Anabaptist Repentance, Shabbat Joy
|
We knew that our third day would be heavy, solemn before the Lord. We had committed ourselves to repentance towards the Anabaptists for Roman Catholic & European Lutheran persecution. What we did not expect was the eruption of joy that would come during the subsequent Shabbat celebration, led by our precious Messianic Jewish brothers & sisters.
We have created a special summary video that is 15 minutes long, which takes you through this process of repentance, reconciliation, and rejoicing. It is well worth watching to the end. The Lord is good!! Franz Rathmair & John Martin have also worked hard to create
an English translation of the full session of repentance towards Anabaptists. Click here to watch ... thanks John & Franz! |
Repentance & Reconciliation
|
The Second Trialogue was entitled "The Quarreling Brothers" - Friday's theme.
Some have remarked that it seemed strange on the 500th anniversary to focus on the violent persecution against the Anabaptists during the years after the Reformation. It is helpful to know that the six previous gatherings, one per year leading up to 2017, had already addressed many areas of repentance, including the division between Catholics & Protestants. This prepared the way for 2017, and two spiritual fathers - John Dawson & Fr. Peter Hocken - had felt strongly that to NOT address the failures towards the Radical Reformation would leave our initiative incomplete. They were so right! In order to repent for darkness, it has to be brought into the light and seen for what it is. We were helped greatly in this matter by the talks (all in German) from Wolfgang Krauss, Holger Bartsch, and Franz Rathmair. They reported some of the terrible incidents. Anabaptist men were tortured or drowned (while being mocked about their belief in adult baptism - "if you love the water so much ..."). Some of their wives had their tongues cut out. By fellow followers of Jesus! Oh, Lord ... have mercy on your broken Body ... Then Hans-Peter & Verana Lang (Austrian Roman Catholic), Johannes Fichtenbauer (Arch Deacon of the Diocese of Vienna), Holger Bartsch (German Lutheran), and Helmuth Eiwen (German Free Church) called to the stage all who identified with the Anabaptist stream of the body of Christ. Those who came forward were primarily from the United States, because the persecution in Europe had driven their ancestors from that continent. They included significant Amish and Mennonite leaders (though in the Anabaptist tradition, there is much less hierarchical structure than is found in other streams, and every person's voice is considered equally valuable). Helmuth Eiwen prepared us for this moment with a summary of his previous day's talk (in German) on the topic of Identificational Repentance. Each of the Catholic & Protestant representatives then spoke directly to the Anabaptist representatives - owning the actions of their ancestors, rather than distancing themselves, and acknowledging the grievous effects on Anabaptists through the centuries. They apologized and asked for forgiveness. Then Verena said, "If you would permit us, we would like to hug you" ... |
... and a wonderful time of reconciliation and healing followed, as the Anabaptists forgave and embraced those who in previous generations had murdered them and driven them from their land. Only Christ the Reconciler makes such beauty possible!
The BruderhofAfter the time of repentance & reconciliation, we heard a very hopeful message from Chris Zimmerman of the Bruderhof. He shared how the Bruderhof are striving to live today in the spirit of the Sermon of the Mount and of the radical reformation. Amazing to see how God is at work in and through them!
|
|
|
|
|
Richard Harvey (pictured on the right) worked with Marianna Gol and others to plan the Shabbat celebration. Here's what Richard wrote at the very end of his recently published book, Luther and the Jews:
"When I get to heaven I am sure there will be dancing ... one dance I'm looking forward to is the Hora, an Israeli still-circle dance. It will be a Hora between Germans and Jews, reconciled in the love of Jesus, and clasping arms over each other's shoulders ... So let's get dancing today! I want to see the Hora wherever the anniversary of Luther is celebrated, so that Jews, Germans, and Jewish believers in Jesus can dance together." Richard was prophetic in writing this, because this is what happened in Wittenberg! Spontaneous dancing broke out, initially led by Messianic Jews, then picked up by the Austrian Kisi Kids who grabbed the adults and compelled them to join Jewish dance circles. As you watch the video below, reflect on how beautiful it is for not only Jews & Germans, but Anabaptists, Guatemalans, Roman Catholic clergy, Americans, Poles, Anglicans, YWAMers, and so many others to dance together in the joy of the Holy Spirit.
|
|
Then the wonderful Benecke family offered us all food, with wine donated by the Salms ... there's something about eating together, after dancing together, that pictures what the Kingdom of God rightly looks like! A glorious end to a historic day of healing in the body of Christ ...
Click here for a YouTube playlist of all sessions.
We will continue to add more teachings & hopefully translations, so
subscribe to the Wittenberg 2017 channel to be notified of new content.
We will continue to add more teachings & hopefully translations, so
subscribe to the Wittenberg 2017 channel to be notified of new content.
