Tag: ecclesiology

The Case of Jan Hus

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jan hus moravian church

Jan Hus

Jan (John) Hus was a 15th century church reformer who was burned to death as a heretic on July 6, 1415, by order of the Council of Constance. In 1457, a number of Hus’ followers established the Moravian Church in its homeland of Bohemia. We will commemorate Hus’ martyrdom with a service of Holy Communion on Sunday, July 6.

Among factors leading to the Council’s condemnation of Hus, were differences between their view of the nature of the church and his. Officially, membership in the institutional church and participation in its sacraments was not only necessary for salvation but guaranteed it. Hus, who had observed and was troubled by widespread corruption and questionable morality among church leaders, believed participation in the institutional church was not the same thing as being part of Christ’s “true church.” Instead, Hus claimed that the church was like the net of fish in Jesus’ parable. Some in the church were saved; others were not.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13: 45-50)

Hus’ view challenged the power of the Roman Church. Doubtless there were those on the Council who simply wanted to preserve the church hierarchy’s position of privileged authority. With the benefit of hindsight however, impartial observers must also admit that the Council’s fears of church schism and social unrest were not unfounded. Radical followers of Hus launched the Hussite Wars of 1420-1431. Within a hundred years of Hus, the cohesiveness of the Western Church was fractured by the Protestant Reformation and European society was wracked by wars between Catholics and Protestants.

There is much to be learned from the case of Jan Hus. Sometimes it takes courageous prophetic
action to reverse entrenched corruption and injustice and make the church more faithful to Christ. Hus’ actions and those of other reformers won fresh appreciation for the authority of Scripture and increased roles for laypersons.

Yet, prophetic action was costly for reformers, church, and society. Unintended consequences
including schism and accompanying violence followed the reformers’ radical reinterpretation of the Christian life. Believers on both sides responded in ways which did not reflect the love of Christ. In 1999, Pope John Paul II expressed “deep regret for the cruel death inflicted on Hus.”

– Pastor Derek French

Parallel Spiritual Evolution?

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Sometimes science unwittingly provides us with language to describe our faith experience.

The term “parallel evolution” is used by biologists to describe the emergence of similar characteristics in species that are not closely related in response to a common environment. Porpoises and dolphins, for example, have tails and fins like fish even though they are mammals. Indeed both so resemble their fishy cousins that people of earlier times thought they were fish; the name “porpoise” actually comes from two Latin words meaning “pig fish.” Evolutionary biologists believe fish, dolphins, and porpoises evolved their fins and tail structure in response to the demands of living in a watery world.

Could something similar occur when persons from different backgrounds seek to live their lives immersed in the living water of Jesus Christ? (See Jn 4: 10-15).

Recently the Moravian Church, Northern Province announced a “festive service” on February 10th at 6 pm  to celebrate the full communion agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in America. You can find full details here.

In preparation for this event I surfed on over to the website of the local Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. There, I soon discovered the mission statement of Bethlehem’s Cathedral Church of the Nativity: “To know Christ, to make him known, and to serve all people according to his example.” East Hills Moravian Church’s mission statement is “To know Christ, and make him known.” To my knowledge no intentional borrowing took place.

Coincidence? Subconscious borrowing? Persons of faith would answer no. “There is … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4: 5-6). All who seek Christ and share his Gospel swim together in the same living water. It is no surprise then than our mission statements are in such close agreement.

Readers familiar with both biology and ecclesiology (the study of the Church) will already have realized that this is not a true case of parallel spiritual evolution. Moravians and Episcopalians share a common source in Jesus Christ. We are far closer kin than fish and dolphins. Christian denominations may have travelled separate historical and spiritual journeys, but all trace their origin to the Church Jesus established.