“My lady, I thank you very much for your affection and favor towards me, but I have given myself entirely to God to be His friend, and with that I hope to live and die,” rang the confident, faith-filled words of Jacques “zhahk” (a French form of the male name Jacob or James).
Persecution was fiercely raging in Europe in the year 1550. For their profession of faith in Jesus Christ, men, women, and even children were snatched from their homes and meeting places and thrown into the dark and cold dungeon cells of area castles. Among these captives, fifteen-year-old Jacques Dosie found himself imprisoned in Leeuwarden, Holland, for the truth of the Gospel. Even though he was only fifteen years old, he was known by his upright testimony and knowledge of the Scriptures, bringing glory to God through the power of the Spirit.
The Lord and Lady Friesland, with many nobles and ladies, were assembled in the royal halls in Leeuwarden. Their conversation turned to the “baptist heretics” that were filling the land.
“Let’s bring in that young lad, Jacques. Surely he has not been too contaminated with this heresy.”
So, he was brought in to be interrogated. Lord Friesland spoke only a few words and seemed in a hurry to finish. He had no time for this talk of religion, especially with guests waiting for a more enjoyable entertainment. Lady Friesland, however, seemed moved with compassion for this youth who was so cruelly bound in the dungeon.
“Why are you in prison? You are only a youth. What brought you here?” she asked.
Jacques answered, “I was captured and thrown into prison only because I believe in Jesus Christ. I abide by Him alone and will not forsake Him.”
The royal lady asked him, “Surely you are not one of those heretics who rebaptized themselves and have perpetrated so much evil in our country? They say they are dispersed on account of their faith and boast of being the church of God. But they are a wicked and rebellious people and cause great commotion in the land.”
“My lady, I do not know any rebellious people nor am I one of their number,” replied Jacques. “But we would much rather, according to the teachings of the Scriptures, assist our enemies. If they hunger and thirst, we bless them with food and drink. We never resist them with revenge or violence as we read in Matthew 5:39.”
“If you were in a position of power it would be seen whether you would assist your enemies,” sneered one of the nobles.
Jacques replied, “Oh, no, my lord, if it were permitted among us to resist the evil with the carnal sword, I would never do so.”
“I know there are sects among you who are very wicked and kill the people. They have their goods and wives in common,” said Lady Friesland.
“Oh, no,” replied Jacques. “We are unjustly charged with these wicked things. We are falsely accused of evil as a means to be persecuted. But as taught in Matthew 5:11, we must suffer and endure all this with patience.”
“Was it not your people who with great dishonor took up arms against the government at Amsterdam and Muenster?” asked Lady Friesland.
“No, my lady, we are not of them,” answered Jacques. “Those people erred greatly. We regard it as a doctrine of the devil to resist the authorities with the sword and violence. We would much rather suffer persecution and death from the authorities.”
“Nevertheless, you are considered to be one of them, because you too make an uproar in the land,” insisted the royal lady. “However, I believe what you say concerning those Muensterites.”
“But, my lady, don’t we read about this in Acts 24:5, how wicked men spoke evil of the apostles themselves as well as the whole band of Christians?” countered Jacques. “Did not wicked men seek to incite the authorities to vengeance against the Christians, though it was all falsehood?”
Lady Friesland didn’t answer but quickly diverted to another topic. “Do you believe that all are damned who are not baptized according to your way?” she asked.
“Oh, no, my lady,” answered Jacques. “Judgement concerning other men belongs to God alone, who shall reward everyone according to his works. This is clearly stated in many places of the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the water does not have the power to cleanse us from sin, as 1 Peter 3:21 says, but is merely a sign of all obedience.”
“Can you still sin after you are baptized?” asked Lady Friesland.
“Yes, my lady, for this is clearly evident from the words of Paul in Romans 7:18,” replied Jacques. “We are still clothed in a weak and sinful body, and sin in many things. But we must constantly crucify and mortify the flesh, and not practice or fulfill the works of the flesh. If we fail to do this, the righteousness of God will condemn us to eternal death.”
Lady Friesland was becoming agitated. “Why don’t you listen to the church inquisitor?” she demanded.
Jacques replied, “My lady, because I will not accept his doctrine, unless he first can clearly prove to me that it agrees in all points with the Word of God. Otherwise he is laboring in vain. My faith is founded on the pure Word of God alone. As for the practice of infant baptism, I contradict his argument with reason since it is not a command of God Almighty but much rather the invention of men. Infants do not have the least bit of knowledge or discernment about what is required for baptism. But Christ in His love for such innocent ones has promised them the kingdom of God through grace, without requiring baptism.
“And further, my lady, I find that the Roman church is infected with many other errors besides this. They seek to make Christ come into the bread, or that the bread and wine should become changed into His flesh and blood. I do not believe this but regard it as an exceedingly gross error and absurdity. But I believe that Christ truly ascended to heaven and sits on the right hand of His Father as we find in Mark 16:19. There is no salvation in their flour, mass, purgatory, or any of their services for the dead. All of their human inventions, and there are many, are nowhere recognized in the Holy Scriptures. But on the contrary, we call upon God and seek our salvation in Him. Our salvation is not in any creation of man, that we may not corrupt God’s own glory and give it to any of His creatures.”
