John Wycliffe (1328-1384)
READ: Psalm 119
Wycliffe was a forerunner of the
Reformation that would officially begin 133 years after his death. He saw
clearly some of the corruption that existed in the Roman Catholic Church at the
time. His studies of the Scriptures lead him to firm opinions on the matters of
the church’s wealth and power, the sale of indulgences, the worship of saints
and the authority of the pope – and Wycliffe was not afraid to share these
opinions. This freedom of speech got him into trouble and in 1377 his writings
were banned.
Above all, John Wycliffe was a
man who loved God’s Word. It was by it that he came to his theological
conclusions, and it was by it that he proclaimed that the pope and the church
were second in authority – the first
authority was Scripture itself. John also believed strongly that God’s Word
should be available to all people. Moses received the Law in his own tongue and
the disciples heard it in theirs, and he believed that the men and women of his
day should have the same privilege. At the time, the Scriptures were in Latin,
making it virtually impossible for anyone other than the clergy or highly
learned to study them. And so Wycliffe began the very first English translation
of the Bible. He died before it was finished, but a friend took up his work,
and his supporters illegally distributed it throughout the country. 31 years
after his death, Wycliffe was officially excommunicated from the church, his
bones dug up and burned. Though they tried to dishonour his memory, he will be
honoured in the Kingdom of heaven.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
