How a Wooden Stool Changed History

It was a typical Sunday morning on July 23, 1637. People from around Edinburgh came to St. Giles Cathedral for worship. What happened then changed history.

How a Wooden Stool Changed History

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

It was a typical Sunday morning on July 23, 1637. People from around Edinburgh came to St. Giles Cathedral for worship. The first wave of the Scottish Reformation took place in the 1500s and the beginning of the 1600s, but now it is 1637. Jenny Geddes sat on a milking stool in the church to hear the Word of God preached in this now-reformed service. To her surprise, from the pulpit, she began to hear the kind of theology that the Reformers of the first wave fought so hard to remove.

Amidst the crowd, Jenny stood up in anger, picked up the milking stool she was sitting on, and launched it at the minister. "How dare you say the Mass in my ear!" she shouted. Many other people in the crowd also were furious, and all across the church, stools and stones went flying, resulting in all-out riots. What a scene this must have been!

Now that is a passionate woman!

This event is credited as the beginning of the Second Scottish Reformation! I doubt that Jenny Geddes ever would have thought that her actions that day would have such massive effects! Even today, a statue of a Jenny Geddes' stool stands in St. Giles Cathedral, and the local museum also has "Jenny Geddes stool" on display.

By no means am I condoning violence or encouraging anyone to assault anyone else.

I'm not suggesting that violence is a good solution to this problem, but Jenny Geddes and the Reformers had a righteous anger towards the false teaching that was being proclaimed, so Jenny stood that day and made her voice heard.

Are you willing to stand up for the truth?

When you're the only believer present in a situation and you have the choice to either share or stay quiet, will you be bold?

When those around you begin to promote a half-truth about God, are you willing to point out the error in love?

When you feel pressured to give in to a lie or to a temptation, do you turn in faith to the Holy Spirit for help and refuse to give in?

Whenever I think of the Reformers, from Scotland to England to the Continent, from Knox to Wycliffe to Luther, I think about boldness. These were Christians who were willing to take a stand for the truth of the Gospel. I want to have that same boldness to preach the Gospel.

In Ephesians, Paul asks the church at Ephesus to pray for him. This is his prayer request:

"And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

(Ephesians 6:19-20)

If Paul knows that he needs prayer to have the kind of boldness to speak the Gospel boldly as he ought, then we certainly need prayer too.

Lord, would you make me and all reading this into bold proclaimers of your Gospel? Help us to share in a way that is unapologetic and yet filled with love. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit and lead us as we make You known in all the earth. You are worthy, Lord. Amen.

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Podcast of the Week

Let's Talk Story, Pt. 2

Everyone loves a good story! God has embedded within the human mind and heart enjoyment of great stories. Jesus knew the power of stories, sharing parables throughout his ministry. In this episode, Pastor Danny continues discussing Paul's account of his testimony before a very hostile crowd, what we can learn from it, and how we can be bolder and better about sharing our own testimony with others.

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