Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
As a young man Nicholas Von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) struggled with what the Lord would have him do in his life. He thought, “Perhaps I should be a missionary, or a minister, or an evangelist. How can I decide between these three?” But his wise and pious Grandmother urged him to accept the fact that he had been born a Prince who in time would become a very powerful Count amongst the nobility in Saxony, Germany. In God’s providence he would inherit thousands upon thousands of acres of land, several fortified castles, and an immense fortune. He would be a ruler over many subjects, and if he followed his father’s example he would be a wise and compassionate leader. He still, however, questioned his calling as a future ruler.
Going off to foreign lands with the gospel seemed so much more exciting and glamorous to him! He dreamed of serving the Lord and sharing the gospel with the heathen tribes all around the world. One day when Zinzendorf was eighteen years old he was touring a museum in Dusseldorf, Germany when he came across a famous painting—Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”) by Domenica Feti. In the title the artist quotes the mocking words of Pontius Pilate as he presents Jesus Christ to the hostile crowd in Jerusalem before sending him off to be crucified–“Behold the Man!” (see: John 19:5). The artist also gives his painting the caption, “This I have suffered for you; now what will you do for me?” This painting and the challenging question attributed to Jesus deeply stirred the young man. As he reflected upon this experience, along with his Grandmother’s wise counsel, he realized that he could serve God as a Count just as well as serving Him as a missionary, minister, or evangelist. Zinzendorf wrote in his diary, “I have loved him [Jesus Christ] for a long time, but I have never actually done anything for Him. From now on I will do whatever He leads me to do.” He determined at that moment to fulfill his destiny and become a wise and compassionate ruler just like his father.
In time, Zinzendorf legally inherited the land, the castles, and the wealth. He took his place amongst the German nobility as the Count of Saxony. About the same time he also became aware of the many trials and tribulations of a small group of Christian refugees in nearby regions. What exactly was their story? Two hundred and fifty years before, the ancestors of these refugees had come to Christ through the powerful preaching ministry of the Czech minister Jan Hus (1369-1415). Ever since Jan Hus had been betrayed and put to death, his followers had been harassed and persecuted so much that they fled into the forests of Bohemia never settling but moving from place to place. They became known as the “Bohemian Brethren” and eventually sought refuge in Austria, Poland, Southern Germany, and Moravia. In 1722 when Zinzendorf heard about their sufferings his heart was broken and he invited these religious refugees to settle on his land. He called the settlement Herrnhut (lit. “under the Lord’s watch”) and eventually they became known as the Moravians. While they were under Count Zinzendorf’s protection, they flourished and began earnestly training to go to far-away lands as missionaries to preach the gospel, make disciples, and establish churches.
Where did the Moravians go? In 1732 some went to the West Indies to evangelize the African slaves of the Caribbean. Some went to the frozen lands of Greenland and Labrador to preach to the Eskimos. Some went to the South Sea Islands to minister to the native tribes and fierce head-hunters. Some went to India to proselytize the Hindus. And some went to the American colonies to bring the gospel to the native Indians. In 1735 John Wesley—the famous preacher and evangelist of the 1st Great Awakening—encountered Moravian missionaries on the same ship that he was traveling on when he sailed to Georgia as a missionary.
A year later after a dismal experience in Georgia Wesley encountered some Moravian missionaries once more when he returned to England. He recorded in his personal Journal how impressed he was with their piety and courage during a life-threatening storm at sea. He also reflected in his Journal, “I went to Georgia to convert the Lost, but Oh who will convert me?” Once he arrived back in England, Wesley sought out a Moravian gathering at the Fetter Lane Chapel in London. There he heard the fiery Moravian preacher, Peter Boehler, read from Martin Luther’s Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Romans and give a short message on Romans 1:16-17. As a result, Wesley’s “heart was strangely warmed” and by the regenerating power of God he was thoroughly converted. Throughout the remainder of his life Wesley conducted extensive preaching missions in England and America. From this effort the Methodist Church was established. The simple witness of the Moravians had an absolutely huge impact upon his life and future ministry.
And so, did Nicholas Von Zinzendorf make the right decision? It turned out that he found great purpose and intense satisfaction in doing the very thing that was right in front of him—fulfilling his call to become a Count, a kind-hearted ruler, and a member of the German nobility. Given his immense wealth and extensive properties he was able to minister to fellow Christians who were persecuted and afflicted. He provided safety and security at Herrnhut so that the Moravians could equip themselves as missionaries, ministers, and evangelists. He died a happy man knowing that the Lord had used his service as a Count in a remarkable and lasting way. Truly, he “trusted the Lord with all his heart…and the Lord made straight all his paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). Let each one of us resolve to do the same—to trust the Lord to direct our steps, and to be faithful at doing what lies right in front of us.
Resources for Further Study:
Douglas, J. D. ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.
- “Bohemian Brethren” by Peter Toon
- “Boehler, Peter” by J. G. G. Norman
- “Constance, Council of” by Robert G. Clouse
- “Czechoslovak Church” by J. G. G. Norman
- “Hus, Jan” by Matthew Spinka
- “Luther, Martin” by Carl S. Meyer
- “Moravian Brethren” by J. G. G. Norman
- “Pietism” by Robert G. Clouse
- “Wesley, John” by A. Skevington Wood
- “Zinzendorf, Nicholas Von” by Richard V. Pierard
Firak, Tom. “Zinzendorf, Nicholas Von” in Who’s Who In Christian History. J. D. Douglas, ed. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992.
Houghton, S. M. Sketches from Church History. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1980.
Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. Second Edition. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1986.
Outler, Albert C., ed. John Wesley. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1964.
Schattschneider, Allen W. Through Five Hundred Years: A Popular History of the Moravian Church. Fourth Edition. Bethlehem, PA: The Moravian Church in America, 1996.
Serven, Marcus J. “Jan Hus (1373-1415): Bohemian Reformer and Martyr” on The Genevan Foundation Website, 2012. (Here)
Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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