Count Zinzendorf: Firstfruit

by Janet & Geoff Benge
Available from Amazon
***

This was my introduction to the life of Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf. I appreciate his love for the Lord, and he has written some beautiful hymns. His story was very interesting.

When he came into his estates in Saxony, he allowed refugees from Moravia to establish a community, named Herrnhut, on his property. All the people agreed to work together for the good of the whole. Count Zinzendorf founded “choirs”, groups of people who lived together and worked together. Single men, single women, married men, and so on. The count became an ordained Lutheran minister, and eventually also a Moravian bishop. He appointed women elders and preachers. These Moravians were actively sending out missionaries to many parts of the world. Zinzendorf went on to plant and oversee several such communities in different areas. One community in Pennsylvania agreed that all the members would own no property, and give all they earned to send others on missions. They also had a 100-year prayer meeting; people signed up to pray for an hour a day, and scheduled it so that someone was praying 24 hours a day, every day. No one was compelled to join these villages, but if they did, they were obligated to follow the many rules. Some Christians chose to come for a certain time period, devoting it to this work, and then return to their lives.

Count Zinzendorf had twelve children, only three of which survived him. When his first wife died, he realized he had spent too much of their marriage away, and not putting her and the family first. It is so sad when we realize our misplaced priorities once it is too late.

I think the count was fervent in his love for the Lord, and spent his energies to serve Him, although not always effectively. There was a scandal during the time of his exile from Saxony in which he and his son were preaching a return to childlike faith. This resulted in and was applied to be a return to childishness, spending their time and resources in playing. Zinzendorf saw the error in this and repented, and tried to reverse it. I know he certainly loved the Lord, but many of his thoughts, ideas and teachings were misguided, probably influenced by the times in which he lived.

This book was helpful in learning about the life of a hymn writer and man of faith. I think it is good to read about men who have influenced the Church and the world, whether or not we agree with all they thought and taught.

The authors write to a young audience, and present the material as an engaging story. The facts are not related in such a manner as to touch the heart (as when a child dies, they comment that the count “was sad”), but to hold the interest, which they do throughout the life of count Zinzendorf.