Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part One of Seven

Thomas E Kresal – Admin · 1 hr April 25. 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part One of Seven

It appears that in every age, from the time of Christ, the Baptist denomination has been made the scape-goat to bear the sins of the world. Almost every crime known to earth, has been laid to their charge. They are considered the enemies of governments, ringleaders of sedition and revolution, and obstinate and incurable heretics. It has been supposed that earthquakes, wars, famines, and pestilences, have been sent upon the human family on account of the crimes of the Baptists.

And it is now gravely stated, by a certain class of “charitable” writers, who have not the power, as did their fathers, to imprison and burn Baptists, that the Baptist denomination originated with the Munster riot in Germany, about the year 1525. And this class of men are generally very clamorous about Baptist “Close Communion” but did the Baptists originate with the madmen of Munster?

Upon an investigation of the history of the Munster affair, the following facts are developed:

1. The Munster rebellion did not arise from any religious or denominational, opinions whatever, but in order to resist the oppressions of the despotic governments of Germany.

Of the miserable condition of this wretched people, Mr. Robinson, the historian, says: “The condition of the peasants in Germany, in the year twenty-four [1524], was deplorable, if there be anything to explore in a deprivation of most of the rights and liberties of rational creatures. The feudal system, that execration in the eyes of every being that merits the name of man, had been established in early ages in Germany, in all its rigor and horror. It had been planted with a sword reeking with human gore, in the night of barbarism, when cannibals drank the warm blood of one enemy out of the skull of another, and it had shot its venomous fibers every way, rioted itself in every transaction; in religion, in law, in diversions, in everything secular and sacred, so that the wretched rustics had only one prospect for themselves and all their posterity—one horrid prospect of everlasting slavery.” Robinson’s Ecclesiastical Research p.535

And of the effort of this unfortunate people to break the iron yoke of tyranny, the author of the Religious Encyclopedia says : “Munzer, and his associates, in the year 1525, put themselves at the head of a numerous army, and declared war against all laws, governments and magistrates of every kind , under the chimerical pretext that Christ himself was now to take the reins of all governments into his hands : but this seditious crowd was routed and dis- persed by the Elector of Saxony, and other Princes, and Munzer, their leader, put to death.” The same author adds It is acknowledged that the true rise of the insurrections of this period ought not to be attributed to religious opinions.” Religious Encyclopedia, p. 77.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal: Excerpt from 1870 Edition of “Baptist Succession” By D.B. Ray pg. 91-92