Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/76

Contributor - Harvey Van Farowe

Title - John Wycliffe, A Spiritual Star

Topic - Church History

In the latter part of the Middle Ages, God, in His grace, continued to raise up individuals who had a extraordinary impact upon history and the church. Some of these were called "Reformers before the Reformation". One such was John Wycliffe, a priest of England, who has been designated, "The Morning Star of the Reformation". I am indebted to church historians David Schaff and Kenneth Latourette for their writings on this courageous scholar and preacher.

John Wycliffe was born about 1324 in Yorkshire, England. He both studied and taught at Oxford University. He had contacts with numerous students and many influential people, including John of Gaunt, a son of King Edward III. Wycliffe was not strong in body but was in intellect and certainly in courage. Yet he voiced his courageous convictions in a decidedly Christian and courteous way, which has not always been true of great reformers.

Recently, someone, expressing appreciation for the minister of his church, said that a minister's living what he preaches is almost more important than his preaching.

Wycliffe's life and preaching were both powerful. It is said that Chaucer's words, "He taught, but first he followed it himself" were "often supposed to be a description of Wycliffe" . Wycliffe himself wrote, "A priest should live holily, in prayer, in desires and thought, in godly conversation and honest teaching, having God's commandments and His Gospel ever on his lips. And let his deeds be so righteous that no man may be able with cause to find fault with them, and so open his acts that he may be a true book to all sinful and wicked men to serve God. For the example of a good life stirreth men more than true preaching with only the naked word." Wyclif'fes character is shown in his emphasis on honesty and truthfulness. He stressed that one should never advance a good cause in a non-Christian way, like by a "false appeal to fear". A pope should not do this nor anyone else who confesses to following Christ. His words remind one of the Apostle Paul's words, "that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour". Wycliffe's honesty and upright life was undoubtedly a contributing factor to the considerable acceptance of his reforming teachings.

Though he taught over 150 years before Luther, he spoke out strongly on the authority of Scripture. His Trialogous taught the principle that at points where the Scriptures and the church do not agree we must go by the Scriptures. He himself was a avid student of the Bible and his preaching, contrary to many of his day, consisted largely of exposition Of Scripture passages. Much preaching of his time focused on "miracles, fables, and lives of the saints", but not Wyclif'fes. He also broke through heavy tradition with his declarations that the lay people should be allowed and encouraged to read the Bible. Schaff points out that "for hundreds of years no eminent teacher had emphasized the right of the laity to the Word of God" and that Scripture reading by the common man was forbidden under penalty of loss "of land, cattle, life, and goods from their heirs forever". But this late Middle Ages "apostle" declared such laws and threats sinful and wrong. The Scripture is for everyone and he himself translated it into English for the ordinary person, no minor accomplishment.

Again, it required "holy boldness" for Wycliffe to oppose the dogma of transubstantion. This is the Roman Catholic teaching about the mass, the view that Christ's body, through the consecration of the priest, is actually present in the elements. Wycliffe called this view "idolatry", 4 6 a lying fable". He said it was shocking to think that a priest "carries God in bodily form on the tips of his fingers" (Schaff). Saying that Christ's words, "this is my body" were figurative, not literal even as His words, "I am the vine" were meant figurative, he maintained that our Lord's body is really in heaven. Christ's spiritual presence is at Holy Communion as a king's is present, so to speak, in all places of his territory. Christ is present where the soul is being nourished with love for Christ. It wasn't easy to oppose the common view so definitely.

Wycliffe was more than a good scriptural theologian and preacher. He also sent out preachers or evangelists who, in turn, expounded the Scriptures. Some of these were Oxford graduates; others were less educated. Those who embraced their teachings were called Lollards, a designation which apparently came from Holland though exactly in what way is not certain. The Lollards suffered more persecution than Wycliffe himself. The biblical revival was growing and bishops were losing their hold on people's compliance and money. Opposition was stirred up. Some Lollards lost their lives, even in the anguish of burning. During the reign of Henry the 5th, opposition was pronounced. During that reign, Wycliffe himself, who had died peacefully in 1384, was posthumously branded a heretic, many of his books were destroyed, and his bones dug up and burned, Yet later, during the reign of Henry the 7th, the truths of Wycliffe and the Lollards, enjoyed more acceptance, and they were a major source for later English Protestantism.

One who today loves the Word and the Reformation principles is stirred as he reads about John Wycliffe. No doubt a great many in his own day profoundly thanked God for this consecrated and able scholar. He was a spiritual "Star" who "being dead still speaks." Quite likely many associated with the great work of the Wycliffe Bible Translators still derive inspiration and strength from his example and work ' And may our lives be, as Wyclif urged, "a true book to all sinful .... men to serve God".

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