John Wycliffe

Nota:

• 1320-1384 14C Oxford Uni was well established Wycliffe was Oxford Scholar The church had grown corrupt, wealthy, owned vast lands, poor people suffered under taxation, lasting effects of black death Wycliffe was motivated out of justice for poor. Disagreed with feudal system

1. Man of the People

   Nota:

   • Missional movements need a leader with the ear of the people wycliffe inspired by Francis of Assisi All people had equal rights to live without suffering and their basic needs met. He had no thoughts of over throwing government, but wanted to reform the church.  His theology was the lordship bestowed on mankind at creation
   1. Power

      Nota:

      • Believed that all authorities only retained the right to rule if they did so righteously and justly.  The Pope took his teachings to be an attack on the church system - they had a lot to lose!  Tensions in the land caused the Peasant revolt in 1381
      1. Peasants Revolt
      2. StewardshipTheology

         Nota:

         • Lorship based on the righteous exercise of stewardship Early liberation theology? Is violence ever justified to rectify social injustice? Peaceful means to bring about social change
2. Lollards

   Nota:

   • Out of the Peasants Revolt there were new followers of Wycliffe They advocated scripture as the test for beliefs and upheld that the uneducated needed scripture in their own language.