The Moravian Awakening or revival is probably one of the most significant historic events but is also one of the least known.  Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf, a wealthy landowner in present-day Czech Republic, had a burden and a vision to help the many persecuted Christians throughout Europe in the 1700s who were suffering under the edicts of corrupt priests and popes exacting their wrath on anyone who were rebaptized as adult believers, who then defected from the mother church.  It was a very dark and difficult time for Christians and Zinzendorf, a godly, dedicated man thought he had a partial solution for the problem.  The Czech Republic and his large properties would offer a place of refuge.  It was a big undertaking but in a short space of time a village was born and was growing.   This village was called Herrnhut, which means God’s Watchful Care. 

It is the opinion of the writer that present-day Hutterite and Mennonite colonies are a result of the example set by Zinzendorf and Herrnhut.  Other leaders sought to follow his colony example and lead their flocks to places of refuge.  The Hutterites and Mennonites both come from an Anabaptist heritage. Ana means “again”. To an Anabaptist, only adult baptism, not infant baptism, is valid.  When I talk to Hutterites, I ask them—with a bit of humor—if they know their heritage was Baptist. Most of them know that their roots are from the same period of history when persecution was driving Christian people to places of refuge.  (I will save the history of the Hutterite and Mennonites for another article, for their roots as well were born out of severe persecution.) 

The name Christian was first given by the world to a group of believers:  And when he [Barnabas] had found him [Saul, later known as Paul], he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Note: they did not call themselves Christians but were called that by the population of the time because they professed to follow Christ.  The name Christian has stuck throughout history until our present day.   

Denominations often take their names from their founders or location.  The Moravians were followers of John Huss who was martyred in Moravia.  The Mennonites were followers of Menno Simons, an Anabaptist who fled persecution and developed the colony lifestyle so they could worship God in obedience to the Word.  The Hutterites, followers of Jacob Hutter, have similar Anabaptist beginnings as the Mennonites.  These men all made a significant contribution to help people find refuge in times of persecution.  The Amish are another group who likewise have Anabaptist beginnings in Switzerland.  The significant contribution of their lives was living for the sake of others. That was the example Christ gave us, which has been followed by others through 2000 years of Christian history:  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he [Christ] laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). Who [Priscilla & Aquila] have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles (Romans 16:4).  

Zinzendorf discerned in the early years of this new community that if it was going to accomplish anything good and godly it was going to take more than just himself. He began to be burdened for God to help him. He began prayer meetings and pled with the Christians to make a priority to meet for prayer. Prayer meetings were organized and started with both young people and adults.  Some prayer meetings were organized to go through the night.  On August 13, 1727, the believers at Herrnhut experienced something similar to what happened in the book of Acts chapter 2.  This was when the Holy Spirit visited the group of believers in Jerusalem, also gathered in prayer, waiting and believing for the fulfillment of what Jesus had promised them: “And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait ye in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  And he said unto them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (Acts 1:7).

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

There were 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem waiting for his promise of power to come upon them. It did and it changed the world at that time. And because of the faithful few in Herrnhut, the fullness of power came upon them and it changed the world of that day.

Of that occasion, a Moravian historian documented:

We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers baptized with their Spirit.

The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst.

From that time scarcely a day passed but what we beheld His almighty workings amongst us.

A great hunger after the Word of God took possession of us so that we had to have three services every day, viz. 5.0 and 7.30 a.m. and 9.0 p.m.

Every one desired above everything else that the Holy Spirit might have full control.

Selflove and self-will, as well as all disobedience disappeared and an overwhelming flood of grace swept us all out into the great ocean of Divine Love.

Zinzendorf, commenting on this moment, said that it was,

A sense of the nearness of Christ bestowed, in a single moment, upon all the members present; and it was so unanimous that two members at work twenty miles away, unaware that the meeting was being held, became at the same time deeply conscious of the same blessing.

The Saviour permitted to come upon us a Spirit of whom we had hitherto not had any experience or knowledge. Hitherto WE had been the leaders and helpers. Now the Holy Spirit Himself took full control of everything and everybody.

By Pastor David Webster
www.pabaptist.ca 

To be continued… 

The content of this article is solely the personal opinions of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Prince Albert Shopper.