June 14, 2017
Devotions: Personalities of the Reformation: Felix Manz

Felix Manz was born around the year 1498, the son of one of the priests at the magnificent Grossmünster Church in Zurich and the priest’s concubine. A man of strong faith and conviction, Manz was martyred on January 5, 1527. On that day, Felix was bound, taken to the middle of the Limmat River in the heart of Zurich (Switzerland), and executed by drowning (what the authorities laughingly called his “third baptism”). Manz was a student of Zwingli, but over the years he became disillusioned with Zwingli’s theology – he along with Conrad Grebel (June 12, 2017 devotion). They both believed the reforms being advocated by Zwingli and others did not go far enough. Soon they would form a new faith fellowship called the “Swiss Brethren” based upon the idea of a baptism following an open confession of faith in Jesus Christ, what we call a “believer’s baptism” today. After Conrad Grebel baptized George Blaurock (the first such “believer’s baptism in Zurich), Manz was also baptized. They would be given the name “Anabaptists” (re-baptizers) by Zwingli and others. In March 1526 the city council passed an edict making re-baptism punishable by drowning. On January 5, 1527, Manz was sentenced to death, “because contrary to Christian order and custom he had become involved in Anabaptism.” About 3 p.m. that afternoon he was taken by boat onto the Limmat River, which runs not far from the front of Grossmünster Church. His hands were bound and pulled below his knees and a pole was placed between them—and then he was shoved into the river to die by drowning. He would be the first person martyred by the Protestant Movement.(theviewfromthisseat.blogspot.com, The Martyrdom of Felix Manz, January 5, 2013)

Try to recall the last baptism you attended? What stands out in your memories of that baptism? Do you recall any of the promises that the parents and sponsors make for the child being baptized? Do you wish we did full immersion for baptisms? Do you know the date of your baptism? If you know the date of your baptism, I encourage you to celebrate that date like you celebrate your birth day. – our baptism should matter that much to us.

Pastor Dave

Please collect bottles of shampoo and packs of diapers for Trinity’s Table.