Moravian Piety

The only truly successful Ecumenical movement took place at Hernnhut, Germany, in the year 18th Century. A nobleman names Count Nicklaus Von Zinzendorf opened his land to refugees from Bohemia and other parts of the world. A Lutheran, Zinzendorf possesses Ecumenic sympathies, believing all Christians who placed their faith in Jesus Christ weither Huguenot, Catholic, Pietist, Baptist,  Reformed, Lutheran and etc all should be treated as kinsmen in the faith. His radical ideas would proodice a movement that would unite churches of all denominations with a common goal deep piety and prayer. From the count’s land came a prayer revolution where members devoted to praying seven times a day which then transformed into a 24/7 prayer house that would last for a century! 

The zeal of Zinzendorf’s company of interdenominational followers led to suspicion and outrage by the Lutheran elite. It seems whenever there is unity and success the familiar giant of jealousy and envy awakens. To assuage the Lutheran Pharisees, Zinzendorf became an ordained Lutheran pastor, however, this was not a capitulation, Nicklaus still maintained his Ecumenical prayer band at Hernnhut and the movement would spread across the world to Europe and Russia. The idea that ecumenism could actually work and that prayer could become part of the mainstay of Christian living wasn’t new, the Apostle Paul had said, “Pray without ceasing (without ever stopping),” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and, “ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). What was radical is that amongst such diverse disciples from different denominations there was harmony and common goal to seek the Lord’s face and pray. This fervor would led to the First Great Awakening and John Weasley would be majorly influenced by the Moravians, of whom Count Zinzendorf was the head of Moravian Church. 

A movement like the Moravian twenty-four hour prayer vigils seems like a legend compared to the chid he’s of the 21 Century. It can be quite difficult to get a congregation to pray five minutes at a service not to mention getting each congregant to commit to one hour of twenty-four! The zeal of Moravians ans yjier piety stirs us. It reminds us unity can be achieved and the importance of prayer in God’s Kingdom in earth. I wish I could say the Moravians has only positive contributions to Vhurch Histoey and the Church Visible. Sadly, in time some legalistic practices arose over clothing, specifically the women’s clothing and there were some emotional episodes that stricter adherence to Scrilture would have quelled. Regardless of these small detours, the Moravians, particularly Count Zinzendorf accomplished a rare feat in church history, Unitas between diverse denominations and a devout call to prayer that should inspire us today to take up in our churches. 

May we be inspired by Hernnhut and take the charge to make petition in prayer. The world needs another Hernnhut, more than ever the saints need to make supplication. We are at an unpfecendted level of persecution of the church in the world, so much so that it exceeds all the persecutions throughout church history! We need to hold tight to the Holy Scriptures and memorize them and dedicate time to prayer and seeking the Lord Jesus who lives in us and whom we live in (1 John 4:15). It is fine to create s Hernnhut in your own home, to raise the banner of prayer until we cover nations oand the Church with Holy supplication. Let us take a page from Zinzendorf and barrage the warfs of this world with prayer! Shall we cease delaying? Can we at least make prayer a pivotal part of our Christian walk? Around the corner could be the Last Great Awakening and the Returncod our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us brave tribulation and torments with vigils of prayer! Let us take up our hands or stand or rock back in forth or bow on our knees or hold a rosary or speak out loudly the prayers to our Lord that they make like incense flood heaven and fill the bowls, “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.” (Revelation 5:8) 

Let us commit to pray always, if only an hour great, but let it be that incense flowing in bowls before our Lamb and Savior Jesus Christ. Pray without ceasing, “Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.” (Ephensians 7:19).