John Hus

     There was a priest and theology leader named John Hus that in 1414, was called to a Council of the Catholic Church in Switzerland for trial, called a heretic and found guilty.  He was sentenced to be burned at the stake July 6, 1415, 600 years ago. 

He had been a rector of the Chapel of Innocents of Bethlehem in Prague and had tried to change and reform the Catholic Church in the previous years before his execution through his preaching, teaching and writing. He challenged the corruption of the church and called for priests and pastors to live as spiritual role models for their flocks. He aggressively rejected the sale of indulgences and opposed other ways in which the institutional church sold spiritual goods, along with wanting the church to use the Holy Scriptures to lead and guide the authority of doctrine and practice.  He preached that doctrine alone was not enough for salvation.  In trying to quiet John Hus, several years later the Moravian church started on the principles and doctrine that John Hus had preached.  He gave his life so the gospel could prevail.  He is an example that the truth cannot be destroyed by violence.