Two days ago I wrote of how religious freedom in America was first conceived in Europe by individuals with the courage and integrity to speak out against the established beliefs of the day. Today, I'd like to share with you stories of others who also gave everything to plant the seeds of freedom of religion.
John Wycliffe was a scholar and theologian who spoke out against the prevailing beliefs. Following Wycliffe's death, the king of England had his remains dug up and burned to show disrespect.
Hugh Latimer, an English reformer, was ordered to recant his demands for common people to be able to read the Bible in their own language. (At this time most scripture was written in Latin.) Bravely, Latimer refused. Along with Bishop Ridley, he was burned at the stake. Before they died, he said to Bishop Ridley, "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."
John Huss echoed the feelings of these men and taught the gospel as he understood it from the Bible. He, too, was burned at the stake because he held steadfast to his beliefs.
It was not only men who sacrificed their all, indeed, their very lives for the ideals of religious freedom. In 1546, Ann Askew was burned at the stake because she refused to deny her beliefs.
John Lathrop, born in 1584 in Yorkshire, England, served as a minister in the Church of England. Lathrop maintained that the gospel should be taught to everyone, not just the wealthy classes, and that people should be allowed to read the Bible for themselves. Arrested for his teachings, Lathrop was released on the condition that he would leave England. Along with his children and followers, he migrated to England.
Again, I turn to the words of a favorite hymn. "Seeds by idle hearts forgotten, flung at random on the air; Seeds by faithful souls remembered, sown in tears and love and prayer."
Planting seeds. Standing up and speaking out. These individuals never denied their beliefs and, largely because of them and others, we now have the freedom, the right, the responsibility to practice the religion of our choice.
So, for today, I am grateful for those who gave everything and made religious freedom available for all of us.
I just had the thought as I was reading your post that some brave souls were left to live with persecution, and with the memory of the martyrs' last words. The role of keeping the testimony bright and alive is something I am grateful for today. And for all those who died for their beliefs without anyone there to record their testimony.
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