At this point the mayor, who was also present, interrupted, “So don’t you believe in the sacrament which Christ Himself instituted?”
“Sir, Paul says that the bread is broken in remembrance of Him, and that the cup of blessing is the communion of the blood of Christ,” replied Jacques.
The mayor had nothing to answer to this.
“I consider this the worst thing about you, that you will not have the children baptized,” stated Lady Friesland. “All Germany and every kingdom regard your doings as heresy.”
“It is indeed true we are despised everywhere even as the apostles were,” replied Jacques. “But we do not believe that unbaptized children shall perish at the judgment day.”
“My dear child,” said the lady pleadingly. “Come over to our side, and repent, and you shall get out of this trouble. I promise to secure your release.”
“My lady, I thank you very much for your affection and favor towards me,” answered Jacques boldly. “But I will not change my faith to please mortal man unless it be proven to me with the Scriptures. I have given myself entirely to God, to be His friend, and with that I hope to live and die.”
“My son, I have compassion for you,” she pleaded again. “Repent of your baptism and do not be so stubborn. It would be a heavy cross for my heart if you should die for this cause, being such a young child. If you repent, I will see that you are released and may go home.”
“I cannot see that there is any crime at all in my baptism. I have not followed my own cause but the Holy institution of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have not been able to find another better way to the kingdom of God except through baptism,” replied Jacques. “I am inclined to seek the Lord my God with my whole heart.”
“Look at all these men around you. Do you dare be so presumptuous to say all of them are in error?” asked Lady Friesland.
“My lady,” replied Jacques. “In Israel, four hundred prophets were against the prophet Micaiah, who alone spoke the truth. For speaking the truth, he was imprisoned on bread and water. Later in his distress, King Ahab realized prophet Micaiah spoke the truth, but it was too late. We read of this in 2 Chronicles 18.”
The lady finally said, “I find many good things in you; but your greatest error lies in your baptism. To me that does not seem to be of God.”
Lady Friesland had Jacques brought before her many times. Even though he was young in years, he was mature in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He had built his foundation upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. With the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, he valiantly repelled all the subtle devices of Satan, whether consisting in many severe threats, or in fair promises of the kingdom of this world. Nothing could move him to forsake Christ.
Jacques was condemned to death by the rulers of the darkness of this world. Consequently, he testified and confirmed the true faith with his death and blood and, through grace, obtained the crown of everlasting glory.
Now let us fast forward from this scene to 469 years later. Times have changed. Men, women, and children are no longer thrown into cold dungeons for their faith, at least not here in North America. But the enemy of our soul is the same. He may not go around as a roaring lion, but he surely comes around as an angel of light.
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Dear youth, you may not realize it, but today you are on trial. Your faith and convictions are being challenged. Satan, in the form of the Lady Frieslands of today, is questioning you. In her audience are the worldly-wise men, the progressive Protestants, and even some contemporary folks bearing the Anabaptist name.
“Why are you looking so pious?” asks Lady Friesland. “In this day and age, you need to loosen up. How do you expect to win the world when you appear so somber?”
You are the Jacques of today, so what is your answer?
Lady Friesland continues, “You claim to be part of a separated people. Yet I see you immersing yourselves into sports, hunting, and fishing. I see you following fashions. How are you different from other Christians? Or even from the world for that matter?”
Jacques, do you have any convictions of your own? Do your choices make a difference in eternity for yourself or others? Are your lifestyle decisions a life-or-death matter to you?
Seductively, Lady Friesland leans in closer and whispers, “What does it matter? Your parents are old-fashioned. Everyone does it today. Just doing it once is harmless. Why are you such a prude?”
Jacques, is the Bible in your heart like it was with Jacques of old? Do you know and love the Word? Can you withstand temptation?
Now Lady Friesland comes from a different angle. “Why do you wear that small covering on your head? What does it mean to today’s culture? Nothing. Enlightened Christians are getting rid of it everywhere. And young Jacques, don’t you think that girl at your side who you are courting would look prettier with that covering gone? It’s just a symbol anyway.”
Jacques and Jacqueline, will you stand true to God? Do you have a ready answer?
It is time to take a serious reflection of your faith and convictions. Jacques, in his youth, was standing to become the church of tomorrow in his day. Today you are Jacques. Tomorrow the church will consist of you and all the Jacqueses and Jacquelines who are around you today. Is this a church you want to be a part of? Are you satisfied with what you see? Are you satisfied with your own lifestyle convictions and faith? Will they carry you through when the raging battles of life hit?
So, dear youth of today, will you take some time to honestly consider your personal life in the mirror of God’s Word? If God’s Spirit gives you an answer of peace and rest, praise the Lord. If in any way your heart is troubled, or convicted, don’t become discouraged. Remember it is …the goodness of God [that] leadeth thee to repentance –Rom 2:4.
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