TOWARDS THE RADICAL REFORMATION Watching closely the Man – Ulrich Zwingli
These readings focus on the life and reformatory journey of the radical man, Ulrich Zwingli. He became priest during the time of pilgrimage, but soon he begun to preach against that tradition, in which people would pay a tiresome pilgrimage to receive pardon from the statues like Mary and other dead saints. He was counted as radical because of his approach how he reacted to the tradition.
His radicalism went further after his encounter with Erasmus and he became more devotee of the great humanist movement. He learned to read Greek New Testament of Erasmus, and became more outspoken of his view from the pulpit. He introduced his 67 articles, which focused on reformation covering most of the theological issues in and outside of the Church. He brought great controversy on the principles of Lord’s Supper, and others like issues of baptism, excommunication, pastoral ministry, taking oath and the Word of God (sword) were brought in debate.
These principles Ulrich Zwingli attempted to install in the Church, are adopted by a Swiss Brethren Conference on February 24, 1527, some of them are observed as follow:
Baptism shall be given to all people who have acknowledged the biblical principles of repentance and turning back from the way of life, which would contradict the ways the Bible, describes. Baptism was to offer to those who believe truly and be sure of the sins in their life that have been forgiven by Christ. Those people, baptized according to these basic understanding shall have assurance of eternal life and live in the resurrection of Jesus Christ even after physical death. This means, they shall be buried with Christ in death, so that they may be resurrected with Him (Scriptural basis: Matt. 28, Mark 16, Acts 2, 8, 16, 19).
Sacred Living or separation should be in a way that would exhibit the saved ones in Christ live in a manner that is completely different to those who are yet wicked. This idea does not lead to sidetrack that a Christian must live isolating from the rest world, rather it is to distinct how the living in the Lord is different from other, it is the separation of light from the darkness, good from evil and godliness from the wicked ones. This principle was to simplify the current living manner of the Christians, who acted rude to those people who have not even heard the good news of the salvation. It seems that the principle attempts to bring us in the right understanding of the Word of God, where He calls upon us to be separate from the evil and thus He will be our God and we shall be His sons and daughters. He further admonishes us to withdraw from Babylon and earthly Egypt that we may not be partakers of the pain and suffering which the Lord will bring upon them.
Excommunication can be employed to all who have believed and once committed themselves to the Lord, to obey His commandments, being baptized into the one body of Christ and become member of one “Christian family” and now have been fallen into error and sin and continually overtaken by it. But this process should go according to the Biblical mandate mentioned in Matthew 18.
Another issue of great controversy is breaking of the bread, the Lord’s Supper, which to be offered to all those who wish to break one bread in remembrance of the broken body of Christ, and all who wish to drink of one drink as a remembrance of the shed blood of Christ, but they are required to have united beforehand by baptism in one body of Christ, the Church of God whose Head is Christ Himself. This is clearly mentioned by Paul that it cannot be at the same time breaking the bread and drink from the cup of the Lord and remain in the works of the devil.
Republished in new layout 6/11/2013
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