May 17, 2017
Devotions: Personalities of the Reformation: William Farel

William Farel lived from 1489 to 1565. He gave his whole life to spreading the Gospel of Christ. Farel was one of the most important leaders of the French Reformation from its beginnings. While studying under Professor Jacques Lefevre at Sorbonne University in Paris, Farel came to faith in Christ. Professor Lefevre had published a Latin translation of, and commentary on, The Epistles of St. Paul. As he taught that it is God who saves by grace alone, Farel said his eyes were opened and his heart believed.

When Luther’s Reformation writings came to France, Farel was one of the most prominent leaders in the French Reformed movement. When persecution forced him to flee from France in 1523, he became the leader of a group of evangelists, who preached in French speaking Switzerland. Farel’s energetic efforts were central in opposing Catholicism and promoting the Protestant Reformation in Basle, Bern, Lausanne and Geneva. Everywhere he proclaimed the supremacy of the Scriptures and the need to return to a purified faith, which was based on the Bible alone. Farel’s powerful preaching was described as full of fire and fury. The pope was antichrist. The Mass idolatry. His sermons were canon blasts. His oratory gripped whole cities. Farel was called “The scourge of the priests.” Several priests attempted to assassinate Farel. After one attempt on his life failed, Farel whirled around and declared to the priest who had fired the bullet: “I am not afraid of your shots!”

With great skill in debating and evangelistic zeal, Farel succeeded in winning most of French speaking Switzerland to the Protestant Faith. Many new churches were established and organized under his energetic leadership. Although more of an orator than a writer, and a man of action rather than a theologian, Farel did provide the newly created churches with discipleship books in French. In his “Summary” Farel showed how Christian doctrine should be practically applied to everyday life, and he drew up the first liturgy for French speaking Reformed churches. Farel crossed the Alps to participated in a Synod of the Waldensians. He recruited these believers to the Reformation movement, and convinced them to have the Scriptures translated and printed. This was the first French translation of the Holy Scriptures and was published in 1535.

After winning Neuchatel to the Reformation, he introduced the book publisher, Pierre de Vingle, to Neuchatel who, just between 1533 and 1535, published 20 Protestant books, which spread the Faith far and wide. Farel was a man of deep devotion, personal piety and with a very practical faith. He taught that true Christianity functions through charity. Farel’s practice was to go into the market places of Catholic towns and preach the Gospel. When attempts were made to arrest him, he challenged the local priests, or bishop, to a public debate. Inevitably, Farel won these debates. He then would appeal directly to the masses to vote on whether they were in favor of converting to the Protestant Faith, or whether they wanted to remain with Roman superstitions.
On such mission trips, Farel’s confrontational style and tactics provoked violent reactions. In one town, the bishop tried to have him drowned in the fountain! One occasion, Farel resorted to his fists to eject the papists and seize their pulpits. It is significant that in the Reformation Wall monument, in Geneva, Farel is the only one of the Reformers depicted with a Bible in his left hand (not his right) and his right hand is in a fist. Farel was ridiculed, beaten, shot at and abused, but he never gave up. Farel was a fighter.” (reformationsa.org website)

Farel never gave up. He never gave up. Could there be another example of perseverance and a “never give up” attitude? Farel did so much – translating the scriptures into French – ejecting priests from their pulpits using his fists – seeing that Protestant books were published and distributed – and preaching in the market places. Again, we wonder what we can do in a society that has so many voices and people trying to get their attention. But we have many, many more potential avenues for sharing our stories, sharing the faith, and teaching the scriptures. We just need to take the time and to find our voice. Thank goodness we do not need to use our fists – yet!!!
Pastor Dave

Please bring in boxes of tissues this week for Trinity’s Table.