THE MORNING STAR…

John Wycliffe is called the “Morning Star of Reformation.” He was an English scholastic philosopher, theologian, Bible translator, reformer, Catholic priest, and a seminary professor at the University of Oxford.

Wycliffe chose to stand, even when there was no great support for him and his views, because he wanted to stand up for the truth. This is called courage in the face of adversity, that is born out of a deep conviction to stand for truth, regardless and despite the cost to pay, for such a stand.

Many a ‘wiseman’ may have counselled him to go easy, and not to take things too seriously. Yet, Wycliffe chose to stand with what the Word of God said, and stand openly for his convictions.

Today, 19th February, in 1377, some 645 years back, John Wycliffe was called to stand trial in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, for his critical view about the church. Wycliffe argued that the sale of indulgences, the worship of saints, the veneration of relics, were wrong and unbiblical. He pointed out the “emptiness” of some church traditions, and the indolence of clerics, which stood in direct contradiction of the Word of God. 

Despite his critical views, no physical harm came near him, while he was alive, in spite of five papal bulls ordering his arrest. However, in 1428, fifty years latter, the Council, ordered by Pope Martin V, decreed that, all the works of Wycliffe should be burned, and his bodily remains exhumed. Subsequently, John Wycliffe’s bodily remains were exhumed, and burned; and the ashes were cast into the River Swift, which flows through Lutterworth.

Is the Church today in need of people like John Wycliffe? It surely needs. The Word of God is diluted and diverted, and there is poverty of Biblical truth in the congregation. What we are being fed by the priests and pastors, and what is being desired by the congregation is “happy and gentle preaching,” prosperity, miracles, prophesies, and healing. There no serious desire to know what the Word of God says. There is not much desire to do what the LORD is asking us, as His disciples. We wish to control the narrative, and do what is good and pleasing to us.

May the LORD help us through these “neo-dark-ages.”