The history of the Schwarzenau Brethren began in 1708 when a group of eight Christians organized themselves under the leadership of Alexander Mack (1679–1735) into a church and baptized one another in Schwarzenau, Germany, now part of Bad Berleburg in North Rhine-Westphalia. Five men and three women gathered at the Eder, a small river that flows through Schwarzenau, to perform baptism as an outward symbol of their new faith. One of the members of the group first baptized Mack, who then, in turn, baptized the other seven.
They believed that both the Lutheran and Reformed churches were missing the point of true Christianity as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, as revealed in the New Testament and as followed by the Early Church, which is to follow the example of Jesus in our daily life. After searching for a church that taught New Testament discipleship and finding none in their area, they committed to follow the Lord's teaching regardless of the cost. They rejected established state churches, including infant baptism, existing Eucharistic practices and the use of force to punish dissenters. The founding Brethren were broadly influenced by Radical Pietist understandings of an invisible, nondenominational church of awakened Christians who would fellowship together in purity and love, awaiting Christ's return. These eight Christians referred to themselves as brethren, and New Baptists (German: Neue Täufer). The name alluded to the use of the name Täufer (Baptists) by the Mennonites. They suffered persecution for their stand, much as the earlier Anabaptists had.
They believed that both the Lutheran and Reformed churches were missing the point of true Christianity as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, as revealed in the New Testament and as followed by the Early Church, which is to follow the example of Jesus in our daily life. After searching for a church that taught New Testament discipleship and finding none in their area, they committed to follow the Lord's teaching regardless of the cost. They rejected established state churches, including infant baptism, existing Eucharistic practices and the use of force to punish dissenters. The founding Brethren were broadly influenced by Radical Pietist understandings of an invisible, nondenominational church of awakened Christians who would fellowship together in purity and love, awaiting Christ's return. These eight Christians referred to themselves as brethren, and New Baptists (German: Neue Täufer). The name alluded to the use of the name Täufer (Baptists) by the Mennonites. They suffered persecution for their stand, much as the earlier Anabaptists had.