Questioning Authority: The True Believer's Journey

A life of piety and obedience to God doesn't mean one can definitively assess the faith of others, including church leaders. The theology surrounding the 'invisible church' raises complex questions about genuine belief versus mere membership in the visible church. Historical figures, like Wycliffe, exemplify this struggle, asserting that authority figures, including the pope, may not be true believers. Wycliffe's radical views stemmed from a schism with the Church, allowing him to position himself and his followers as the authentic Christians while dismissing the legitimacy of opposing views, complicating the definition of true faith.