The Reformation of the church took place in England, but the transition was complicated and violent. King Henry VIII separated England from the Roman Catholic Church because he did not like what the Roman church had to say about his personal life. And so he began the Protestant Anglican (meaning “English”) church, calling himself the head and taking over all the lands the Roman church owned in England. After Henry died, one of his daughters came to the throne, “Bloody” Mary, who exiled and killed all the Protestants who would not convert back to Catholicism. Then after Mary died, Elizabeth took the throne for many years and made the Anglican church the official church in England.
His Story:
Most Catholics and Jews were exiled out of England at that point, but the Protestants were still not pleased with the church. Many Protestants still felt that the Anglican church had too many aspects of the Catholic church within it. They still performed what looked like a Catholic mass (The Lord’s supper) and they used much of the authority structure, clothing and worship practices of the Catholics. These who wanted the church to be “purified” from Catholicism were called “Puritans” and they were a strong minority voice in the church of England.
In the midst of this conflict came George Fox, an educated young man who had some odd ideas. He received visions and prophecies from God directly to people and spoke these. He studied the Bible continuously, but was confident that his interpretations were correct, while many churchmen were wrong because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and they primarily just accepted the views given to them by the schools they had gone to. One thing is clear, though: what George taught was a simple and clear teaching of the Bible, as opposed to the various arguments and confusions that was usually presented as pure doctrine.
George taught that a minister or pastor is not one who is educated at school, but one who is inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God. He taught that the church was not based in a nation, a building or in outward things, but that the kingdom of God was within one’s heart. He taught that baptism and the Lord’s supper were not important as outward actions, but that the inward baptism of the Spirit and one’s dedication to Jesus is most important. He also taught that the church of God should not participate in war, but to be holy communities in the midst of the disobedient world.
WWJD
Jesus taught much like George Fox did: simply, through the Scriptures, and directly confronting the hypocrisy of his day. Jesus did not desire that his disciples be weaklings, hiding from persecution or afraid to speak out. He commanded them to be bold. George Fox depended on Jesus’ Spirit and on Jesus’ word to communicate to everyone the truth of God. That is exactly what Jesus wanted.
Final Word (of Men)
George was remarkably bold in his proclamation of God’s word, directly confronting Anglican authorities as often as he could. The Anglicans were very angry against George and threw him in jail time and time again. They also persecuted the Quakers as a whole and threw many of their poor, rural preachers into jail. But no matter how many times they were thrown in jail, and how badly they were persecuted, George always taught and showed by example how necessary it was to be bold with the word of God—proclaiming the truth of it, even though many who claimed to be of God were opposed to it.
The Quakers (or Society of Friends) still exist today. Over the years, the Quakers in North America created a colony that never attacked the Native Americans (called Pennsylvania) and they were very significant in working toward setting black slaves free.
A Word From Our Sponsor:
"Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:26-33
Helpful Hint: Boldness for God’s Word
The Faithful were not weaklings. Some, like Therese, seemed weak and frail, but they were all bold and forthright about one thing—the word of God and the life of Jesus. These were people who were called by God to show the world what it meant to follow Jesus and they did so with all they had. Paul stood before groups who strongly opposed him and proclaimed the word of Jesus. John Wycliffe publically taught the truth of the word of God, even though the whole world was against him. George Fox stood before whoever would oppose him and would declare the truth of God, even though he knew he would be imprisoned. Not a one of these were wall-flowers. They were all people who stepped out to tell the truth to whoever wanted to hear—and so some who didn’t!
Check It Out:
The Autobiography of George Fox
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