Luther had been called to
trial and he arrived in Worm
00:00:18.01\00:00:21.48
on the 15th of April, 1521.
00:00:21.52\00:00:24.45
And he caused quite a stir.
00:00:24.49\00:00:26.49
People were dying to see him
00:00:26.52\00:00:28.26
and his place of residence
was constantly full of people
00:00:28.29\00:00:31.29
who wanted to
spend a few moments
00:00:31.33\00:00:33.26
with this brave man
00:00:33.29\00:00:34.63
who was willing to
take on the whole church
00:00:34.66\00:00:36.67
all on his own.
00:00:36.70\00:00:38.07
Luther's very appearance
was a victory in itself,
00:00:38.10\00:00:41.57
for to be
condemned and excommunicated,
00:00:41.60\00:00:44.27
and then be
given a voice in trial
00:00:44.31\00:00:46.88
undermines the authority
00:00:46.91\00:00:48.64
of the one who
excommunicated him.
00:00:48.68\00:00:50.95
It must be noted that Luther
00:00:57.19\00:00:58.82
at this stage of
his life and ministry
00:00:58.85\00:01:01.29
still had no intention
00:01:01.32\00:01:02.66
of breaking
away from the church.
00:01:02.69\00:01:04.49
He commented that
nothing could be gained
00:01:04.53\00:01:06.53
through schism,
00:01:06.56\00:01:07.90
and he hoped to reform
the church from within.
00:01:07.93\00:01:10.47
One of the key
principles of the Reformation
00:01:10.50\00:01:12.97
that Luther accepted
and held on to resolutely
00:01:13.00\00:01:15.94
was that the
Bible was the foundation
00:01:15.97\00:01:17.97
of all Christian
belief and practice.
00:01:18.01\00:01:20.68
Thus when accused
of error and heresy,
00:01:20.71\00:01:23.45
he simply asked his accusers
to show him from the Bible
00:01:23.48\00:01:26.78
where his error was.
00:01:26.82\00:01:28.38
As he was about
to enter the room,
00:01:34.62\00:01:36.59
a few people spoke
words of encouragement to him,
00:01:36.62\00:01:39.76
in particular, one Army General,
00:01:39.79\00:01:42.16
who told him that
he was about to make
00:01:42.20\00:01:44.27
a more noble stand
00:01:44.30\00:01:45.80
than he and any of his captains
had made on the battlefield.
00:01:45.83\00:01:49.40
He told him that
if his cause was just,
00:01:49.44\00:01:51.84
and he was sure of it
00:01:51.87\00:01:53.31
to go forward
in the fear of God.
00:01:53.34\00:01:55.61
At the trial, Luther
was asked two things.
00:02:01.92\00:02:05.09
Firstly, were the books his,
00:02:05.12\00:02:07.42
and secondly,
00:02:07.46\00:02:08.79
when he would
retract his opinions.
00:02:08.82\00:02:10.89
Luther responded and
said that the books were his,
00:02:10.93\00:02:14.03
but he asked for some time
00:02:14.06\00:02:15.53
in order to craft his response
00:02:15.56\00:02:17.50
as to whether he
would retract or not.
00:02:17.53\00:02:20.10
This convinced the assembly
00:02:20.14\00:02:21.54
that he was not
acting from impulse
00:02:21.57\00:02:23.91
and would later
give further weight
00:02:23.94\00:02:26.21
to his answers.
00:02:26.24\00:02:27.58
The next day
when Luther responded,
00:02:32.81\00:02:35.02
he divided his writings
into three different sections.
00:02:35.05\00:02:38.52
In the first section, he
dealt with faith and works,
00:02:38.55\00:02:41.96
and even his enemies declared
00:02:41.99\00:02:43.89
that these were
not only harmless,
00:02:43.93\00:02:45.79
but also beneficial.
00:02:45.83\00:02:47.66
In the second class of books,
00:02:47.70\00:02:49.06
he denounced the
corruptions of the papacy
00:02:49.10\00:02:51.53
and to revoke
these would strengthen
00:02:51.57\00:02:53.64
the tyranny of Rome.
00:02:53.67\00:02:55.10
And then in the
third class of books,
00:02:55.14\00:02:56.91
he denounced those who
defended these very evils.
00:02:56.94\00:03:00.94
While Luther admitted
00:03:00.98\00:03:02.31
that perhaps he could have
been a little bit less harsh
00:03:02.34\00:03:05.58
in his responses,
00:03:05.61\00:03:06.95
even these he was
not willing to retract.
00:03:06.98\00:03:10.19
At this point Luther
had spoke only in German,
00:03:10.22\00:03:13.22
and he was now asked to
give his response in Latin.
