good works and to be obedient to the civil government whenever it did not conflict with the Bible.

He wrote a number of treatises and books which formalized the doctrines of the movement including the highly influential "Book of Fundamentals" in 1539. Eventually his followers became known as Mennonites. Menno believed that the New Testament church pattern called for the organization of individual congregations filled with regenerated believers moved by the Holy Spirit to lead lives of quiet service, teaching that prayer should be preformed in perfect silence. In his view, military service and killing were unlawful for the Christian, as were the taking of oaths and the holding of magisterial office.

Even though peaceful, these stances were seen as subversive to the state which brought heavy persecution to the Mennonite societies. Many would eventually flee to America to set up their own separatist communities. During his last years of his life, Menno suffered with crippling arthritis and died on January 31st, 1561.

In Luke chapter 6:27, the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also."

Throughout the history of the church, every Christian community has had to consider the difficult and revolutionary nature of Christ's call to love our enemies. Too easily we gloss over the radical nature of our call to do the opposite of our natural inclinations; that when we wronged, we are to love, bless, pray and serve those who have mistreated us rather than lash out in vengeance. In so doing, we represent Christ and his kingdom principles to a broken world

As Menno Simons stated, "the love of Christ is most excellently displayed by the Christian's answer to his enemies .. rather than returning evil for evil .. he overcomes evil with good."