Jumpstarter 10 of 10

Direct Answer Based on Dean Taylor’s teaching, the conflict centers on whether the church must obey God’s Word directly or wait for civic authorities to authorize obedience; Simon Stump insists “the Spirit of God decides,” not the council. The transcript pushes readers to ask what human authorities today practically govern our obedience when Scripture has already spoken.

Support from Transcript:

• Dean calls it “an important thing” and “a precedent” when doctrinal decisions were put before the city: “the council decides to have a hearing,” and “the city was asked.”
• At the first debate (Jan 29, 1523), the Roman representative argued such issues “cannot be decided in a city council… topics to be discussed by the church,” and Dean notes the irony that Anabaptists later press a similar concern.
• In the second disputation, after arguing the mass was “wicked,” Zwingli still said, “The city will discern how the mass should be properly observed.”
• Conrad Grebel objected that change should begin: it would be “futile if they did not begin to change the mass… no one… willing to stop this great abomination.”
• Simon Stump directly challenges Zwingli: “you have no authority to place the decision in the council’s hand. For the decision is already made. The Spirit of God decides… if… contrary… I will… act against it.”