Jumpstarter 4 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion

Question 4

The Zurich council’s law required citizens to report anyone favorable to rebaptism and mandated drowning for leaders; how does that kind of forced uniformity challenge modern assumptions that persecution is mostly a non-Christian problem—and what does it reveal about what humans (even “Christian” authorities) will do when discipleship threatens social order?

Another way to ask: Zurich made people report anyone who supported rebaptism and even drowned leaders. How does that challenge the idea that persecution is mostly done by non-Christians, and what does it show about what people will do when discipleship threatens social order?

Direct Answer The transcript shows persecution can come from “Christian” governments and reformers, not only from pagans, because a disciple-made, voluntary church threatens the stability of a state church and the social order built on it.

Support from Transcript:

The Zurich law called the Anabaptists “dangerous, wicked, turbulent, and seditious” and aimed to “eradicate” them.
It required forced surveillance: “Every person is obliged to report those favorable to rebaptism.”
It mandated execution: “Teachers of rebaptism… and leaders of cottage meetings are to be drowned,” and repeat offenders “shall be drowned.”
It also enforced church attendance: “No one is allowed to secede from the state church and to absent himself from the holy supper.”
Bercot stresses Zwingli did not defend them; he “wholeheartedly supported the council” and encouraged authorities “to hunt down these Anabaptists… and put them to death.”

Discussion Follow-ups What “social order” was being protected—unity of the state church, political control, fear of ‘anarchy’? How might church-state assumptions still shape what Christians consider dangerous today?

Jumpstarter 4 of 10

Add your phone number?

Thank you!

Jumpstarter 4 of 10