Jumpstarter 6 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion

Question 6

After executions in Holland, Hoffman proposed stopping baptism and communion because Jesus would return soon: “When Jesus gets here, we’ll talk to him about it”; what does that reveal about how eschatology can suspend obedience, and where do modern Christians subtly adopt the same logic (“God will sort it out later”) in discipleship?

Another way to ask: What does stopping baptism and communion because “Jesus will return soon” show about end-times beliefs being used to avoid obedience? Where do Christians today live like “God will deal with it later” instead of obeying now?

Direct Answer Dean’s account shows that extreme end-times certainty can become a reason to pause clear obedience—treating Christ’s commands as optional until events “settle” in the future. Modern Christians can do something similar whenever “later” becomes a spiritual excuse to avoid present-faithfulness.

Support from Transcript:

After his Amsterdam leaders were arrested and beheaded, Hoffman reacts and concludes the issue is baptism and refusing infant baptism.
He reasoned: Jesus is coming “in a couple of years,” and therefore suggested, “Let’s stop doing baptism. Let’s stop doing communion. When Jesus gets here, we’ll talk to him about it.”
Dean presents this as “pretty amazing,” showing how prophecy-driven timelines overrode ordinary church practice.
Some followers complied: “Some did stop. Some did not,” leading toward “spiritualism” and the idea of being “a secret Mennonite.”
The broader pattern is Hoffman’s escalating proclamation: “The end is at hand,” tied to false prophecies about his role.

Discussion Follow-ups Where do believers today delay hard obedience (reconciliation, confession, discipleship costs) because they assume God will “fix it later”?

Jumpstarter 6 of 10

Add your phone number?

Thank you!

Jumpstarter 6 of 10