A Blaze That Shatters Lies
In 2025, we mark 500 years of faith that smashes through deception. On January 21, 1525, Conrad Grebel baptised George Blaurock in a Zurich hideout. No baby rituals, no fluff, just a man choosing Jesus, raw and true: “He who believes and is baptised will be saved” (Mark 16:16, NKJV). That spark lit the Torchbearers’ fire, the Anabaptist movement, and it’s thundering in my soul.
My Scottish Heart
I’m Peter, from Scotland, and I run bornagainchristians.org. My roots in the Western Isles brought up with a hunger for God’s Word, forged in my grandads’ rugged faith. I grew up around Presbyterian ways, but their infant baptism and legalistic ideas felt off.
I found truth in Chuck Smith’s teaching of Calvary Chapel; he taught faith that’s alive, ‘to be born again’ (John 3:3, NKJV). Through bornagainchristians.org, I have been determined to fight traditions that cloud the gospel, calling souls to know Christ as Saviour with a fire that never quits.
The Torchbearers’ Defiance
Five hundred years ago, churches pushed baby baptisms and bowed to princes. The Torchbearers of the Anabaptists, Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, Michael Sattler, and Menno Simons, grabbed their Bibles and shouted, “No!” Baptism is for those who choose Jesus: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38, NKJV).
In 1525, Grebel baptised men who burned for Christ, defying Zurich’s lords. Manz stood firm but was drowned in 1527, his faith a rock. Sattler wrote the Schleitheim Confession in 1527, calling for a church of the saved: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV). He burned for it. Menno Simons forged the Mennonites, living for one truth: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, NKJV).
These Torchbearers were warriors, ready to die for God’s Word. Infant baptism? A lie, they said. It tricks people into thinking they’re saved without knowing Jesus.
My Scottish heart beats with their fire.
Presbyterian Calvinists: Kin, Yet Different
My Presbyterian Calvinist upbringing was rooted in Reformed theology, heavily influenced by John Calvin and John Knox, Scotland’s Reformation giant. Here’s how their beliefs are tied to Calvinism and what it means for me:
Infant Baptism: Presbyterian Calvinists baptized babies, viewing it as a sign of God’s covenant with believers’ children (Genesis 17:7, Acts 2:39). They included infants in the church, expecting faith later. I see this as unbiblical, lacking support in Acts 8:37 (NKJV): “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The Torchbearers rejected it too, and I stand with them.
Predestination: They held to Calvin’s double predestination (TULIP: God elects some for salvation, others for damnation; Ephesians 1:4-5), as in the Westminster Confession (1646). My heart leans to free will, like the Anabaptist Torchbearers’ belief that God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4, NKJV). Faith is a choice.
Scripture as Authority: They upheld sola scriptura, insisting the Bible, not kings or popes, governs faith: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV). This aligns with my call to test teachings (Acts 17:11, NKJV) and the Torchbearers’ love for God’s Word.
Resistance to State-Church Control: They fought royal control, like Charles II’s bishops, for a church free from state chains. This mirrors the Torchbearers’ 1525 defiance of Zurich’s authorities and my Scottish passion for a pure church (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV).
Church Governance: They favoured Presbyterianism, with churches led by elders (Acts 14:23).
My bornagainchristians.org model is less formal, but their biblical commitment inspires me without clashing.
I honour their zeal for Scripture and freedom, but my Torchbearer fire rejects their baptism and predestination, focusing on their fight for truth to inspire you.
Why Torchbearers Fought Calvinists
The Torchbearers didn’t just challenge Catholics or Lutherans. They parted ways with Calvinists, like my Presbyterian kin. Here’s why, through my Calvary Chapel lens:
Infant Baptism: Many Calvinists baptized babies, seeing it as God’s covenant (Acts 2:39). Torchbearers called it unbiblical—baptism is for believers who confess Christ (Acts 8:37, NKJV). That’s my stand.
Predestination: Calvinists said God picks who’s saved (Ephesians 1:4-5). Torchbearers, like Menno Simons, pushed back: God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4, NKJV). I believe faith is your choice.
State-Church Power: Calvinists used the state to enforce faith. Torchbearers wanted a free church: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21, NKJV). My Scottish roots love that.
Violence in Faith: Calvinists punished heretics. Torchbearers chose peace: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44, NKJV). I lift souls with the gospel.
Church of the Saved: Calvinists let everyone in through infant baptism. Torchbearers built a church of the born-again: “You are a chosen generation” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV). That’s my vision.
These fights were blood and fire. The Torchbearers kept the gospel pure, and I’m all in..
Scotland’s Faith Meets Torchbearer Flame
My Scottish heritage, shaped by the Western Isles’ winds, craves truth like the Anabaptist Torchbearers’ blaze. Through bornagainchristians.org, I call souls to Christ, free from rituals that dull the gospel. This 500th anniversary is a war cry. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5, NKJV). This call to examine our faith is not a passive one, but an active engagement with our beliefs. Are you born again? Is your faith real?
The Torchbearers’ flame tore through blood and water. My Scottish soul fuels that roar. In 2025, let’s storm heaven for Jesus! Are you with me?
With holy thunder,
Peter
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