Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Reformation
Do you know who was one of the first reformers?
Did you know that he only attended a Catholic Church?
In what century did this reformer live?
The "Protestant" Church, as we know it today, was not yet established.
The REFORMATION took many years to take hold, and one of the first men to step out boldly actually was an academic, who taught at Oxford University. It was the 14th Century, and JOHN WYLCLIFFE made some extremely bold statements.
One thing he pointed out as not biblically correct is the Roman Catholic theology of TRANSUBSTANTIATION. That is fancy word that means when taking communion, the church hierarchy believed that those participating were actually eating the flesh and blood of Jesus.
Wycliffe said that the Scripture teaches that the bread and cup of wine is strictly symbolic for the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic teaching left the door open to many problems, one of them being the problem of what to do with the left over wine from the sacrament of communion? If any of Christ's blood were treated with blasphemy, it would be a great sin. Therefore, many of the priests would simply drink every last drop, until all the wine was gone, resulting in many a drunken priest.
Wycliffe stood up against what he saw as the unbiblical practice of the church to take INDULGENCES, thereby making the priests very rich. He believed that acts for God should not be for sale, especially forgiveness of sin. Many people, who were mostly serfs, and did not read themselves, thought they must purchase an indulgence, in order to get them into heaven and out of purgatory.
After he was kicked out of Oxford University, where I studied for about 3 months, (they loved me) : ) John Wycliffe had the brilliant idea to translate the entire Bible into the English language FOR THE FIRST TIME. This was monumental as anyone might guess.
What translation did he write his English translation from? I want you, gentle readers, to research the question.
One final question: what is the famous quote about John Wycliffe and his ashes, from an author 35 years after his death? The church, being so angry with the deeds of John Wycliffe, wanted to desecrate his body by digging up his bones and burning them. They then dropped the ashes in a fast running stream, thereby spreading the living water of the reformation throughout the world.
What is the quote, and who said it?
Do you know who was one of the first reformers?
Did you know that he only attended a Catholic Church?
In what century did this reformer live?
The "Protestant" Church, as we know it today, was not yet established.
The REFORMATION took many years to take hold, and one of the first men to step out boldly actually was an academic, who taught at Oxford University. It was the 14th Century, and JOHN WYLCLIFFE made some extremely bold statements.
One thing he pointed out as not biblically correct is the Roman Catholic theology of TRANSUBSTANTIATION. That is fancy word that means when taking communion, the church hierarchy believed that those participating were actually eating the flesh and blood of Jesus.
Wycliffe said that the Scripture teaches that the bread and cup of wine is strictly symbolic for the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic teaching left the door open to many problems, one of them being the problem of what to do with the left over wine from the sacrament of communion? If any of Christ's blood were treated with blasphemy, it would be a great sin. Therefore, many of the priests would simply drink every last drop, until all the wine was gone, resulting in many a drunken priest.
Wycliffe stood up against what he saw as the unbiblical practice of the church to take INDULGENCES, thereby making the priests very rich. He believed that acts for God should not be for sale, especially forgiveness of sin. Many people, who were mostly serfs, and did not read themselves, thought they must purchase an indulgence, in order to get them into heaven and out of purgatory.
After he was kicked out of Oxford University, where I studied for about 3 months, (they loved me) : ) John Wycliffe had the brilliant idea to translate the entire Bible into the English language FOR THE FIRST TIME. This was monumental as anyone might guess.
What translation did he write his English translation from? I want you, gentle readers, to research the question.
One final question: what is the famous quote about John Wycliffe and his ashes, from an author 35 years after his death? The church, being so angry with the deeds of John Wycliffe, wanted to desecrate his body by digging up his bones and burning them. They then dropped the ashes in a fast running stream, thereby spreading the living water of the reformation throughout the world.
What is the quote, and who said it?
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.
Leave to God tho order all thy ways,
And hope in Him, whate'er betide.
Thou 'lt find Him in the evil days
Thy all-sufficient strength and guide;
Who trusts in God's unchanging love,
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
G. Neumarck
I really like this verse. I don't read Nahum much, an old testament prophet. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I never read it. A minor OT prophet is not what I normally turn to for inspiration.
However, this verse means alot to me. I reminds that God is not going to abandon me, even in the day of trouble. That is comforting to know, because the rest of the book of Nahum describes the complete desolation of Judah, because they did not follow the Lord.
It is good to remember to TRUST the Lord, especially in the day of trouble.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)