00:03:13.25\00:03:16.49
Despite being tired,
00:03:16.52\00:03:18.06
he was able to do this
00:03:18.09\00:03:19.49
and it gave further
weight to his response,
00:03:19.53\00:03:22.00
as everyone in the
chamber heard what he said
00:03:22.03\00:03:24.90
for the second time.
00:03:24.93\00:03:26.94
The spokesman now
pushed him for an answer,
00:03:26.97\00:03:29.80
asking him the question,
00:03:29.84\00:03:31.27
"Will you or
will you not retract?"
00:03:31.31\00:03:33.98
Standing here on this very spot,
00:03:37.41\00:03:40.18
Luther gave a response
00:03:40.22\00:03:42.05
that has become
famous over the centuries,
00:03:42.08\00:03:44.85
"Unless I am convinced by
Scripture and plain reason,
00:03:44.89\00:03:48.99
for I cannot accept
00:03:49.02\00:03:50.36
the authority of
popes and councils,
00:03:50.39\00:03:52.23
for they have often
contradicted each other.
00:03:52.26\00:03:54.86
My conscience is
captive to the Word of God.
00:03:54.90\00:03:58.90
I cannot and I will
not recant anything,
00:03:58.93\00:04:02.17
for to go against conscience
is neither right nor safe.
00:04:02.20\00:04:05.81
Here I stand, I
cannot do otherwise.
00:04:05.84\00:04:09.68
So God help me. Amen."
00:04:09.71\00:04:11.58
The assembly stood in amazement,
00:04:14.65\00:04:16.82
speechless at
what they had just seen
00:04:16.85\00:04:19.02
and heard.
00:04:19.05\00:04:20.39
He was again asked
if he would retract,
00:04:20.42\00:04:22.62
to which he responded,
00:04:22.66\00:04:24.06
"May God be my helper
for I can retract nothing."
00:04:24.09\00:04:28.13
The courage that Luther
spoke with at this trial
00:04:33.47\00:04:36.57
has inspired many people
since then to stand for God
00:04:36.60\00:04:40.24
in the face of
opposition and against the odds.
00:04:40.28\00:04:43.75
In Mark 13:9, the Bible tells us
00:04:43.78\00:04:46.85
that one day we
may have to stand
00:04:46.88\00:04:48.75
before kings and rulers,
may we be faithful to God,
00:04:48.78\00:04:52.59
that if we have to
stand we will do so
00:04:52.62\00:04:54.49
with boldness and
unflinching courage
00:04:54.52\00:04:57.03
in the face of trial.
00:04:57.06\00:04:58.39
Following the Diet of Worms,
00:05:22.68\00:05:24.29
Luther was still
under a lot of pressure
00:05:24.32\00:05:26.65
to recant and compromise
in his positions with Rome.
00:05:26.69\00:05:30.06
He was even
threatened with banishment,
00:05:30.09\00:05:32.09
but he would not be moved.
00:05:32.13\00:05:34.03
He even said he
would give up assurance
00:05:34.06\00:05:35.83
of a safe conduct,
00:05:35.86\00:05:37.27
but never his
positions on the Word of God.
00:05:37.30\00:05:41.10
As Luther left the Worms
00:05:41.14\00:05:42.77
and travelled
across the country,
00:05:42.80\00:05:44.54
he was warmly
received by the German people.
00:05:44.57\00:05:47.71
But there were still many people
00:05:47.74\00:05:49.08
who wanted to kill Luther.
00:05:49.11\00:05:50.75
And the Emperor himself said
00:05:50.78\00:05:52.71
that as soon as the assurance
00:05:52.75\00:05:54.08
of a safe conduct should expire,
00:05:54.12\00:05:56.52
that measure should be
taken to end Luther's work.
00:05:56.55\00:06:00.62
The Elector of Saxony, Frederick
00:06:00.66\00:06:03.12
devised the plan
00:06:03.16\00:06:04.49
with some of Luther's
friends to capture him
00:06:04.53\00:06:07.30
and keep him
hidden for some time.
00:06:07.33\00:06:09.33
He was taken here
to Wartburg Castle,
00:06:14.10\00:06:16.04
a place kept so secret
00:06:16.07\00:06:17.64
that even the Elector Frederick
00:06:17.67\00:06:19.41
did not know that
he was being kept here.
00:06:19.44\00:06:21.84
Luther's enemies rejoice
00:06:21.88\00:06:23.31
thinking that he
had been defeated.
00:06:23.35\00:06:24.95
But this time for Luther
00:06:24.98\00:06:26.31
would prove to be
a double blessing.
00:06:26.35\00:06:28.65
Not only did it withdraw
him from the heat of the battle,
00:06:28.68\00:06:31.59
but it also took him away
00:06:31.62\00:06:32.95
from the public
praise and adulation,
00:06:32.99\00:06:35.29
something that
can spiritually mane
00:06:35.32\00:06:37.29
even the strongest of men.
