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Speaking with a friend recently, I was reminded of one of the more moving literary displays of the Parker Library in Cambridge. One of the cabinets has an original copy of the Articles of Religion on display. These Articles are still the doctrinal foundation of the Anglican Church today, written by Thomas Cranmer nearly 500 years ago. In the same cabinet, however, is the bill of sale for the faggots of wood purchased for Cranmer’s burning as an heretic.
The juxtaposition is as humbling as it is disturbing. We would do well to be reminded that our church heritage – and all that we owe to it – was bought at the cost of the lives of our Christian forebears. We would do well to not take what has been given to us for granted – and we have been given much. We would do well to not despise or downplay our heritage, as if it’s something to apologise for. We would do well to give thanks for what was sacrificed for us.
There is another lesson there for us, however. Words have immense power to build up or to tear down, to bless or to curse, to strengthen or to ruin the faith of others. We’re not Thomas Cranmer or in his position, but the responsibility is still the same: to pay careful attention to what we say in the situation in life God has placed us, to only speak what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29).
There is, then, one final lesson, and it gives us confidence to speak: while God’s people may be opposed, God’s word cannot be chained. We may be silenced, but God’s truth will continue to do its mighty work in this world (2 Timothy 2:9).
