William Tyndale was one man....one of many....who gave their lives that the common man....men like me....and maybe you....could read God's Word for themselves....in their own language. I wonder at times what Tyndale would say today....with bibles everywhere. If he were able to look at our society.....and evangelicalism....and the world....would he think that giving his life was worth it? Would he do it again? He might not....unless he was able to also see the 500 years of world history since then....and what transpired in those five centuries....but he would still weep....to see how little even the church values the written Word of God.
Oh for those Christian bookstores that were everywhere in the 1980s and 1990s! One could walk in....and walk out not only with a bible....or a book....but with a Christian album....or movie. I did that often....and one such film was God's Outlaw....The Story of William Tyndale....this about 1987. I walked into one such Christian bookstore in 1982.....while my wife shopped at Penney's....I was basically just browsing....where I had never been in a Christian bookstore before. I walked out with Josh McDowell's classic apologetic.....Evidence That Demands A Verdict....and was really never the same after that. Later in life my wife and I owned a Christian bookstore. We didn't sell enough books to stay in business....but we sold enough....even to unbelievers.....even Josh McDowell's book....to make those two years a great blessing!
I watched that hour and a half film on William Tyndale again this afternoon....on ROKU....and I wondered about the actor who played Tyndale....British actor Roger Rees. He passed away a few years ago. I wondered as I do at times after watching a powerful film like this....was he converted by playing William Tyndale. You might recognize Roger Rees....as he played Kirstie Alley's love interest in Cheers....and also was a regular on The West Wing. Was Ian Charleson converted after playing Eric Liddell? How about Charlton Heston after his famous religious films? All too often the answer is either....probably not....or definitely not.
I remember very well a Christmas present under the tree in....probably 1959....called The National League. Baseball....there were 8 teams in the National League back then....16 overall. There were 12 NFL teams. There are 30 MLB teams today and 32 NFL teams. There were only 6 National Hockey League teams....there are 32 today....8 NBA teams....30 today.We had 3 major television networks....there are probably a couple hundred somewhere on my television today. We are ruled today by cell phones....selfies....and the Internet.
Quite frankly....we would not have time for the Bible today....even if we were interested. As for William Tyndale....if he were here today....he might once again work....(paraphrasing his famous words here)....to cause one who drives a truck....to know more of the Scriptures....than those in the pulpits....too many of whom have given up on learning.
"We do not wish to abolish teaching and to make every man his own master, but if the curates will not teach the gospel, the layman must have the Scripture, and read it for himself, taking God for his teacher." Tyndale
Note: The full phrase in the title of this post....which became a motto....is in Latin....ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. From what I have learned in studying the history of the phrase....it was not meant to imply that new truths are always being found. No...we have the foundations of the gospel....and they were restored in the Reformation....but what about our hearts and minds....that need renewed every day? I'm going to take this opportunity to give but one example. I am a layman....a 'plowboy' in Tyndale's terminology....and I listen to a sermon every day of my life...sometimes two and three sermons....from....men of the past....like Spurgeon....and men of today who preach like men of the past....like Piper. OK...I am retired....and have the time....and made the resolution three years ago....but when I bring up to pastors today....that they should be listening to these sermons also....to learn from them....to be stirred up from what God had given these men....they do not seem particularly interested. This is the....'always reforming'....part of the phrase or motto....and this is where we need humility....fearful of the warning that Jesus gave the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation....that it might not ever describe us...."[you] have not become weary....but....you have left your first love." Rev 2:2-4 NKJV
