We might wonder if the Christianity of the New Testament survived in the Dark Ages. Then we remember the story of Elijah. When Israel was at its worst, Elijah thought he was the only believer left. But God replied, “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (Romans 11:4 cf. 1 Kings 19:14-18). In the same way, even in the darkest times, Jesus’ promise held true: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against [My church]” (Matthew 16:18). Kingdoms rise and fall, but “of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). Governments come and go, but “of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
The risen King continues to reign and to grow His kingdom through the seed of His word (Matthew 13:24, 31, 38; 1 Peter 1:23). Wherever His word falls on a receptive heart, there the kingdom takes root. Though Roman authorities tried to restrict access to the Bible, they never fully succeeded. For example, Peter Waldo (or Valdes), a merchant in Lyon, France, studied the Bible for himself and became a changed man (1170). Those he taught were called Waldenses. After centuries of persecution, this group still survives.
Another example is John Wycliffe (1320-1384), a Roman Catholic priest and professor at Oxford, England. Wycliff came to recognize the Scriptures, and not men, are the authority from God. He led in translating the Bible into English for ordinary people to read. This breakthrough, and Wycliffe’s criticisms of Roman Catholic errors, infuriated the Pope and his archbishops. They never managed to arrest him. But, after his death, the Council of Constance (1415), supported by Pope Martin V, decreed that Wycliffe’s remains be dug up and desecrated. Lethal persecutions of his followers, the Lollards, continued into the 1500s.
Wycliffe’s writings reached John Hus (1369-1415), a Czech priest at the University of Prague. As Hus paid more attention to the Bible, his preaching changed. When his biblical message interfered with money collected by Roman Catholic leaders, Hus was arrested, tried, and burned to death. Jakoubek of Stribro, Nicholas of Dresden and others continued Hus’ movement. Offshoots included the Utraquist Church, the Taborites, and the Unity of the Brethren.