The Morning Star of the Reformation

Through the eyes of Joshua (Age 11)

The first translator of the English bible who stood up to the papacy, the morning star of the reformation, was how Joshua described John Wycliffe. The fearless man who trusted in God and stood firm to maintain the truth and in boldness to defend it. He strongly believed that Christ is the only head of the church and the Bible is the only true authority to be the voice of God. He emphasised the direct personal relationship with God through Christ. He declared the right of every Christian to know the Bible, and that the Bible emphasised the need of every Christian to see the importance of Christ alone as the sufficient way of salvation, without the need of the monks or the pope acting as mediators.

Read on to hear from Joshua what he learned from studying this reformer’s life.

Q&A with Joshua

summarise John Wycliffe’s life in your own words

In the fourteenth century, a young man named John Wycliffe went to college. Studying theology, the word of God led him to find many errors in the papal church.

As the king’s chaplain, he reasoned that the pope’s worldly power over the nobility and royalty was irrational both in worldly and religious terms. This effectively shook the papacy. He also battled against the monks and friars. These men went around the countryside draining the people’ resources and giving them the impression that they were giving to God, when in fact, they were only giving to a bunch of fat lazy men wearing black robes. These friars and monks also took the youth away from home. They demoralised and corrupted them while also giving them the  impression of entering a service of love and charity. These youth often left home without permission from parents, therefore breeding misbehaviour and disobedience among the youth of that time. 

He demanded the bible be given to the public and denounced the pope’s worldly power over the monarchy. He tried hard to abolish the system of monks and friars. Eventually he created the first English translation of the bible. The papacy tried to kill or silence him, but God saved him with the death of peoples, schism, and finally, when it was time, God delivered to him rest through death.

What part of the story impresses you the most?

When he returned from his meetings with clergymen from abroad, he began to teach more fearlessly, and with greater zeal. An edict by the pope was sent to silence him and he was summoned for trial. Everything was pointing towards his death at the stake. But God did the impossible. He saved Wycliffe from the stake through death. Not to Wycliffe himself, but, unthinkably, to the pope himself. Gregory XI died and everything against him disappeared.

What did you learn from studying John Wycliffe?

God will literally never let you down, period. Just trust…It says in Romans 8:37-9.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My life was turned upside down by the lockdown. I felt really stressed out stuck at home with my family, not knowing when this whole ordeal will end. And then one night, I suddenly felt this need to pray and confess. So I went under the covers, folded my hands and started to pray. The particular hymn, Trust and Obey came to me. No kidding! So I went and prayed about the stuff that was going on, and I went to sleep.

Next day, guess what happened? Nothing. Even my wifi was still bad. Not until a day after that, did God start making subtle changes to my life. That day, we went walking for the first time in weeks. We had a great time, but when we came back, we realised that my little sister had lost her smart watch. It had gotten really dark already, so we went, clad in raincoats and armed with torches, into the dark depths of the park. We searched around the grassy place and it was surprisingly very fun to play in the dark. Every day after that, we went for a small nature walk which really cleared my head.

I knew from then on that I could really trust God. 

What would you ask John Wycliffe when you meet him in heaven?

I would ask, “since you lived so faithfully, was there anything you wish you would have done differently?

I was reminded by Joshua through the story of John Wycliffe, how we could trust in God and that He will lead you and me to where we should be in His own time. Challenges that come our way are a chance for us to perfect our characters and get ready for heaven. If you have any questions for Joshua, please leave your comments down below.

As John Wycliffe believed, I also believe, the Bible is the perfect revelation of God’s will and the Holy Spirit is the only interpreter we ever need to learn His will. Keep reading the bible, until next time.

Blessings,
El