Reformatus Sum: Studies on Calvinism, Church History and the New Testament

Michael Sattler was a Roman Catholic prior who left his monastery and eventually became a leader of the Anabaptists known as the Swiss Brethren. On 24 February 1524 he presented to the Swiss Brethren a set of Scripturally based beliefs and practices the group should adhere to. These were accepted without dissent and are known together as the Schleitheim Confession. In May of the same year he was captured, tried on 17 May and martyred on 21 May. His wife was martyred just a few days after.

After the trial but before the sentence, he was asked by the town clerk if he would accept the decision of the judges as law. To this, Michael Sattler responded with powerful words:

Ye ministers of God, I am not sent to judge the Word of God; we are sent to bear witness of it, and, hence, cannot consent to any law, since we have no command from God concerning it; but if we can not be discharged from the law, we are ready to suffer for the Word of God whatever sufferings are, or may be imposed upon us all for the sake of the faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour, as long as we have breath within us; unless we be dissuaded from it by the Scriptures.

This readiness to suffer for the Word of God should perk everyones eyes and ears. Are you really ready to give up your life for Christ? Here in America, I don't know if the majority of the Church can understand what a "Yes" answer even means. People feel "persecuted" when the ACLU wins a court case taking the Ten Commandments out of a public building. Giving up your life for Christ is subjected to the interpretation of standing firm to your convictions during and after that court case. But for Michael Sattler, he knew all too well that his suffering was going to involve torture and eventually death by burning. The Anabaptists recognized that baptism into Christ went hand in hand with--and even meant--baptism into martyrdom.

While imprisoned, but before his trial, he wrote a dynamic letter to his Church family at Horb. He closed the letter with these words of admonition:

Beware of false brethren (Acts xx.39); for the Lord will perhaps call me to Him; so take warning, I wail for my God. Pray without ceasing for all that are in bonds. God be with you all. Amen.

While he did not know yet if he was going to die, he was at peace with his call. Doesn't it seem an odd phrase in this context: "Beware of false brethren?" Even to the point of death he showed absolute concern for his Church. False brethren could lead you astray. False brethren could instill a false doctrine. And his final command to the Church: "Pray without ceasing for all that are in bonds." That is something we should all keep in our minds and in our hearts.

I hope to talk more about Michael Sattler and his story. I am going through my Martyrs Mirror and am just enjoying the stories and examples God has given us.

There is an excellent movie out on Michael Sattler and the beginnings of the Swiss Brethren: The Radicals. So far I think it is only on VHS. If you can watch it, do so. The history is accurate and the story will make you think, make you cry, and if you are not careful, you'll give up everything and try to become an Anabaptist (you won't really find true Anabaptists here in the US; you have the Amish and Mennonites, but they tend to be towards the legalistic side of things while the early Anabaptists just lived and taught).