Philip Jakob Spener
, founder of Pietism.
Mennonite movement in parallel to the seventeenth century, there would be other movements that although their roots or part of them in the movement initiated by Menno Simons, but have moved away from the precepts of Mennonite leader. In other cases, while still keeping the traditions of simplicity, pacifism and adult baptism, but other movements over time will distance themselves from the simplicity and virtue that originally sought Mennonites.
One of the most former was the so-called Tunkers, who himself called themselves the Order of German Baptist brethren in America were known as Dunkers, as an evolution of the name given in Germany, Tunkers (SKIMMERS), which basically referred to the method immersing the whole body for baptism. The group was organized by Alexander Mack and other friends who came from Pietism, but somehow got the Mennonite influence.
Pietism was a stream of Lutheranism, which sought to study the Bible, a rapprochement to real Christianity, did not accept the style of sermon, which were in the cold religious gatherings of the churches. It was founded by Philip Jakob Spener in Leipzig in 1689, when it began holding meetings in his home, meetings that they called "Collegia pietatis, hence the name of piety.
Spener, born in Ribeauvillé, on January 23, 1635, was at the University of Strasbourg, became a theologian. With time and embraced the Lutheran Reformation was concerned with religious education, to the extent of promoting Bible study, prayer and personal meditation. From his idea was called doctrine of Pietism, especially in the wake of a letter she had written entitled "Pious Wishes" in 1675. In defended the participation of the laity in the church, believing that every Christian has the right and obligation to do thorough study of their faith. Pietism became a major force in Germany and came to spread in England and some American colonies. This system emphasized the study of the Bible and religion as a personal experience they saw as the essential need to be a true Christian. That vision of a humanity in need of the gospel of Christ promoted the onset and rapid expansion of missionary both locally and abroad.
Officially, the movement began in Leipzig, with the famous house meetings in Spener, they Collegia pietatis composed of members with no religious qualification, showed very rapid progress. In Germany would hold in the first instance Berleburg, thanks to Count Casimir von Wittgenstein, who often gave shelter and support the movement and many members fleeing the taunts and persecutions that took account of their clandestine meetings, clerics denounced by opponents.
One of those who sought asylum was Johann Haug, was forced to flee his home in Strasbourg due to the intolerance of the local theologians. Haug, scholar and skilled linguist, informed students of Berleburg his fervent desire to produce an unadulterated translation of the Bible, to correct the translation of Luther, and pour the exact meaning according to the letter and spirit of the Word of God. The goal was to produce a Bible with explanatory notes and comments, and that was understandable to the layman. Haug won the support of academics from other European countries and worked on this project for twenty years. Berleburg Bible was published from 1726 in eight volumes due to its extensive notes, but the Pietist movement also had supporters in Berlin, Augsburg, Wuttenberg and Alsace. Beleburg Up Bible One of the most active members of pietism was Hochmann Ernest Christopher, a native of Nuremberg, was approached to Pietism at the University of Halle, where he was studying theology in 1697 was associated with Gottfried Arnold, another very pietistic active thereafter became in a restless preacher. His desire from the beginning was to create a united church, was enthusiastically proclaiming the Gospel without fear and secure potential complications that entails. It was the first to discover in his studies, teachings that came to Anabaptism. Well in its creed of 1702 he said, "Water baptism is concerned not believe that Christ instituted only for adults and not children, that is found in all the Holy Scriptures and it is a specific mandate. Faith and baptism go together. His position on government and politics is also similar to the Mennonites him, why some say it is possible to maintain some contact with them or within their study groups had some earlier Anabaptist.
education may originated by Spener and continued by Haugh, Arnold and Hochmann, itself influenced John Wesley, founder of Methodism, who through their relationship with the Moravian Brethren, met Lutheranism more spiritual. In any case, if we know for sure that it did so more directly in Alexander Mack, who moved by that spirit with a vengeance took his idea of \u200b\u200ba more active Christianity.
\u0026lt;----- Alexander Mack was born in Schriesheim, Palatinate near Baden-Württemberg, Germany, where he also worked as a miller. He was also the third son of Johann Phillip Mack Miller and his wife, Christina Fillbrun Mack, a child and was baptized a Lutheran. Completing their studies, Mack had to take over the family mill and combine work and studies, but did well to the degree to complete their studies and eventually council also their family life when he married Anna Margarethe Kling on January 18 1701.
In 1705, Mack became a close follower Hochmann, which had become an itinerant preacher of piety, who also at that time called for a separation of state churches, because they're too remote authentic Christianity. At the same time Hochmann was getting closer to the thesis Mennonites and actually said that even those in communities visited Zuzenhausen, Eppstein, Guntersblum, Mutterstadt, and Lambsheim, where he preached to them. A is joined at one point some Mennonite ministers who accompanied him, was a kind of religious fusion.
