Count Zinzendorf's died because of a decision made in Bethany, NC?

In Moravian circles it is said that Count Zinzendorf in Europe died because of a decision that was made in Bethany, North Carolina.  It is not a tall tale.

Bethabara, North Carolina, was the first Moravian settlement in the Wachovia (1753). All of the residents were Moravians - no exceptions.  

Bethania was the second Moravian settlement (1759). Into this village the Moravian bishop, August Gottlieb Spangenberg (b. 1704) permitted non-Moravians to settle.  

Eight Moravian families were selected to move from Bethabara to Bethania - three miles away. The bishop enhanced that number with eight non-Moravian families. The village was then intentionally divided - the Moravians were “lower towners” and the non-Moravians “upper towners”.

It took more than a year for this news to cross the Atlantic and land on the desk of Count Zinzendorf in Saxony. 

The Count was not happy - not at all! He vented! The scribe that took down the venting noted, “those who heard his words will never forget them in their whole life long.”

In the Diary for May 3, 1760 are recorded additional words from the Count. 

He said, “It is against our plan to mix ourselves with people who we do not know. It must absolutely and to eternity not happen that Brethren and stranger people build a settlement where they are going to live together.”

Six days later - the Count was dead. Bethania lives on.

There are a number of implications to this narrative. Do any jump out of you?

Quote: Count Zinzendorf

“I am destined to proclaim the message, unmindful of personal consequences to myself.”  ― Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

A Positive Application Of The Concept Of A World Without Borders

“I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.” 
― Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

Every coin has two sides

One side of the coin:

The 18th century Moravians turned upside down the existing social order with their radical spirituality and religion. There were four theological/moral positions the 18th century Moravians held that often put them sideway with the larger society. The four were:

• Pacifism, 
• The concept that all humans are of equal value and deserve equal opportunity,
• Living in community with shared responsibilities,
• And finally, the promotion of unity between Christian churches. 

Truth to be told things went beyond criticism. Count Zinzendorf, the father of the renewed Moravians, was exiled from his homeland for a decade. There were riots in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and England. Missionaries were banished from their foreign work. Great men such as George Whitefield and John Wesley inveighed against them through tracts. 

One of the several reasons the Moravians purchased land in North Carolina was to have a place of sanctuary.

On the other side of the coin.

Indeed the 18th century Moravians were radical and maligned. The irony is that all the negativity toward the Moravians did not negate their growth. In fact, the church grew fastest during its most radical period. Additionally, the message of peace and harmony inspired many - hundreds - to carry the message of Jesus Christ around the world in search of the lost. This radical period contributed to the inspiration to build communities, such as Salem, in the wilderness of North Carolina. 

Quote: Count Zinzendorf

“These wounds were meant to purchase me. These drops of blood were shed to obtain me. I am not my own today. I belong to another. I have been bought with a price. And I will live every moment of this day so that the Great Purchaser of my soul will receive the full reward of His suffering.” 

Controversy - Methodist verses Moravian

In 1741 at Gray’s Inn Walks in London controversy erupted.

A dispute was debated by John Wesley representing the Methodists and Count Zinzendorf of the Moravian point-of-view. The argument was carried out in Latin.  

John Wesley claimed that the Moravians overly emphasized Luther’s justification by faith and neglected real holiness, not teaching correctly the goal of the Christian life which was “Christian perfection.” 

Zinzendorf disagreed: “I know of no such thing as inherent perfection in this life. This is the error of errors. I pursue it everywhere with fire and sword! I stamp it under foot! I give it over to destruction! Christ is our only perfection. Whoever affirms inherent perfection denies Christ.” 

In reply to Wesley’s argument that it was “Christ’s own Spirit that works in true Christians to achieve their perfection,” the Count replied: “By no means! All Christian perfection is simply faith in Christ’s blood. Christian perfection is entirely imputed, not inherent. We are perfect in Christ; never in ourselves.” 

This is not a Tall Tale

In Moravian circles it is said that Count Zinzendorf died as a result of a decision that was made in Bethany, North Carolina.  It is not a tall tale.

Bethabara, North Carolina, was the first Moravian settlement in the Wachovia (1753). All of the residents were Moravians - no exceptions.  

Bethania was the second Moravian settlement (1759). Into this village the Moravian bishop, August Gottlieb Spangenberg (b. 1704) permitted non-Moravians to settle.  

Eight Moravian families were selected to move from Bethabara to Bethania - three miles away. The bishop augmented that number with eight non-Moravian families. 

It took more than a year for this news to cross the Atlantic and land on the desk of Count Zinzendorf in Saxony. 

The Count was not happy - not at all! He vented! The scribe that took down the venting noted, “those who heard his words will never forget them in their whole life long.”

In the Diary for May 3, 1760 are recorded some of the Count's words. He said, “It is against our plan to mix ourselves with people who we do not know. It must absolutely and to eternity not happen that Brethren and stranger people build a settlement where they are going to live together.”

Six days later - the Count was dead. Bethania lives on.

There are a number of implications to this narrative. Do any jump out of you?

Truth

Count Zinzendorf asserted that the hardest thing for a believer to do is to accept that salvation comes only by grace, not by any merit or effort. 

Image - What can contemporary Christians learn?

Photo Credit: Lobster Pot Photography

"Under Zinzendorf, the Moravians became an intense but highly mobile missionary order. The rapid deployment of many young missionaries around the world in the space of a few short years, is one of the most remarkable Moravian achievements.

The outreach was made possible by a relative lack of concern with training, finances, or structure. A Moravian missionary received from the church, enough money to get to the port. The missionary was then responsible to work for passage across the ocean. On the mission field, the missionary took up whatever occupation would provide the bare amount of food and clothing.

The Moravians had an impact on the existing church as they brought renewal to thousands of formerly nominal Christians throughout Europe. This was achieved through the work of itinerant Moravians sent out from Herrnhut in twos and threes. Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 1727 and the life and ministry of Zinzendorf, one of the most dynamic missionary movements came into existence. In the next 150 years the Moravians sent out over 2,000 of their members overseas. They tended to go to the most remote, unfavorable and neglected areas. Many of them were simple peasants and artisans.

The impact of the Moravians did not end with their own achievements. Their example profoundly influenced both John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement and William Carey the “father” of Protestant missions." 

____________________________

Let me ask you. 

Generalizing how important a concept is the "lost" to a congregation in any mainline denomination? When did you least hear a sermon that focused on the lost? 

What do you think? Is there such a thing as a lost person?

Was Jesus right when he said he focused on the lost? 

Matthew 18:12-14 is a good beginning point to ponder with regard to the lost.

The Moravians of yesterday got it!

- To read the whole article click here.  Above text above cribbed from Movements.net

The Lost

"As Zinzendorf’s passion for Jesus grew, so did his passion for the lost. He became determined to evangelize the world with a handful of saints, equipped only with a burning love for Jesus and the power of prayer."

Quote from Count Zinzendorf

Five inspiring quotes from Count Zinzendorf. 

Count Nikolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf, of Dresden, was a German Christian and social reformer and bishop of the Moravian Church. It was he that organized the modern Moravian Church. 

"I have one passion; it is Jesus, Jesus only.” 

“Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.”

“Only atheists attempt to comprehend god with their mind.”

“I am destined to proclaim the message, unmindful of personal consequences to myself.”

“…henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.”