Posted by
peripheral on Friday, October 31, 2008 6:38:27 AM
From My Perspective - - -
While the culture is enthralled and involved with Halloween Costumes and Parties, October 31st
has a significant and important meaning for people all over the world.
It was on this date in 1517 AD that Martin Luther made known his 95
Theses (Contentions-Protests) by nailing them to the door of All-Saints Church in Wittenberg, Saxony (in present day Germany).
These were points of/for debate that criticized the Church and the
Pope. The most controversial points centering on the practice of
selling Indulgences, the Church’s policy on Purgatory, and the
requirements for Penance. It also pointed out the high degree of
corruption within the Church that reached to the highest levels of
leadership.
As
important as that date and posting of the 95 Theses was, there was
other preliminary work that had been done earlier by other men of faith
and conviction. Some of them were - - -
JOHN WYCLIFFE (1320-1384) was a theologian and early proponent of reform in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century. The first hand-written English language Bible manuscripts were produced in 1380's AD by Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. He was well-known throughout Europe
for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he
believed to be contrary to the Bible. With the help of his followers,
called THE LOLLARDS, and his assistant Purvey, and many other faithful
scribes, Wycliffe produced dozens of English language manuscript copies
of the Scriptures.
JOHN
HUS (1369-1415) was one of Wycliffe’s followers…He actively promoted
Wycliffe’s ideas that people should be permitted to read the Bible in
their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman
church that threatened anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible with
execution. Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s
manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire. The last words of John
Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.”
MARTIN
LUTHER (1483-1546) was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk
whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation. Almost exactly 100
years after Hus’ death and prophecy - in 1517 - Martin Luther nailed
his famous 95 Theses of Contention onto the church door at Wittenberg.
WILLIAM
TYNDALE - (1494-1536) a Biblical translator who overlapped Martin
Luther, He was viewed as “the Captain of the Army of Reformers”, and
was their spiritual leader. He holds the distinction of being the first
man to ever print the New Testament in the English language. He was so
fluent in eight languages that it was said one would think any one of
them to be his native tongue. He is frequently referred to as the
“Architect of the English Language”, as so many of the phrases he
coined are still in our language today.
THE GENEVA BIBLE - printed in England in 1575 was a Protestant translation of the Bible into English. It was read by William Shakespeare, John Knox, and John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress. It was one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower, It was used by many English Dissenters, and by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers at the time of the English Civil War.
The King James Version is an English translation of the Bible begun in 1604 and first published in 1611 AD by The Church of England.
Consider
these things with me - - - and remember that we are to perpetuate this
heritage as well. Take heart from the words of Isaiah 54:16-17 and heed
them as well: “See
- it is I – the Lord - who created the blacksmith who fans the coals
into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have
created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged
against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses
you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is
their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Be filled with hope and
courage as you implement this heritage from the Lord!