00:06:37.33\00:06:38.99
It was here in this
room that Luther stayed
00:06:43.03\00:06:45.43
through this time
here in the castle.
00:06:45.47\00:06:47.90
Like the Apostle John
00:06:47.94\00:06:49.27
who wrote the Book of Revelation
00:06:49.30\00:06:50.64
as a prisoner on
the Isle of Patmos.
00:06:50.67\00:06:52.57
While Luther was
hiding here in this castle,
00:06:52.61\00:06:54.94
he translated into
German, the New Testament.
00:06:54.98\00:06:58.15
He would translate
the Old Testament later,
00:06:58.18\00:07:00.32
after his return to Wittenberg.
00:07:00.35\00:07:02.48
Another
challenge the Reformation
00:07:06.32\00:07:07.82
would now appear on the horizon.
00:07:07.86\00:07:10.03
In Luther's absence
00:07:10.06\00:07:11.66
that the reformers had arisen
00:07:11.69\00:07:13.46
whose message was
different to that of Luther
00:07:13.50\00:07:15.86
and it was drawing
away a lot of people
00:07:15.90\00:07:18.23
and dividing the movement.
00:07:18.27\00:07:20.17
In particular,
00:07:20.20\00:07:21.54
some people thought
that it was acceptable
00:07:21.57\00:07:23.20
to use violence as a
means to abolish the mass
00:07:23.24\00:07:26.07
and to rise up
against the oppressors.
00:07:26.11\00:07:29.11
Thomas Muntzer was a
leader of this movement.
00:07:29.14\00:07:31.95
This news was relayed to
Luther and he felt a deep burden
00:07:35.85\00:07:39.55
for his people
back in Wittenberg
00:07:39.59\00:07:41.52
how he thought of them
00:07:41.56\00:07:42.89
as a shepherd
thinks of their sheep.
00:07:42.92\00:07:45.06
Despite having no
assurance of a safe conduct,
00:07:45.09\00:07:47.73
he left Wartburg Castle
and headed for Wittenberg.
00:07:47.76\00:07:50.70
Luther's return
caused a great stir,
00:07:55.14\00:07:57.97
and the church filled
at the first opportunity
00:07:58.01\00:08:00.24
to hear him speak.
00:08:00.28\00:08:01.61
Luther stood up
00:08:01.64\00:08:02.98
and reaffirm that
the mass was a bad thing
00:08:03.01\00:08:04.85
and ought to be abolished,
00:08:04.88\00:08:06.21
but that no one should
be torn from it by force.
00:08:06.25\00:08:08.78
It was not their job to
force the conscience of anyone,
00:08:08.82\00:08:11.75
no matter how strong
they felt about the matter.
00:08:11.79\00:08:14.89
Luther was able to check
this uprising for a while,
00:08:14.92\00:08:17.99
but it would arise later
on with devastating results
00:08:18.03\00:08:21.26
when Thomas
Muntzer himself was killed.
00:08:21.30\00:08:23.67
Every time there
is a true revival,
00:08:26.70\00:08:29.00
Satan brings a false one along,
00:08:29.04\00:08:31.34
even so at the end of time,
00:08:31.37\00:08:32.84
there's going to be a
true revival of godliness
00:08:32.87\00:08:35.31
and then there's going to
be a false revival as well.
00:08:35.34\00:08:37.91
May we be faithful to God,
00:08:37.95\00:08:39.35
that we will be
part of the true revival
00:08:39.38\00:08:41.38
that will take
place at the end of time.
00:08:41.42\00:08:43.39
In 1529,
00:09:09.71\00:09:11.51
the section of Diet of
Speyers convened right here.
00:09:11.55\00:09:14.98
The first was in 1526,
00:09:15.02\00:09:17.42
which gave each state
00:09:17.45\00:09:18.79
for liberty in
religious affairs.
00:09:18.82\00:09:21.99
In 1529, all the
German princes gathered here,
00:09:22.02\00:09:25.36
along with
representatives of the church.
00:09:25.39\00:09:28.86
The church's
desire was to crush out
00:09:28.90\00:09:30.83
the heresy of the Reformation,
first by peaceable means,
00:09:30.87\00:09:34.57
but using full force if needed.
00:09:34.60\00:09:36.81
One thing that was proposed
was a halt on conversion.
00:09:42.74\00:09:46.31
The states that
sided with the Reformation
00:09:46.35\00:09:48.62
would stay that way
00:09:48.65\00:09:49.98
and the ones that did
not will stay as they were.
00:09:50.02\00:09:52.65
If this edict
was to be enforced,
00:09:52.69\00:09:54.82
then the Reformation
could not be extended
00:09:54.86\00:09:57.39
where it was not yet known,
00:09:57.43\00:09:59.03
neither could it be established
on a solid foundation
00:09:59.06\00:10:02.36
where it had started.
