Introduction
to My Blog
This summer I have immersed myself in the life of Count
Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Perhaps it is because I was reared in
Winston-Salem and have had a fascination with Moravian Churches History. Now, I
have an interest in following their Daily Texts [1]and invite you to come
along on the journey. First, allow me to present some background information
for those who don’t know my friend, the Count.
In 1722, Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf granted
permission for groups for religious refugees to move on to his estate at
Berthelsdorf in Saxony. They established
a religious feudal community known as Herrnhut, “The Lord’s Watch.” Under Zinzendorf’s direction, they sought to
forge a community that would please the Lord; however because so many diverse
religious opinions prevailed, by 1727 divisions threatened to tear community
apart. A significant portion of the
refugees threatened to leave and take refuge elsewhere. These were the Bohemian Brethren who had
first come to Herrnhut – these were the spiritual descendants of John Hus, the
Ultraquist, who was burned at the stake for his faith.[2] In the following century, John Amos Comenius
would call his followers the “hidden seed” who had sprung up and eventually be
the beginning of a great movement. This hidden seed would remain hidden, be oppressed
and persecuted until in God’s timing it would burst forth into a great
movement. Christian David, a journeyman
carpenter had found these groups of these oppressed believers and had helped
them find refuge at Berthelsdorf. The portion of the estate designated to them
was named “Herrnhut,” The Lord’s Watch[3]. Now they felt disenfranchised. Where could
they go?
Now in 1727, the Count had to take to take action. In May, he drew up a plan of “brotherly
agreement,”[4]
and all of the residents of Herrnhut agreed to live according to its guidelines.
This event on May 12 was the beginning of a spiritual renewal which would
culminate at Communion Service on August 13 of that same year. It became known
as the Renewed Unitas Fratrum (Moravian Church).[5] It was out this that the
sharing of the Daily Watchword was born, because the Count wanted some way to
encourage his people daily. The Daily Watchword became the Daily Text and was
first published in Saxony in 1731. [6] In the early days, Count Zinzendorf would
sometimes share a hymn alongside the scripture passage.
Please join me as I blog my thoughts on one the passages
from the Daily Text. Because of my love for hymns, some days, I may include a
hymn alongside the Scripture Passage. In honor of the Moravian Motto, I have
named my blog, The Conquering Lamb. (The
Moravian Motto is “Our Lamb has conquered. Let us follow Him.[7] It refers to triumph of
the Lord Jesus over sin, and death through His death on the cross and His
resurrection.
[2] Peter
Hoover. Behold the Lamb, http://www.allgodsword.com/Btl/
p. 46 (from the website: “This book is not copyrighted and no publisher shall
do so. No rights are reserved. All parts of it may be reproduced in any form or
by any means for the cause of Christ. But before reprinting it, please contact
the present publisher if possible. The need for corrections or revisions to the
text may have become apparent.)
[4] Hoover,
Behold the Lamb, p. 95.
No comments:
Post a Comment