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The Reformation

Anabaptist Beliefs—the Christian and the State

This is the one that got them in the most trouble and earned them the loathing of governments everywhere. Anabaptists believed that the true Christian was separate from the State and lived in the Kingdom of God. At a time when every Christian prince was preoccupied with the burning question of what religion to nurture and which to root out, this implied declaration of independence was pernicious and dangerous.

Anabaptists found explicit prohibitions in the Bible against oath-taking (Matthew 5:34, and James 5:12). This alone made them poor citizens, for they could not participate in most juries and could not swear oaths of allegiance. It also meant that they could not serve in public office.

Use of force was ordained by God for use by the magistracy and was denied to Christians, even in self-defense. This removed them from military service.

Their ideal was almost monastic: to withdraw from the world in true Christian fellowship to await the Judgement Day, which they expected at any time. This is a dangerous position in any religious society, but it was doubly so in 16th century Europe because of the high religious and political passion engendered by the Reformation.

There was more, though. The Anabaptists held to other beliefs and practices that made them the objects of suspicion and fear even among the common people.