00:10:02.40\00:10:03.73
The key issue at stake
was liberty of conscience.
00:10:03.77\00:10:08.00
As they met to discuss
00:10:08.04\00:10:09.40
what they would do
with this proposal,
00:10:09.44\00:10:11.24
key issues for the
world lay on the table.
00:10:11.27\00:10:14.11
Did Rome have the
right to coerce conscience
00:10:14.14\00:10:16.88
and forbid free inquiry?
00:10:16.91\00:10:19.35
As they look back
at the recent history,
00:10:26.25\00:10:28.82
and saw the great sacrifice
00:10:28.86\00:10:30.59
that many had made
to get to this point,
00:10:30.63\00:10:33.29
and they contrasted it
00:10:33.33\00:10:34.90
with the major
restriction on civil liberties
00:10:34.93\00:10:37.80
that was proposed.
00:10:37.83\00:10:39.17
The Princes said,
00:10:39.20\00:10:40.54
"Let us reject this
decree in matters of conscience,
00:10:40.57\00:10:44.21
the majority has no power."
00:10:44.24\00:10:46.51
They saw the state's role
00:10:50.65\00:10:52.21
was to protect
liberty of conscience,
00:10:52.25\00:10:54.85
and that this was
also the limit of its role
00:10:54.88\00:10:58.09
in religious methods.
00:10:58.12\00:10:59.95
In their response,
they used the word protest.
00:10:59.99\00:11:02.79
And it's from here
where we get the term
00:11:02.82\00:11:04.73
Protestantism today.
00:11:04.76\00:11:06.43
But it's important
for us to understand
00:11:06.46\00:11:08.43
the background of that term
00:11:08.46\00:11:10.27
to know what a
Protestant truly is.
00:11:10.30\00:11:12.73
They said that the principles
contained in this protest
00:11:19.14\00:11:23.31
contain the
essence of Protestantism.
00:11:23.35\00:11:26.61
They opposed the abuse of
man in two areas of faith.
00:11:26.65\00:11:31.15
Firstly, the intrusion
of the civil magistrate
00:11:31.19\00:11:34.66
and secondly,
00:11:34.69\00:11:36.02
the arbitrary
authority of the church.
00:11:36.06\00:11:38.73
Instead of this,
00:11:38.76\00:11:40.23
Protestantism puts the
power of the conscience
00:11:40.26\00:11:43.40
above the civil magistrate
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.60
and the authority of God's Word
00:11:45.63\00:11:47.70
over the visible church.
00:11:47.74\00:11:50.11
They rejected civil
power in divine things,
00:11:50.14\00:11:53.58
encouraging people
as in the Book of Acts,
00:11:53.61\00:11:56.28
to obey God rather than men.
00:11:56.31\00:11:59.38
They understood
that it was the role
00:11:59.41\00:12:01.25
of the state to
protect civil liberties
00:12:01.28\00:12:04.59
and not to
prescribe religious actions
00:12:04.62\00:12:07.66
to the masses.
00:12:07.69\00:12:09.02
In our day and age,
there is a wide departure
00:12:12.96\00:12:16.16
from this great
Protestant principle,
00:12:16.20\00:12:18.43
the Bible and the Bible only
as the rule of faith and duty.
00:12:18.47\00:12:22.97
There is a need for us
00:12:23.00\00:12:24.51
to have the same
unswerving adherence
00:12:24.54\00:12:27.28
to the Word of God,
00:12:27.31\00:12:28.64
as was manifested
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.01
at this crisis
of the Reformation.
00:12:30.05\00:12:32.08
Has these princes
buckled under pressure,
00:12:36.35\00:12:39.69
and sought to enjoy the success
they had achieved thus far
00:12:39.72\00:12:43.29
in order to secure
favour with the authorities,
00:12:43.32\00:12:46.16
the movement would
have been destroyed.
00:12:46.19\00:12:48.60
They understood
00:12:48.63\00:12:49.96
that there were
greater issues at hand,
00:12:50.00\00:12:51.87
and believers around the world
00:12:51.90\00:12:54.04
since that time
have enjoyed the benefits
00:12:54.07\00:12:56.47
of their resolute stand,
00:12:56.50\00:12:58.57
while the name of Martin Luther
00:12:58.61\00:13:00.21
is well known
throughout the world,
00:13:00.24\00:13:02.14
and the name of these
princes is much less known,
00:13:02.18\00:13:05.85
that place in
history is nonetheless vital.
00:13:05.88\00:13:09.35
May we truly understand
00:13:09.38\00:13:10.89
what it means
to be a Protestant,
00:13:10.92\00:13:12.89
the authority of God's Word
00:13:12.92\00:13:14.76
and the power of the
conscience in religious matters.
