The Dark Ages were called dark, in this biblical sense, because the church had pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and locked them in monasteries.
Les Feldick teaches that church leaders felt only monks and the educated could discern the Word of God, so ordinary people were left without access to it. He says that is what precipitated the Dark Ages. God, he adds, never intended this—He wants every believer to study the Book. The Reformers' prayer was to get the Bible into the hands of every plow boy in England.
2 Timothy 2:15 — Paul's command to study and rightly divide the Word of Truth shows that believers are meant to engage with Scripture, not have it hidden from them.
1 Corinthians 12:1 — Paul's desire that believers not be ignorant shows that God does not want His people kept in the dark about spiritual things.
The Bible does not use the phrase "Dark Ages," but it reveals God's intention that His people know and study His Word. Paul writes to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul also tells the Corinthian believers, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant" (1 Corinthians 12:1). These verses picture a people who are expected to study, understand, and not remain ignorant of what God has revealed. Nothing in Scripture suggests that the Word was meant to be locked away from ordinary believers.
Les Feldick says the Dark Ages were precipitated when the church "had gotten so powerful that they had pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and brought it into the monasteries." The church leaders felt only monks and educated people could properly discern the Word of God. Les calls this contrary to God's intention—God, he says, wants every believer to become a student of the Book, not a mere reader. He repeatedly tells the story of one of the Reformers—Les thinks it was Tyndale, though he occasionally mentions Wycliffe—who, while being burned at the stake, prayed that every plow boy in England would have a copy of the Word. Since plowboys were probably the least educated members of English society, Les uses this to show that the Bible is meant for anyone to read and grasp. He says the Bible was never meant to be kept in seminaries and monasteries; it was intended for the common person. Les applies this to his own ministry: he teaches on a common man's level so almost anyone can comprehend. He says God does not want the most uneducated believer to be ignorant, since Bibles are available in every bookstore and the Word of God can be understood by the lowliest person. Nothing thrills him more than when someone, even after disagreeing with him, begins to study the Bible on his or her own.
Les Feldick says the church had become so powerful that it pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and brought them into the monasteries. The church believed only monks and the educated could discern the Word of God, and that is what precipitated the Dark Ages.
Les often tells of a Reformer—he believes it was Tyndale, though he sometimes says Wycliffe—who, as he was being burned at the stake, prayed that every plow boy in England could have a copy of this Book. The plowboys were the least educated part of English society, and if they could comprehend the Scriptures, then anybody could.
Scripture says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." (2 Timothy 2:15). Les Feldick explains that this is what God intends: every believer is to study, not just read. He says there is no excuse for ignorance, because the Word of God can be understood by the lowliest, most uneducated person in the world.
Les says he tries to teach on the common man's level so that almost anyone can comprehend the Scriptures. He wants to tantalize people into studying and enjoying their Bibles on their own, and he is delighted when someone, even after disagreeing with him, decides to start studying the Word of God. He also emphasizes that we must not treat the Word carelessly, and he likes to keep the Scripture text on the screen so viewers can see that what matters is what the Book says, not what someone claims.
Handling the Word Carefully
Les tells viewers to compare Scripture with Scripture and to be careful never to treat the Word of God carelessly.
The Cause of the Dark Ages
Les teaches that the Dark Ages began when the church pulled the Bible away from ordinary people and locked it in monasteries, restricting it to monks and the educated.
The Plow Boy and the Reformers
Les tells how a Reformer, burned at the stake, wanted every plow boy in England to have the Bible, showing that the Word belongs even to the least educated.
The Bible for the Common Person
Les says the Bible was not meant for seminaries or monasteries; it was meant for the common person, and he tries to teach it on the common man's level.
The Reformer's Dying Prayer
Les again mentions the Reformer's prayer that every plow boy in England have a copy of the Word, and he urges people to study and read it on their own.
Plow Boys Had No Education
Les makes the point that plow boys had virtually no education, so if they could read the Scriptures, then anybody can.
Every Believer Should Study
Les insists that every ordinary person in the church—not just preachers—is supposed to know the manifold wisdom of God and study the Bible for himself.
The Least Educated Can Understand
Les teaches that God does not want even the most uneducated believer to be ignorant, because the Word of God can be understood by anyone.
2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
This verse shows the scriptural command for believers to study the Word for themselves, which is exactly what the Dark Ages prevented.
1 Corinthians 12:1: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Paul assumes believers should not remain ignorant, supporting the idea that God wants His people to understand His Word.
Les says the Dark Ages were precipitated when the church pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and brought them into the monasteries. The church believed only monks and educated people could discern the Word of God, leaving ordinary people without access to it.
According to Les, the church had become so powerful that it pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and locked them up in monasteries, because those in charge felt only monks and the educated could understand them.
Les says yes. He points to the Reformers' prayer that every plow boy in England would have a Bible—plowboys were the least educated part of society. He also says God does not want the most uneducated believer to be ignorant and that the Word of God can be understood by anyone.
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