A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

tory by Lutheran Pietists and German Baptists, they were careful to maintain their spiritual identity as an Anabaptist-Mennonite body. P. M. Friesen, the father of Mennonite Brethren historiography, also expressed the indebtedness of the new church to Menno Simons when he referred to the two "reformers" of the M.B. Church: Menno and Wuest. However, he considered Menno the builder of the spiritual home and Wuest as the servant whom God used to refurnish the impoverished structure.' This historical connection and theological identification of the Mennonite Brethren with Menno Simons and the early Anabaptists calls for a brief review of the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement as well as the nature of the Anabaptist Vision. Anabaptism and the Reformation The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century constitutes one of the greatest religious upheavals in the history of the Western World. The long-smoldering fires of discontent and disillusionment with the moral and spiritual corruption in the Medieval Church were fanned into a blazing conflagration by Martin Luther's posting of his ninety-five theses in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. In many ways, this historic event marks the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Era in church history. The Anabaptist movement is related directly to the reform movements initiated by Luther in Germany and by Zwingli in Switzerland. The Anabaptists agreed with the Reformers on the cardinal doctrines of salvation. They were thoroughly orthodox in their views concerning the atonement even though they rejected Luther's one-sided interpretation — commonly known as the "Satisfaction Theory." They agreed with the Reformers on justification by faith through grace. Although they rejoiced at the work Luther had done, they were deeply disappointed when he did not proceed to establish a "believers' church" after the New Testament pattern. Because they demanded more radical changes in the faith and practice of the church, the Anabaptists have often been described by church historians as the "Left-Wing" of the Reformation. 6 George H. Williams treats them as part of "the Radical Reformation." 6 Anabaptism originated and developed independently in several areas of South-Central and Northern Europe. This largely accounts for differences and peculiarities in its manifestation. The "Rebaptizers" or "Anabaptists" (Wiedertaeufer) as they were derisively called were found in four principal areas: Switzerland, Moravia, South Germany and the Netherlands. It should be pointed out that many radical reform groups of the SPIRITUAL HEIRS OF THE EARLY ANABAPTISTS 5 sixteenth century were labeled "Anabaptist" by their opponents, even though these groups had little in common except their rejection of magisterial Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. It does not fall within the scope and purpose of this chapter to trace the origin and development of such "Anabaptist