00:13:14.79\00:13:17.89
John Calvin was
born in Noyon, near Paris
00:13:42.72\00:13:46.05
on the 10th of July. 1509.
00:13:46.09\00:13:49.02
He was thus only a
child of eight years old
00:13:49.06\00:13:52.49
when Martin Luther,
a man of 34 years old
00:13:52.53\00:13:55.93
nailed his famous 95 Theses
00:13:55.96\00:13:58.60
to the door of the
church in Wittenberg.
00:13:58.63\00:14:01.60
Calvin did not
experience the harsh
00:14:01.64\00:14:03.67
upbringing that Luther had,
00:14:03.71\00:14:05.47
but had a happy start to life,
00:14:05.51\00:14:07.91
enjoying every
prospect of success
00:14:07.94\00:14:10.65
and numerous
educational advantages.
00:14:10.68\00:14:13.38
At the age of
12, he was appointed
00:14:13.42\00:14:15.65
to a chaplaincy in a
church in his home-town.
00:14:15.68\00:14:18.79
His head was shaved
and he received a tonsure.
00:14:18.82\00:14:22.12
As he grew up, he
wanted to become a priest,
00:14:22.16\00:14:24.59
and will soon noted for
his intellectual ability,
00:14:24.63\00:14:27.56
his blameless life,
and his religious devotion.
00:14:27.60\00:14:30.97
It was confidently anticipated
00:14:31.00\00:14:33.37
that he would grow up
to become a great defender
00:14:33.40\00:14:35.90
of the Catholic Church.
00:14:35.94\00:14:37.87
Calvin had heard
00:14:37.91\00:14:39.24
of the new
doctrines with a shudder,
00:14:39.27\00:14:41.31
not doubting at all
that those who believe them
00:14:41.34\00:14:44.75
the heretics were worthy
and deserving of the fires
00:14:44.78\00:14:48.18
to which they were often taken.
00:14:48.22\00:14:49.78
At the age of 14,
00:14:57.63\00:14:59.29
a plague hit the town
where Calvin was living.
00:14:59.33\00:15:02.56
And so he moved from
his town here to Paris
00:15:02.60\00:15:05.63
and studied at the
University of Paris.
00:15:05.67\00:15:08.44
An interesting
coincidence took place
00:15:08.47\00:15:10.64
whereby one of his fellow pupils
00:15:10.67\00:15:12.77
was a boy by the
name of Ignatius Loyola.
00:15:12.81\00:15:16.08
Ignatius Loyola would
grow up to found the Jesuits,
00:15:16.11\00:15:20.18
a movement very, very different
00:15:20.22\00:15:22.22
from the one that Calvin
would lead later in his life.
00:15:22.25\00:15:25.45
Two pupils both outstanding
00:15:25.49\00:15:27.92
for who would both have
00:15:27.96\00:15:29.29
a vastly different
impact on the world.
00:15:29.32\00:15:32.16
Calvin later on
00:15:32.19\00:15:33.53
left studying
for the priesthood,
00:15:33.56\00:15:35.10
and went to study law
after his father's footsteps
00:15:35.13\00:15:38.50
and after his wishes as well.
00:15:38.53\00:15:40.57
He completed
his doctorate in law
00:15:40.60\00:15:42.40
at the University of Orleans,
00:15:42.44\00:15:44.47
but after the
death of his father,
00:15:44.51\00:15:46.51
he would reevaluate his
course and direction in life.
00:15:46.54\00:15:50.35
Calvin's cousin had
joined with the reformers
00:15:54.48\00:15:57.25
and whilst in public
when speaking with him,
00:15:57.29\00:16:00.06
Calvin would strongly defend
the positions of the church
00:16:00.09\00:16:03.22
and reject new teachings.
00:16:03.26\00:16:05.09
When he was alone, he
would ponder the words,
00:16:05.13\00:16:07.73
conviction of sin gripped him.
00:16:07.76\00:16:10.10
He saw himself
without an intercessor.
00:16:10.13\00:16:12.73
Confession and penance
were resorted to in vain,
00:16:12.77\00:16:15.70
but none could
bring about peace.
00:16:15.74\00:16:18.04
One day he decided to
visit a public square,
00:16:21.64\00:16:24.38
and he witnessed
the burning of a martyr.
00:16:24.41\00:16:26.92
He was filled with wonder
at the expression of peace
00:16:26.95\00:16:30.22
that was on his face.
00:16:30.25\00:16:31.59
And he contrasted this
00:16:31.62\00:16:32.99
with his own
feelings of emptiness,
00:16:33.02\00:16:35.19
doubt, and darkness.
