Violence Is Counterproductive

From Anabaptism in Outline, this week’s featured ebook.

Conrad Grebel, “Letter to Müntzer,” 1524

The gospel and its adherents are not to be protected by the sword, nor are they thus to protect themselves, which, as we learn from our brother, is thy opinion and practice. True Christian believers are sheep among wolves, sheep for the slaughter; they must be baptized in anguish and affliction, tribulation, persecution, suffering, and death; they must be tried with fire, and must reach the fatherland of eternal rest, not by killing their bodily enemies, but by mortifying their spiritual enemies. Neither do they use worldly sword or war, since all killing has ceased with them – unless, indeed, we would still be of the old law. And even there [in the Old Testament], so far as we recall, war was a misfortune after they had once conquered the Promised Land.

Felix Manz, “Admonition,” 1526

Whenever a person brings forth genuine fruits of repentance, the heaven of eternal joy is, through grace, purchased and obtained for him by Christ, through the shedding of his innocent blood, which he so willingly poured out, thereby showing us his love and enduing us with the power of his Spirit, and whoever receives and uses it grows and is made perfect in God. Only love to God through Christ shall stand and prevail, not boasting, denouncing, or threatening. It is love alone that is pleasing to God; he that cannot show love shall not stand in the sight of God. The true love of Christ shall scatter the enemy, so that he who would be an heir with Christ is taught that he must be merciful, as the Father in heaven is merciful. Christ never accused anyone, as do the false teachers of the present day, from which it is evident that they do not have the love of Christ, nor understand his Word; and still they would be shepherds and teachers; but at last they will have to despair, when they shall find that everlasting pain shall be their recompense, if they do not reform. Christ never hated anyone; neither did his true servants, but they continued to follow Christ in the true way, as he went before them. This light of life they have before them, and are glad to walk in it; but those who are hateful and envious, and do thus wickedly betray, accuse, smite and quarrel, cannot be Christians.

Heinz Gaugel, Behalt (detail). Photograph courtesy of Plain Values.

Hans Denck, “Concerning True Love,” 1527

No Christian who wishes to boast in his Lord may use power to coerce and rule. For the realm of our king consists alone in the teaching and power of the spirit. Whoever truly acknowledges Christ as Lord ought to do nothing but what he commands him. Now he commands all his disciples to teach evildoers and to admonish them for their improvement. If they will not listen we should allow them to be heathens and avoid them.

Menno Simons, “Blasphemy,” 1535

All of you who would fight with the sword of David, and also be the servants of the Lord, consider these words, which show how a servant should be minded. If he is not to strive, and quarrel, how then can he fight? If he is to be gentle to all men, how can he then hate and harm them? If he is to be ready to learn, how can he lay aside the apostolic weapons? He will need them. If he is to instruct in meekness those that oppose, how can he destroy them? If he is to instruct in meekness those that oppose truth, how can he angrily punish them that do not as yet acknowledge the truth? Paul says: “if God peradventure will give them repentance.”

Walter Klaassen, ed., Anabaptism in Outline: Selected Primary Sources, (New York: Plough Publishing House, 2019), 84, 198, 200, 267, 415.