Worth Dying For?
By Edward Blanchette
At the Amish Experience Theater, there’s a film called “Jacob’s Choice,” the story of an Amish boy and his struggle to decide whether to remain in the Amish faith or live in the “outside” world. Part of this presentation also involves the Anabaptist martyrs, the 16th century forefathers of the Amish and Mennonites, who were often imprisoned, tortured, and put to death for their religious beliefs in adult baptism and the separation of church and state.
One famous true story of Dirck Willems begins with his prison escape. While Dirck was fleeing across a frozen pond, his captor, in hot pursuit, fell through the ice into the freezing water. This would have been Dirck’s chance at escape and freedom, but following his Christian ideals, he turned back, saved the drowning man, and was then recaptured & taken back to town. Then eventually burned at the stake as a heretic. This powerful story can arouse some questions in people’s minds. Why did Dirck turned around to save the man who was chasing him? Why Dirck was put to death? Why did they kill him?” To summarize, he disobeyed the laws of the state and the church doctrines of that time. His ideas were considered radical and dangerous.
Some might ask, “Why didn’t he just change his beliefs?” the answer, “That some people believe so strongly their beliefs, that they’re willing to die for it. Two heroes in history, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Here were two men who held strong beliefs, but did not use violence to bring about change. They, like the Anabaptists, suffered the consequences of their beliefs. Ultimately, they died for them.
Later, I thought some more about those questions. Surely 450 years ago there were people who had the same thoughts as some do today. Some found the words of Dirck Willems and his death at the stake a testimony to his faith. Others probably watched Dirck burn and wondered why he didn’t just utter the few words that would have saved his life and set him free.
Finally, I fear that we may look at these stories from the past and think of ourselves now, to be more enlightened & civilized. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. People are still imprisoned today all over the world, simply because of their beliefs and words they wrote or said to others. People are still mocked, even killed, because they are “different” from others, or don’t conform to “traditional values.” Children are wounded or die of hunger as adults fight for political advantage.
But the proper course of action is not to flee the horrors that threaten to overtake us, but rather to turn, confront them, and do what we know is right. While few may have this kind of courage, those that do can make a difference. That’s why we still talk about Dirck Willems 450 years after his heroic act of faith and love.