00:16:35.22\00:16:37.26
He knew that the
martyrs rested their faith
00:16:37.29\00:16:39.69
on God's Word.
00:16:39.73\00:16:41.06
And so he proposed that
he would study the Bible
00:16:41.10\00:16:43.37
to see if he could find
the secret of their joy.
00:16:43.40\00:16:46.70
As he studied the
Bible, he found Jesus Christ.
00:16:46.74\00:16:50.31
No one knows for sure
00:16:54.04\00:16:55.71
when Calvin
experienced conversion,
00:16:55.74\00:16:58.21
but that he did is
not open to question.
00:16:58.25\00:17:01.48
His conversion
was definite enough
00:17:01.52\00:17:03.82
to cause him to
relinquish all income
00:17:03.85\00:17:06.32
from church sources
00:17:06.35\00:17:07.69
and abandon any idea
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.22
of entering the
legal profession.
00:17:09.26\00:17:11.89
This decision
would have been costly,
00:17:11.93\00:17:14.10
causing him to give
up an immense salary
00:17:14.13\00:17:16.60
and all comforts
00:17:16.63\00:17:17.97
that he was
accustomed to in life.
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.60
Calvin joined a
small band of Protestants
00:17:24.41\00:17:27.31
and preached the gospel
00:17:27.34\00:17:28.68
from home to home for two years.
00:17:28.71\00:17:31.11
The authorities were determined
to capture him and kill him,
00:17:31.15\00:17:34.48
and they came to
his place of abode.
00:17:34.52\00:17:36.75
But due to the quick
thinking of some of his friends,
00:17:36.79\00:17:39.45
they detain the
officers at the door
00:17:39.49\00:17:41.69
for long enough to allow others
to lower him out of the window,
00:17:41.72\00:17:45.56
and he was able
to flee the city.
00:17:45.59\00:17:47.60
One thing that we learned
from the life of Calvin is that
00:17:51.00\00:17:54.00
no matter what you
start out doing in life,
00:17:54.04\00:17:56.50
it doesn't have to be that
way for the rest of your life.
00:17:56.54\00:17:59.24
He started out
wanting to be a priest,
00:17:59.27\00:18:01.44
his father wanted
him to be a lawyer,
00:18:01.48\00:18:03.55
he ended up doing
neither of these things
00:18:03.58\00:18:05.71
and would go on to
be a great reformer
00:18:05.75\00:18:07.82
who changed the face of
the whole of Christendom.
00:18:07.85\00:18:11.02
Maybe you're on
a course of study
00:18:11.05\00:18:13.25
that you don't really
enjoy or know why you're there.
00:18:13.29\00:18:16.62
Maybe you're doing something
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.19
that your parents
have imposed upon you,
00:18:18.23\00:18:20.70
and that you don't
really feel is your calling.
00:18:20.73\00:18:23.90
And God may be calling
you to something different.
00:18:23.93\00:18:26.63
And I want to appeal to
you that if that is the case,
00:18:26.67\00:18:29.77
then follow the
leading of the Lord.
00:18:29.80\00:18:31.97
You may have to
change your course of study,
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.21
you may have to
change your occupation.
00:18:34.24\00:18:36.34
But when you do that,
that's when true satisfaction,
00:18:36.38\00:18:39.71
purpose and
meaning comes in our lives.
00:18:39.75\00:18:43.18
The French
Reformation in the 16th century
00:19:06.11\00:19:09.24
was not a smooth sailing.
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.31
There was strong
tension and conflict
00:19:11.35\00:19:13.55
between the
Protestants and Catholics.
00:19:13.58\00:19:15.65
And in the latter
part of the century,
00:19:15.68\00:19:17.62
there were several
wars between the two.
00:19:17.65\00:19:19.85
In the 1530s, there
was growing frustration,
00:19:19.89\00:19:23.29
as they saw their
dream being fulfilled
00:19:23.32\00:19:25.99
elsewhere in
Germany and Switzerland,
00:19:26.03\00:19:28.63
and yet in France,
they were lagging behind.
00:19:28.66\00:19:31.80
In order to advance their cause,
00:19:31.83\00:19:34.07
it was thought
they needed to strike
00:19:34.10\00:19:35.80
a bold blow to Rome
00:19:35.84\00:19:38.17
and attack one of the most
controversial topics, the mass.
00:19:38.21\00:19:42.74
A tract was written.
00:19:42.78\00:19:44.41
Many believe that Farel wrote it
00:19:44.45\00:19:46.11
in Switzerland,
00:19:46.15\00:19:47.48
though others say that
Anton DeMarco wrote it.
00:19:47.52\00:19:50.42
The tract was entitled,
"True articles on the horrible,
00:19:50.45\00:19:54.89
great and intolerable
abuses of the popish mass
00:19:54.92\00:19:58.99
invented in direct opposition
00:19:59.03\00:20:01.50
to the holy supper of our Lord
and only Mediator and Saviour."
