MENNO SIMONS

A Prophet of Peace

Menno Simons was born in Northern Netherlands in 1496. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1524 and served until he became uncomfortable with some teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, such as infant baptism.

Believing that the Bible was the Christian’s highest authority, Menno Simons turned to the New Testament. From reading it he came to believe that the state church was in error on several important points. He resigned from the priesthood in 1536 and was rebaptized by Obbe Philips.

People who were baptized a second time were often called Anabaptists, meaning rebaptizers. Menno was soon asked to become a preacher and leader among the congregations of Anabaptists in northwestern Europe. In time, his followers were called Mennonites.

Menno and most Anabaptists believed in peace and refused to use violence against anyone, even in their own defense. However, even though the Anabaptists were not rebels against the state, their rejection of the concept of a state church threatened both the church and the state. And both institutions tried to wipe them out. This persecution happened under the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Roman Empire. It also happened sometimes under the Lutheran Church in Germany and surrounding countries. And it occasionally happened where the Reformed Church was united with a state.

Initially persecution was severe for all reformers, but it was most deadly to the Anabaptists who never sought an alliance with any state. Estimates range from four to twelve thousand Anabaptists were martyred in Europe.

In 1543 the Holy Roman Emperor offered a hundred gold coins to anyone who would betray Menno Simons. However, by God’s grace and heroic help from fellow believers, Menno was never caught and died a natural death in 1561.

© 1996 Dave and Neta Jackson, Hero Tales, Vol. I