Who or what decides what is true? Is it our feelings, the media, politicians, college professors, or priests? This question is especially important when it comes to religious matters. What’s our authority on faith?
The Life of Guido De Brès
There was a man in the 16th century, living in southern Netherlands (what eventually became Belgium), who gave his life for his answer to that question.
At that time, the Bible was banned in many places throughout Europe. But, a certain boy in southern Netherlands got a copy and believed it. By 25 years old, he was ready to stake his life on its message.
Guido (Guy) De Brès joined the Reformers: people who believed the Bible was God’s Word and should be read by everyone. Guy and other Reformers were persecuted by Medieval Roman Catholics—literally hunted down for their beliefs. However, they decided to respond the way God commanded in his Word.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ESV says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
The Reformers were in a fight: a fight for truth, a fight for the souls of their neighbors, and a fight to keep God’s Word as the ultimate authority, because men had hijacked the Bible’s authority.
Guy understood that God’s people are not to fight with violence, but instead to peacefully declare their faith. So Guy did just that. He fired a strong word of peace into the violence—the Belgic Confession.
Where Did the Belgic Confession Come From?
A confession is a revelation—writing your private convictions for the world to see. It’s letting your thoughts live in the public square. Depending on what you expose, confessing can be a dangerous thing.
In all the madness, Guy thought that opening a man-to-man discussion through an explanation would be the best means to peace. Guy spent late nights in hiding, writing a personal letter to King Phillip.
It was a dangerous thing for Guy to make his confession, because his convictions as a Protestant pastor conflicted with those of this Catholic King Phillip who instigated the violent persecution.
Guy’s document distills down to the question of authority. Guy defends from Scripture that God chose to give his authority to a distinct group of about 40 authors who wrote God’s authoritative Word in the 66 books of the Bible.
Guy knew his Bible well. His confession repeats verse after verse of Scripture, quoting, paraphrasing, and arguing from it. Guy gently established his firm belief that 66 books of the Bible are God’s Word, and thus every man’s final authority.
All throughout Guy’s work, we hear appeals like, “according to the command of Christ,” or “according to the Word of God,” or “the apostles have taught us,” reminding the reader that everything we believe should be founded on what God says, not on what any individual thinks.
Every article begins with “we believe.” You’ll notice that many of the articles end with “we reject,” and, usually, Guy and his team rejected the teaching of a formal group of people, like the Sadducees, Epicureans, or Pelagians.
What Would You Risk Your Life For?
Guy drew lines in the sand. For, speaking truth means taking a side. If he was going to speak the truth, he had to expose what is false.
Despite Guy’s efforts at peace, King Phillip would not discuss the doctrinal disagreements. He hunted down Guido De Brès, who was captured, imprisoned, and hung for his confession.
Why not read Guy’s Confession and ask yourself: What truths would I risk my life for?