Episode
317
The Rich Sacramental Theology of Persecuted Anabaptists (While Reformation Wars Raged)
April 30, 2026
The Rich Sacramental Theology of Persecuted Anabaptists (While Reformation Wars Raged)
The sacraments (or ordinances) of the church were some of the most fundamental issues in the Reformation debates. Dean Taylor explains how intense these differences in theology were and how the Anabaptists were often persecuted and executed for not fitting with the standard Catholic or Protestant teaching of the time. So, what did the first Anabaptists believe about the sacraments?
Dean’s previous episode on the atonement
Our documentary channel on early Anabaptism
Episode Guest Info
Dean Taylor
Dean Taylor is a writer and traveling Bible teacher, as well as the author of “A Change of Allegiance”. He and his wife, Tania, are members of Altona Christian Community in Henderson, Minnesota.
Read MoreEpisode Host
Reagan Schrock
Reagan is a member of Wellspring Mennonite Church and lives with his wife Patricia in southeast Tennessee. Reagan, along with Jaran, started Anabaptist Perspectives in 2017, and serves in leadership in the organization, in addition to being deeply involved in overseas missions work.
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Marlin Sommers
2 weeks ago
Thanks for these suggestions! I’m thinking something like “How to argue righteously” which could come from various angles. Do debates make progress? or are we stuck just arguing and going nowhere? Is there a useful way to talk to somebody who disagrees strongly with us on the eucharist? I do think some disagreements make progress. For example, you would be hard pressed to find a Mennonite today who would accept Menno Simons understanding of the incarnation (that Jesus had heavenly flesh and didn’t get his earthly body from Mary.) I think that debate has been settled. But there are a lot of other controversies that don’t seem to be at all settled.
da*********@***il.com
2 weeks ago
I would like to see an interview done with someone on how to engage with our orthodox and catholic friends in some of these issues….what are some gracious ways we can challenge them on their views and how we can learn from them….it feels like it so often turns into a “if you don’t believe this way, then…….” kind of talk….any
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“Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.”
da*********@***il.com
2 weeks ago
suggestions? Maybe a good topic would be , is there ever an end to the debates?