However, the effect of pietism on Mennonites was not excessive, if it is true that encouraged them focus more on their studies, but it lost some evangelical preacher and the spirit of other times, they locked themselves in their own home forgetting their assets and their desire to seek new disciples. This led to a gradual disappearance of the active Christian, who had been the goal of the early Anabaptists, Christianity replaced by emotions or feelings, which no longer an issue for state and ecclesiastical authorities, it was very personal and internal.
that effect is really contradictory because Hochmann primarily been an itinerant preacher and very active. But often the case with many Christian religious movements, initially all members are active, but then leave the work of evangelization in the hands of ministers appointed, creating a division between clergy members and religious persons. Hochaman wanted to end this, so initiated study that active spirit first, but then wanted to extend that idea through others imitated their methods. But again he met with the authorities and especially with the vision of religious clergy in this association the Lutheran, where despite the fact that Luther advocated a personal Bible study, they wanted to control what was done and how it was done.
One day at a meeting at Mack's mill, where a teaching Hochmann, presented the authorities, sent by some clerics denounced, and was arrested the spiritual leader of the group being taken to a prison in Nuremberg . However, the continuous group his work, this time led by Alexander Mack.
On 4 July of that year, came the issue of baptism, some members thought that to be true Christian, it required a new baptism, this time voluntarily. Thus Mack wrote a letter to Hochmann at Nuremberg to seek their advice concerning adult baptism. Writing from prison on July 24, Hochmann gave its approval for such a ceremony as long as it was preceded true repentance and genuine faith. Although Hochmann, basically did not believe that water baptism was essential, if you felt that if God led to some of his servants to be submerged in water as Christ had been submerged, he would have no objection.
So Mack and his understanding that Hochmann had approved his plans for a baptism, they decided to follow. That same day made a public baptism in the Eder River flowing through Schwarzenau. Baptism was immersing candidates, eight members, including Mack, three times, since they understood that the particulars of Jesus, baptize in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, meant a triple baptism or immersion. Mack
Although by then, was barely in his twenties, was seen as a natural leader and was respected for his knowledge of the Bible and its great ability to interpret it. Shortly after speaking to a small group continued to meet regularly at home, where Bible study was a priority for worship. Soon the group became independent and separate from any other confession, to the extent that Mack began to define what would be the principles to govern and would be the basis of separation of church every state:
-The established churches have become corrupt and are not the true church.
"Many congregations do not cultivate a vital relationship with God.
-true Christianity could be found only outside the state churches.
That initial baptism in the Eder River, gave rise to some extent to his name, as they were called skimmer, for his custom to baptize in full body submerging the person in the water and not simply spraying. They, however claimed that it was the baptism in the true church established by Jesus, not as establishing a new religion. However, if requirements and formalities established for meetings and celebrations that would incorporate the group and to differentiate more traditional denominations. Among other things, initiated a re-enactment of the last Supper of Jesus, which included a meal, a foot washing service and communion bread and wine, as they felt that all that wrapped this celebration of Jesus with his apostles and not just when the bread and wine.
Although Mack was the minister adopted the newly formed group, they still considered Hochmann as its primary spiritual leader. However, until this turned them down, after his release from prison, they expressed disappointment at what Mack and the others had done and accused of starting a new denomination. This caused a split and the division of the group, one Mack supporting and others remained loyal to Hochmann.
In 1719, due to difficulties in Europe, Mack and his men embark on journey to America and settle in Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. Although it was from 1723, when it really was organized in different group, not too many, 50 to 160 members per congregation. Thus the late twentieth century were about 175,000 members in 1070 congregations split.
Its main doctrine in rejecting traditional faiths, Protestants and Catholics, will only accept the Bible as the inspired and only infallible and NT as their rule of faith. However, despite beliefs to say no if they agree to accept the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and in future rewards and punishments, ie heaven and hell.
Like the Anabaptists, they observe a simple life as a maximum quality and identification of true Christianity, not understanding the world, block out the fact and not take the current currency. They are also one of the peace movement, which also opposed to secret societies, and advise against the use of snuff and the manufacture, sale and use of narcotics. And in 1782 banned its members strongly denounced slavery and the slave trade.
While at first to be resolved neutral in politics, lately it seems to have taken part in it and have relaxed their view neutral. The elders, ministers, and deacons are elected by congregations. Congregations are organized into districts, led by the annual conference.
There was a break between 1881y 1883, driven by new times and the use or not of new technologies, other than certain organizational matters and related to the sending of missionaries and evangelizing activity, where the main group, is stalling was closing in on itself as was the case with traditional Amish and Mennonite and therefore came to be known as a former Order of the brothers and the other movement more progressive and active, and at that time was about 8000 members, brothers were known as Progressive. After several years of containment of both parties were formed separate organizations.
However most progressive groups have to continue to divide, leading to another split in 1939, according to the latest statistics available, a group, the Brethren Church (Ashland, Ohio) has 15,082 members in 122 churches and the second group National Council Fellowship Brethren church has 34,000 members in more than 275 churches. There is also talk of another newly created movement known as Seventh Day Baptists
Thus the progressive movements have diverged from more traditional menon have been moving closer to cutting evangelist groups. While the old order, have stagnated in the past like the Amish.
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