Reflection Paper no.3

Thomas Oyaro Ong’ou
THST 624 Protestant Theological Heritage
Reflection Paper No. 3


In the past week during our class discussion and notes writing in our course we learned about the Anabaptism and the radical reformation, and the Lutheran theology to the formula of concord. The Anabaptist movement began in Zurich, among some who thought that Zwingli was too moderate and cautious in his theology and policies. Some of these were native Zurichers, and others were exiles who had come to that city because the reformation was making headway in it. They believed that the reformation must purify not only theology but also the actual lives of Christians, especially in what had to do with social and political relationships.

The church should not be supported by the state, neither by tithes and taxes, nor by the use of the sword. They said that Christianity was a matter of individual conviction, which could not be forced on anyone but required a personal decision. They opposed the baptism of infants for they cannot make a decision. They questioned infant baptism but did not rebaptized those who had been baptized as children. The opponents of the movement called them Anabaptists which means rebaptizers. Most of the Anabaptists were baptized by pouring water not by immersion as Catholics do later they began baptizing by immersion. The Lord’s Supper was usually administered in small groups and its symbolism was connected with the fellowship that binds Christians together with Christ.

Spiritualists and rationalists had strong mystical tendencies, and they therefore tended to be more concerned with spiritual life of the individual than the reformation of the church itself. Luther and Calvin were followed by others who at once systematized and mitigated their traditions. Melanchthon moved away from Luther’s theology and began controversies with the Lutheran churches which were pro Luther. Differences between Melanchthon and Luther threatened the core of Protestantism as for instance the case of Osiander. These various controversies finally led to the formula of concord in 1577 to solve their disputes. Even in the Lutheran camp there were some controversies which needed to be settled.
So far in our class discussion there are so many issues concerning protestant theology which I am observing for my first time in history. The course is moving me to a good direction Thanks professor for the transparency that you have.