The Anabaptists

"Plains Baptist Challenger" ^ | Norman H. Wells

[RMrattlesnake]

The Anabaptists

by Norman H. Wells

It is an established fact of history that as far back as the fourth century those refusing to go into the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and refusing to accept the baptism of those baptized in infancy, and refusing to accept the doctrine of "baptismal regeneration" and demanding rebaptism for all those who came to them from the Hierarchy were called "Anabaptists"rebaptizers.

The Origin of the Anabaptist Churches

A. For the first century or so, nearly all the churches remained comparatively pure in doctrine and practice.

1. With the growth of error concerning church government, doctrine, ordinances, etc., there came a widening of the separation between those churches departing into error and those remaining loyal. 2. Those churches who remained loyal were called "Anabaptists" from the very beginning. 3. One of the first great errors to divide the churches was "baptismal regeneration" and "infant baptism."

B. As all the groups who bore many different names held true to "believers baptism" they were all called Anabaptists. The Montanists, Novatians, Donatists, Paulicans, Henricans and Arnoldists were all Anabaptists. C. Near the beginning of the 16th century, the "Ana" was dropped, and the name shortened to simply "Baptist," and gradually all other names were dropped. D. No definite beginning can be ascribed to the Baptists of today this side of Christ Himself:

1. First, all churches were true New Testament churches believing and practicing the doctrines held by Baptists today. 2. For centuries the loyal, true, New Testament churches were called by many different names and were always classified "Anabaptist." 3. The Baptists of today are a continuation of this line.

The Character of the Anabaptists

A. Never in any age, did the Anabaptists form any hierarchy that bound their churches together.

1. No one leader ever spoke for all of them. 2. In every age they remained free, independent churches governed by the rules of democracy.

B. Not all the churches that were called Anabaptist remained true to the New Testament. Each age and each locality had its deflections and errors but it is marvelous to see how the truth was preserved through these churches. C. With no connecting link of communication and with no history to go by, these churches scattered all over the world and in every age all fit into the same pattern of doctrine and practice.

1. All this was accomplished without any centralization of authority, establishment of hierarchy, etc. 2. This is the miracle of the fulfillment of Gods promise, "the gates of hell shall not prevail."

The Persecution of the Anabaptists

A. The Anabaptists were always hated and despised by those who sought to bring about the establishing of error. B. During the 1,200 years of the "dark ages" it is stated that fifty million died of the terrible persecution. The great majority of these were Anabaptists. C. During this period it is recorded that along one single European highway, thirty miles distance, stakes were set up every few feet along this highway, the tops of the stakes sharpened, and on the top of each was placed the gory head of a martyred Anabaptist!

From The Baptist Pillar

[polemikos]

(A funny joke. Previously posted by others. Probably applicable to most any denomination grouping. Just happens EP used Baptists. My brother-in-law is a Baptist, and I greatly admire his personal faith. (Have I danced enough?))

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and I pushed him off.

-Emo Philips

[RMrattlesnake]

Three religious truths.
Jews don’t recognize the Messiah
Protestants don’t recognize the Pope
And
Baptists don’t recognize them selves at the liquor store

[RMrattlesnake]

Three religious truths.
Jews don’t recognize the Messiah
Protestants don’t recognize the Pope
And
Baptists don’t recognize them selves at the liquor store

[RMrattlesnake]

By the way, Baptist are not Protestants. Protestant means to protest, they are protesting the Catholic church. Because they can out of the catholic church. Baptist did not come out of the Catholic Church.

Therefore Baptist are not Prodestant

[polemikos]

Therefore Baptist are not Prodestant

I'll send an email alert to Emo right away!

[D-fendr]

Seems, the author skips something:

"The Montanists, Novatians, Donatists, Paulicans, Henricans and Arnoldists were all Anabaptists. C. Near the beginning of the 16th century, the "Ana" was dropped, and the name shortened to simply "Baptist,"

Are today's Baptists something new or, as the author seems to be trying to state, historically Montanists, Novatians, Donatists, Paulicans, Henricans or Arnoldists?

Would modern Baptists claim these theologies as their ancestors?

[foolish-one]

There seems to be no defenders of this article so far, so I don't know how much discussion this is going to generate, but here goes: I'm a Baptist, but I'm also interested in true church history. I have heard this argument before, but the "evidence" of this lineage always comes from Baptist scholars trying to trace their roots back to Christ without going through the Catholic church and the reformation. All of the unbiased evidence I have seen traces Baptist roots back to the early seventeenth century. There were references to groups practicing "rebaptism" being called "Anabaptists" during this time, but these groups became what we now call Mennonites. They despised the "derogatory" name of Anabaptist being used in reference to them, by the way. They didn't want to be confused with the early Anabaptists which were considered outside the Church.

Since the author didn't include footnotes, his assertions can't be confirmed or refuted. I'm sure every church would like to trace their specific genesis directly back to Jesus if they could. Other than "I'm a Baptist, I'm educated and I'm an expert, believe me", I don't see the evidence here. Wish I did.

[RMrattlesnake]

If you want to know were the writer got his info ask him the link to the site were it can from and those people could help you contact Norman H. Wells . I think he has a church in Arkansas but not sure.
A good soure of baptist history is "the trail of Blood" by J.M. Correl and it has lots of proof.