00:20:01.53\00:20:07.57
The leaders of
the French movement
00:20:07.60\00:20:09.64
met to discuss how to use it
00:20:09.67\00:20:11.74
and some felt it was
too strong and direct
00:20:11.77\00:20:14.94
and that to use it
00:20:14.98\00:20:16.31
would cause more harm than good.
00:20:16.34\00:20:18.08
Others thought that it was okay.
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.88
And when it was taken to a vote,
00:20:19.91\00:20:21.42
it was decided to use it.
00:20:21.45\00:20:23.42
They would distribute it
all over France to every city,
00:20:23.45\00:20:27.16
town and even villages.
00:20:27.19\00:20:28.89
And it was decided
that on October 24, 1534,
00:20:28.92\00:20:33.53
at night, they would
be posted all over France.
00:20:33.56\00:20:37.67
However, instead of
advancing the reformation,
00:20:42.94\00:20:46.24
this zealous and ultimately
ill judged action brought ruin
00:20:46.27\00:20:50.91
not only on those who
had posted the placards,
00:20:50.95\00:20:53.68
but on the reform
of Protestant faith
00:20:53.72\00:20:56.28
throughout France.
00:20:56.32\00:20:57.65
One of the placards
00:20:57.69\00:20:59.02
was posted on the
King's personal chamber.
00:20:59.05\00:21:01.69
And in his rage he
said, "Let all be seized
00:21:01.72\00:21:05.29
without distinction
who are suspected of heresy
00:21:05.33\00:21:08.40
and I will exterminate all."
00:21:08.43\00:21:11.20
The leaders of the Roman Church
have what they have longed for,
00:21:11.23\00:21:14.94
a reason to wipe
out the Protestants.
00:21:14.97\00:21:17.47
Some poor adherent
of the reformed faith
00:21:23.81\00:21:26.48
was seized and
commanded to show the papers
00:21:26.51\00:21:29.48
or the homes of
the believers in Paris,
00:21:29.52\00:21:31.99
and under the threat of
death he cowardly went along
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.92
and betrayed his people.
00:21:35.96\00:21:38.16
They walk through
the streets of Paris
00:21:38.19\00:21:40.26
and grabbed
people from their homes,
00:21:40.30\00:21:42.43
imprisoning them before trying,
torturing and killing them.
00:21:42.46\00:21:47.10
Hundreds of people fled Paris,
people from all ranks of life,
00:21:47.14\00:21:52.41
university
professors, princes, artisans,
00:21:52.44\00:21:55.98
and the Catholic
Church was surprised to find
00:21:56.01\00:21:58.58
how many Protestants
had been living in Paris
00:21:58.61\00:22:01.52
unknown to themselves.
00:22:01.55\00:22:03.42
The leading French reformers
00:22:08.92\00:22:10.63
would have to leave
00:22:10.66\00:22:11.99
finding refuge in
Geneva, Switzerland,
00:22:12.03\00:22:14.36
and it was from there
that they would send pastors
00:22:14.40\00:22:16.90
back into France
00:22:16.93\00:22:18.27
so that in the
space of 40 years,
00:22:18.30\00:22:20.47
there were perhaps 2
million Huguenot Protestants
00:22:20.50\00:22:23.74
and 1,250
churches throughout France.
00:22:23.77\00:22:28.68
St. Bartholomew's
massacre would deal another blow
00:22:28.71\00:22:32.08
to the church in France,
00:22:32.11\00:22:33.85
and again, many
people would leave France.
00:22:33.88\00:22:36.89
At this persecution
00:22:36.92\00:22:38.25
and subsequent
ones that would follow,
00:22:38.29\00:22:40.32
each time France would lose
00:22:40.36\00:22:42.29
their skilled
tradesmen and craftsmen
00:22:42.32\00:22:44.99
suffering a brain drain
00:22:45.03\00:22:46.80
that they have
caused on themselves.
00:22:46.83\00:22:49.93
The Swiss watch making
industry was built largely
00:22:49.96\00:22:53.60
by French Huguenot
Protestants who fled there.
00:22:53.64\00:22:56.81
One thing that we learned
from this episode of history
00:23:02.64\00:23:05.51
is that it's as important
00:23:05.55\00:23:06.88
that we know
when to say something,
00:23:06.92\00:23:08.98
and how to say
something as it is that we say
00:23:09.02\00:23:11.85
the right thing.
00:23:11.89\00:23:13.22
Simply speaking the
truth is not enough.
