The Hutterian Brethren (Hutterites)
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites are a religious group who had their beginning in Switzerland in the 16th century with the Reformation. The foundation of the Hutterite movement came from the conclusion of a Bible study by students from Switzerland. They established four points that became the basis of the Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites religion.
Their belief focused on the practice of baptism of babies which they believed to be not Biblical, as well as the Biblically sanctioned requirements for the separation of church and state, the nature of pacifism which all Christians should embrace to include the forbiddance to waving of the sword, and that the Lord’s Supper is the symbol of the suffering of Jesus Christ and must be done in remembrance of Him. The followers of this movement were known as the Anabaptists or Rebaptisers.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites live in colonies that are generally on large farms. The Hutterite livelihood is centered on different types of farming and agriculture. Their common language is usually German spoken among each other and in their church services. They have very few converts. There are usually around 100 to 140 people within the colonies with only a few family names among them. Once a colony gets to large they split into two colonies with half moving to the new colony.
Men of the colony are responsible for doing all the farm work. The Hutterian Brethren elect different bosses for the different jobs around the farms with two others being assigned as the helpers to the bosses.
Women are responsible for carrying out the domestic jobs such as cooking, baking, doing laundry as well as raising the children and teaching the younger children. The women distribute the three meals in a communal dining area, always working in pairs and rotating their jobs on a weekly basis. The communal dining areas are segregated, with men sitting on one side and women on another organized according to age. Each of the Hutterian Brethren families have their own apartment, although the adults eat all their meals in the common kitchen and the school age children eat with other children in the dining room.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe in Community of Goods where all material things are held in common. They believe Jesus taught this concept through the example of Jesus Christ and His disciples that shared everything. They believe the Community of Goods is the highest command of love. The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites live in communities or colony and all members are provided for equally and there is nothing that is kept for personal gain. All earnings and funds are communal. Funding and necessities are dispersed according to the person needs.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites hold church services every day for half an hour and an hour to an hour and a half on Sundays and religious holidays. There are special services for Baptism, Marriages, Christmas and Easter.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites have a distinctive dress. The women wear ankle length skirts, long jackets and an apron with a headscarf always worn in public. The men wear black trousers, black coat and a black hat. All men wear beards after they marry. Unmarried members of a colony visit other Hutterite colonies to find their mates, and a marriage may not take place until the couple is baptized then the married couples live at the colony of the husband.
The education for Hutterite children begins at the age of three and is held in the colony kindergarten to insure the concept of sharing in the communal living. Kindergarten is usually taught by one of the grandmothers with the help of younger women. Education is spoken in German and given orally, using religious verses and song. Regular school begins at age six, and is taught by certified teachers, who teach lessons in the English Language, and are brought in from outside the colony. German is also taught by a certified appointed German instructor for each colony. After the children finish their English school for the day, the colony teachers use the German Bible for further instruction in the German language. Parents are responsible for the discipline of their children, however, children are also disciplined by the kindergarten teacher as well as the German school teacher. Education is over for the students at age fifteen and they are then assigned to a work task.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites do not have a central organization so there is no centralized Headquarters.
History
There was a Bible study group meeting in Zurich, Switzerland on January 21, 1525 at the home of Felix Manz to discuss infant baptism. The Bible study group believed it was intervention by the Most High God in Heaven that showed them they should renounce infant baptism as it is unbiblical. The practice of the believer’s baptism was reinstated.
Originally, the Hutterites were known as the Swiss Brethren and Anabaptists. The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites were relentlessly persecuted by what they believed was the enemy of God, the Old Serpent, who acts through his servants. They believed many of their followers, the children of God, were martyred for their faith. The Catholic, Reformed Churches and Lutherans took part in the persecution of the Anabaptist followers.
The leader of the Hutterites movement was Jacob Hutter, their founder. Jacob Hutter was a leader of the Anabaptist movement. Like other Anabaptist groups, the Hutterites experienced ruthless persecution. Two thousand Hutterites were executed in Austria in 1535. Hoping to discourage the movement, Jacob Hutter was arrested and taken to Innsbruck, Austria in November 1535. On February 25, 1536, Jacob Hutter was tortured and publicly put to death by fire. Two years later the wife of Jacob Hutter was executed.
The Hutterites fled to Moravia in Central Europe after the death of Jacob Hutter. Moravia is part of the Czech Republic. The Hutterites had received official protection and were exempt from serving in the Moravian army or paying war taxes. When Moravia was occupied by the Turks in 1593, the Hutterites were either killed or taken into slavery. All Hutterites were expelled from Moravia in 1622. Some Hutterites fled to Hungary and experienced persecution at the hands of the Catholic authorities. Some fled to Russia where they were able to live free from outside interference. They grew in size and in religious freedoms.
The Hutterites immigrated to America, especially to South Dakota, in 1874. Life for the Hutterites colonies went well until World War I, when the Hutterites refused to support the war in anyway including refusing to serve in the armed forces. Because of ridicule, harassment and threats of death resulting from their pacifism, the Hutterites migrated to Canada. They did, however, return to the United States after World War I. This time the Hutterites stayed to their communal living and had nothing to do with the outside world.
Belief
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites doctrinal belief is very close to the old order of Amish. They believe in separation from the world and communal living. They retain the same style dress as their Anabaptist Amish ancestors wore in Europe.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe in total pacifism. They refuse to participate in local politics. They refuse to participate in any war time affiliations, including refusing to serve in the armed forces, and make no financial contributions to community projects supporting war efforts.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe in the Believer’s Baptism. They do not believe in infant baptism, claiming it is unbiblical.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe the Bible requires the separation of church and state. They are forbidden to swear an oath in court. They may make an affirmation of truth in court. They believe in separation from all parts of the world.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of the suffering of Jesus Christ. They believe the Lord’s Supper should only be done in the remembrance of Jesus.
The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites believe salvation is by the grace of God and a gift from God that is unmerited. They believe salvation is an everyday occurrence. They do not believe everyone is guaranteed salvation. They do not believe anyone knows if they will be rewarded in Heaven or condemned to hell. They believe everyone should live their lifetime serving and being obedient to the church of God.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Hutterian Brethren (Hutterites):.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2719,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. (2006, January). “The Hutterian Brethren (Hutterites): .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2719,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006). “The Hutterian Brethren (Hutterites):.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2719, (accessed).
