William Farel, Switzerland, Reformer
May 21. William Farel. Farel was a man of intense courage, boldness, and fearlessness, and he eventually became a significant figure in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. He started out as a pro-Reform Catholic preacher, but the Catholic efforts were too slow for Farel. He moved from France to Switzerland, where he encountered many leaders of the Reformation, including Martin Luther.
In Switzerland, Farel traveled from town to town and spread Protestant ideas. Sometimes he was successful; other times, not so much. While in Geneva, he was beaten and shot at, and Genevan authorities kicked him out of the city several times. Because of widespread immorality in Geneva, one Easter Sunday, Farel refused to serve Communion.
But he persevered in reaching out to the people, and on this date in 1536, Farel brought the Reformation to Geneva. Together with John Calvin, another Frenchman, Farel continued to work in Geneva until both of them were expelled in 1538. Here’s his story.
Any truth worth believing is a truth worth defending.
William Farel was a wanted man, and—under a false name—he was hiding in Switzerland. Quietly, one person at a time, he told the truth about Jesus, and helped people connect with the all-powerful Savior.
Eventually, Farel took his own name back and went public. He had taken the tower; next he would take the town. “He ascended the pulpit and openly preached Jesus Christ to the astonished multitude.”
The bold, ginger-bearded preacher had one passion: teaching the Word of God in a way ordinary people could understand.
But the local religious leaders feared his teaching, saying, “If this man continues preaching, it is all over for our Church!” And they set themselves against him.
Days later, from a pulpit in a neighboring town, a local monk shouted to the villagers—about Farel, “It is the devil himself, who preaches by the mouth of this minister, and all those who listen to him will be damned!” Convenient for the monk, Farel had missed that sermon. Then the monk rushed from the scene, focused on his next item of church business: it was his job to accept the donation of a few barrels of the best wine in Switzerland—on behalf of his religious community.
But when he got there, the monk unexpectedly came upon Farel.
“Did you preach against me at Noville, saying that the Devil spoke through me?” asked Farel.
The monk leaned in, and whispered that he had.
Calmly, Farel asked whether the friar believed it was possible for the devil to preach the gospel, and if the people who heard it could somehow be damned for listening.
Flustered, the friar raised his voice and said that notion was absurd.
Farel got louder. “Then why have you publicly spoken against me in such terms?...I would rather die than teach false doctrine to the poor people whom Christ has redeemed by his blood.”
The friar said he’d heard Farel was a heretic who led people astray. And he turned to walk away.
But Farel wasn’t done and followed him. Their argument went longer, their voices grew louder, and the crowd around them got bigger.
Farel gestured toward the monk. “You see this fine father,” Farel said to the crowd. “He has said from the pulpit that I preach nothing but lies, and that you will perish if you listen to me.”
Now, the monk got furious, denied he’d ever spoken a word against Farel. In a fit of rage, he whipped the hat off his head and stomped on it. With each fevered step, dirt and debris flew.
Right about then, a Roman magistrate arrived and hauled the two preachers off to jail. Causing a disturbance. A hearing at the Castle court was scheduled.
When Farel arrived in court, the friar was already standing before the judges. The Court asked Farel was asked to speak about the friar’s accusations. “Let him make good his charges,” Farel said, “or if he cannot, let the people hear the gospel.”
The friar fell to his knees, before the Court and Farel, and begged forgiveness for his slanderous words.
“My friend and brother,” Farel said, “do not ask forgiveness of me, for I am a poor sinner like other men…ask pardon of our Savior.” Then Farel begged the Court to show mercy. The gospel had been defended, and this was all Farel really wanted—for the people of French Switzerland to have the Word of God.
“Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3, ASV).
How is God leading you to speak the truth of his Word in love, even if it brings conflict? Any truth worth believing is a truth worth defending.
The Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica. “Guillaume Farel: French Religious Leader.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopediabritannica.com. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guillaume- Farel “William Farel.” Five Minutes in Church History. Ligonier Ministries. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/william-farel/ http://www.americanpresbyterianchurch.org/reformation-history/the-life-of-william-farel/section-3-reformer-of- the-swiss/ https://thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp?file=99797.qna&category=th&page=questions&site=iiim
Story read by Peter R Warren, https://www.peterwarrenministries.com/ Story written by John Mandeville, https://www.johnmandeville.com/