The Word of God-God’s Secretaries Chapter 10

In 1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church for refusing to submit to the authority of the Emperor. At this time the people began to learn how to read and write instead of the church leaders being the only ones who had such knowledge. One of the first writings was the Bible so the people read it by themselves as well as listening to the church preach it. At this time many of these people such as Martin Luther began to question the church’s honesty and loyalty to God. What the people heard in the preaching was not consistent and had no support from the Bible. Where in the Bible did it say to pray to Mary, or to the saints? Where does the Bible tell us that we may be forgiven by a priest? Martin Luther made a list of 95 Theses and nailed them to the door. All were examples of the Catholic Church’s corruption and their attempt to empower the church and take advantage of the people. Some priests began to tell the people that if they gave the church money they would get a free ticket to heaven. Many Catholics believe that it is your acts that God uses to decide your place in the afterlife whereas the Scrooby Separatists and many Protestants believe differently. They say to “listen to the words of the Bible and you will be saved. Nothing else is necessary.”(p. 175 God’s Secretaries) These beliefs began to overthrow the Catholic Church and many of their people were lost to them. So the Church acted with violence to keep the Separatist groups from rising to power. They prohibited the preaching of their beliefs. The Separatists were persecuted and had three options if found guilty, “subscription to the rule of the church, imprisonment, of exile.”(p. 177 God’s Secretaries) These acts of violence have been sewn into the history of mankind and of the church, a major argument between Christians and Atheists. No one has all the answers and no one can know God’s will but I believe that corruption and self empowerment is definitely not what God intended for us to do.