John Huss and the dawn of the Reformation | Mike McGarvey
HISTORY
There had been several attempts to heal the Great Western Schism, where the college of Cardinals, in a series of political maneuvers had chosen two Pope's as the divinely elected head of the Church. Pope Urban VI, an Italian, governed from Rome while Clement VII protected French interests in the border city of Avignon, France, the new home of the papal authority.
In another effort to heal the Schism, the college of Cardinals, along with the support of most of the other courts in Europe, called a Council to determine who was the rightful pope. Since Constantine saw the church threatened with division over the Arian controversy, the Church has sought the collective wisdom of councils to resolve Church issues. At the
Council of Pisa, instead of determining the rightful Pope, they decided that both popes were unworthy and therefore the legitimate pope-whoever that may be-and his rival were deposed. The college of Cardinals then elected Alexander V to take the place of the deposed pope and his rival. Convinced the Council of Pisa had put an end to the Schism, the council adjourned.
But the situation was now even worse, as the two earlier claimants to the papacy refused to acknowledge the Council's decision, there were now three popes. A period of uncertainty continued in Europe as popes and antipopes competed to legitimize their claims to papal authority. The Council of Constance in 1414 sought to put an end to this schism and begin the long process of ridding the church of heresy and corruption. It was with the first of these in mind that they condemned the early reformer, John Huss.
CONTENT
It was certainly not John Huss' intention to challenge the orthodoxy of the early church. Though he advocated reformation, his goal in that was restoring Christian life and particularly the life of the clergy, to its highest ideals. Huss, a student of John Wycliffe's writings, had been elected to the prestigious position of Proctor at the University and preacher at the chapel of Bethlehem in Prague. In light of the Pisan Pope John XIII's decision to fund his crusade of Naples through the sale of indulgences.
Indulgences, a papal pardon of earthly sin resulting in a reduced sentence to purgatory, was offered to the Christian masses in return for money and property paid directly to the Church. Huss, in his younger years had bought an indulgence only to realize later that only God had the power of the forgiveness of sin, was infuriated by the notion of the Pope exploiting the Church to protect their personal interests. Huss was vehemently outspoken against the corruption of the Church and called for reform. He argued that all
believers constituted the Body of Christ, not just the Cardinals, and that Christ was the head of His church, not the pope. He did not dispute the legitimacy of the Pisan Popes, but determined that they were unworthy of following unless they were submitted to the authority of Christ.
His writings and sermons calling for reform lead to his excommunication and exile in 1411. In exile he continued writing and speaking around the Bohemian countryside, creating a groundswell of followers. In 1414, at the invitation and guarantee of safe-passage by Emperor Sigismud, Huss was invited to the Council of Constance. The council promised to be the dawn of a new age for the church and an invitation to be a part of that was one Huss couldn't refuse. Upon his arrival he quickly learned that he was to be tried for heresy, apart from the council, by Pope John XIII. Huss was ordered to recant. To this he responded that he would willingly recant if someone could show him, in light of Scripture, that he was a heretic. After the stormy interview he was imprisoned until June5, 1415. He was dragged again before the council, ordered to recant and stripped of his priesthood. Realizing that it was impossible for him to get a fair trial at Constance he declared, "I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I place my cause, since he will judge each, not on the basis of false witness and erring councils, but of truth and justice." He was then sent back to prison. Only July 6, 1415 Huss was brought to the cathedral, stripped, a paper crown decorated with demons place on his head and led to a stake. His hands were bound behind him, his neck chained to the post and the writings of John Wycliffe was used as kindling, stacked as high as his neck. Offered one last chance to recant, he responded, "The the truth of the Gospel which I
have written about, taught, and preached, today I am ready to die."
In nearly 100 years, the invention of the moveable type printing press and the work and life of John Wycliffe and John Huss would inspire Martin Luther to reveal his Ninety-Five Thesis to the whole of Europe, yearning for church reformation.
CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE
One of the greatest ways in which the John Huss and the Council of Constance affect us today is that they call us to fully examine the inherited practices of the church against the standard set forth the in Scriptures. Huss saw a multitude of abuses, was not afraid to address them, and was exiled and ultimately murdered by the Church as a result of his
faithfulness to the Bible in the midst of harsh opposition. Through his fierce dedication to the Scriptures and the work of Christ in the life of Huss' followers, his death marked the dawn of the Reformation.
Mike McGarvey graduated from Central Bible College where he studied
Theology and Pastoral Counseling. Prior to his current role with the
Georgia District Assemblies of God Mike and his wife, Candice, served
as missionaries with Teen Challenge. They live in Macon, Ga with their
1 year old son, Jude.