The spiritual truth that motivated Martin Luther in the 1500’s was actually started by another Catholic priest and professor in the University of Prague, Czech Republic.  His name was John Huss.  Huss was someone that today we might compare to Jordan Peterson, who was a professor in the University of Toronto and who has taken a stand against the woke language pressures at universities.  If you have never heard of Peterson, it is worth your while to do a search and listen to some of his information.  His books, speeches and information are making an impact in the world.  He wrote “The Ten Rules of Life” that hit the best sellers book lists around the world.  This book recognizes that we must get back to basic, common sense solutions to life. Peterson, who has been hated and attacked for his stand, resigned from his tenured position at the University of Toronto, even though he was one of the most popular and effective professors there.  Petersen still lacks the true biblical faith perspective but I can tell he knows Christianity has contributed in a great way to the Canadian culture and we are loosing it.  He struggles with the personal aspect of the Christian faith but I am praying one day that will change.  

John Huss was one of those kind of professors and also priest in his parish who could not any longer put up with the corruption that prevailed in his church leadership, their policies and doctrines.  He took a stand against all of it and was persecuted and ostracized for doing so.  He was accused of heresy by the Catholic Church hierarchy who, in that time, were working hand in hand with the government powers.  John Huss was arrested and underwent a long trial at the Council of Constance. He was found guilty for heresy and was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415.  Huss’s influence started a reformation movement and the flames of fire that caused his death also caused a fire to burn in a new Christian movement that became known as the Moravian Brethren.  To confirm  that the death of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Prison cells, persecution and the execution  of Christians has greatly advanced the cause of Christianity throughout history.   The Moravian system of governance grew around three biblical offices: deacons, presbyter and bishop. These offices are clearly defined in the Scriptures.  The Moravian Movement was built around the principle of “Unitas Fratrum”, Latin for Unity of the Brethren. True Christianity produces a unity that tears down all walls of race and creeds.  

Bitter persecution broke out against the Moravian congregations in 1547 that caused the Moravian Brethren Church to flee to Poland. There it grew rapidly.  The Moravian congregations by this time were well in excess of 200,000 people.  They developed and produced their own hymnals and catechism and promoted the individual reading of Scripture, the Bible.  They had some of the first known printing presses to help produce and distribute literature throughout Moravia and Bohemia.  The Catholic Church at that time decreed that people were not to read the Scripture for themselves; only the church priests were qualified to do so.  John Huss disagreed and insisted that the Scriptures were given by God for all mankind to read, learn and enjoy.  He also recognized that the corrupted leadership were teaching doctrines in the church that were contrary to Biblical truth revealed in Scripture.  The devil always tries to control people with deception and lies whether it is through corrupt religions or corrupt governments.  The end goal is the same for the devil, which is total control of a population.  We are witnessing this today in our generation with government leadership. Corruption, rooted in lust, greed and power, happens through lies, deception and control through wicked men and women who have no compassion or care for the people under them.  Men like John Huss and Martin Luther, along with many others throughout the Reformation years, laid their lives on the line to do something about the evil in their generation and the onus is on us in our generation to learn the truth and stand for truth. The scriptures explain what our battle is against and what we must do:

Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

We need to realize that there has been a battle raging throughout history against good, against truth and against freedom.  The ploy of Satan is to destroy people, families and nations and bring them to poverty, despair and destruction.  Consider Venezuela as an example: Forty years ago it was a country that enjoyed a first world standard of living. Today it experiences third world poverty under a socialistic, communistic rule.  The same leaven is creeping this way faster than most realize. In the days of John Huss and Martin Luther, it was corrupt religion in collaboration with governments. Today it is an evil hierarchy of powers working in collaboration with media and education systems and other systems to gain and maintain control over the populations, certainly not for good.  Our constitutions and laws were developed to protect us from such things but the sad fact is that even our legal systems are part of the corruption.  There is only one way out of this evil and it is the same answer that was offered to John Huss and Martin Luther.  It is the principle that was expressed in a few short words by our Lord and Savior some 2000 years ago: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:32 

The Bible is the most amazing book in the world and the devil will do everything possible to keep people from reading or understanding it.  I strongly encourage you to get your own study bible and to invest some time in reading and understanding it.  You will be amazed at what you find.   You will reap the benefits for time and eternity.  In Latin the word Bible means Book.  It is God’s book prepared, preserved and provided for mankind.  It is His manual for life and living.   Whenever we try to live life without it the end is always regret and sorrow.  If you have never read the Bible, you are short-changing yourself of one of the greatest privileges offered to mankind.   

The great awakening that changed the world started with men and women willing to take a stand for truth.  It will require the same today.  It will require some thinking and that is not done by watching CNN, CTV or CBC or most other mainline media sources.  They do the thinking for you and you become the dupe, believing what they say and never questioning that what you are drinking in is the truth or not.  To be continued...

I would encourage you to connect on our web site www.pabaptist.ca   If you would like your own Bible, we will send you one for free.  If you want a good quality study Bible, we can help you get one. Join our live stream church services Sunday at 11:00 a.m.   

The content of this article is solely the personal opinions of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Prince Albert Shopper.