Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!They too got a lot of criticism. ‘A time is coming when menshall say you are mad, you are not like us!‘ 50 wrote another.Many in the Catholic tradition have favoured communal livingas a good soil for spirituality. But it was persecuted pioneerslike the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century who reallystood out for truth, especially for baptism, separation,brotherly love — and community.The Hutterites were Anabaptists who lived simply and gatheredin large numbers with their families and children. Theywere skilled in crafts and trades and even had their ownschools. Hutterite evangelists moved in power throughoutCentral Europe and huge numbers were martyred for theirradical word. One of them wrote from prison: ‘Whoever wantsto join himself to Christ must forsake created things. This iswhy the Holy Spirit began community in such a glorious wayat the beginning.’ Knowing that some conditions favouredcommunity more than others, he added, ‘If anyone shouldsay “It only happened in Jerusalem”, it doesn’t follow thatthis should be the case now!’ 51The Hutterites found that heretical groups spoiled theirreputation. Anabaptists were the cult scare of their time.Nonetheless, they insisted that community was the ‘highestcommand of love’, a treasure for which a man gives, not atithe, but all that he has.We came to Ashburnham 1977 inspired by the example ofthese radical brethren. We, too, had an identity and a ‘Zionculture’ to be grateful for. Noel outlined our position as aradical church and dealt with the matter of private ownership.Our community lifestyle was built on personal sacrifice163