00:23:13.25\00:23:16.36
The placards that were posted
00:23:16.39\00:23:18.19
might not contain
the truth about the mass
00:23:18.23\00:23:20.43
and correctly pointed
out the erroneous beliefs,
00:23:20.46\00:23:23.50
but the way in which it was done
00:23:23.53\00:23:25.40
was ill judged and
caused more harm than good.
00:23:25.43\00:23:29.37
May we be wise
00:23:29.40\00:23:30.74
in how we share the
truths of God's Word,
00:23:30.77\00:23:33.24
sensitive to what others believe
00:23:33.27\00:23:35.31
and always aim to be winsome
in our methods and our words.
00:23:35.34\00:23:39.28
After having to leave France,
00:24:09.68\00:24:11.98
Farel and Calvin
move and work elsewhere.
00:24:12.01\00:24:15.98
Farel came here
to the Geneva area.
00:24:16.02\00:24:18.25
And he had success in
the villages and hamlets
00:24:18.29\00:24:20.76
that surrounded
the town of Geneva.
00:24:20.79\00:24:22.86
So when he came into the city,
00:24:22.89\00:24:24.79
he was initially rejected
and had to leave the city.
00:24:24.83\00:24:28.93
Another man who tried
the work of reform here
00:24:28.96\00:24:31.07
was a schoolmaster
by the name of Fermon
00:24:31.10\00:24:33.54
and he had some success.
00:24:33.57\00:24:35.57
Calvin also found
his way to the city,
00:24:35.60\00:24:38.34
though not by design,
00:24:38.37\00:24:39.87
there was a road blockage
because an army was in the road
00:24:39.91\00:24:42.74
and he had to divert
and he came through Geneva.
00:24:42.78\00:24:46.61
He was planning
to just pass through
00:24:46.65\00:24:48.15
but the believers
implored him to stay
00:24:48.18\00:24:51.22
and assist the work of reform.
00:24:51.25\00:24:53.69
And though initially reluctant,
he eventually decided to stay.
00:24:53.72\00:24:57.23
For nearly 30 years, he
laboured here in Geneva.
00:25:06.70\00:25:11.27
Firstly establishing the church
00:25:11.31\00:25:13.17
that adhered to the
morality of the Bible,
00:25:13.21\00:25:15.81
and then for the
advancement of the Reformation
00:25:15.84\00:25:18.51
throughout Europe.
00:25:18.55\00:25:20.08
His life as a public
leader was not spotless,
00:25:20.12\00:25:23.35
nor were his
doctrines free from error.
00:25:23.39\00:25:25.99
But he was
instrumental in advancing truths
00:25:26.02\00:25:29.52
that were of special importance
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.39
and maintaining the
principles of Protestantism
00:25:31.43\00:25:34.33
against the errors of Rome.
00:25:34.36\00:25:36.06
Sometimes you can
learn a lot about someone
00:25:45.17\00:25:48.18
by what the enemies say
about them and their death.
00:25:48.21\00:25:52.01
Pope Pius IV
said of John Calvin,
00:25:52.05\00:25:56.12
"The strength of
that heretic Calvin
00:25:56.15\00:25:58.12
consisted in this,
00:25:58.15\00:25:59.59
that money never had
the slightest charm for him.
00:25:59.62\00:26:03.02
If I had such servants,
00:26:03.06\00:26:04.89
my dominion would
extend from sea to sea."
00:26:04.93\00:26:08.63
Calvin was a
compulsive type A personality.
00:26:17.51\00:26:21.21
He never wasted a minute.
00:26:21.24\00:26:22.94
He preached five sermons a week,
00:26:22.98\00:26:25.38
and he wrote a Bible commentary
00:26:25.41\00:26:27.08
on virtually
every book of the Bible.
00:26:27.12\00:26:29.35
He also wrote
countless theological articles
00:26:29.38\00:26:32.35
on a wide variety of topics.
00:26:32.39\00:26:35.09
He was not lazy.
00:26:35.12\00:26:36.46
Even when he
was on his deathbed,
00:26:36.49\00:26:38.43
his friends urged him to
refrain from his labours.
00:26:38.46\00:26:41.86
He replied, "What?
00:26:41.90\00:26:43.23
Should the Lord
come and find me idle?"
00:26:43.26\00:26:46.40
He lived a very
modest life as well.
00:26:46.43\00:26:48.90
He wasn't paid a large salary,
but by the utmost frugality,
00:26:48.94\00:26:52.77
he was able to save
three years annual salary
00:26:52.81\00:26:56.41
that he left to his
heirs when he passed away.
00:26:56.44\00:26:59.45
From Calvin's life, we learn,
00:27:10.69\00:27:13.56
he's a man who sent missionaries
00:27:13.60\00:27:15.63
throughout Europe.
00:27:15.66\00:27:17.00
He's a man who wrote books
00:27:17.03\00:27:18.37
and sent them throughout Europe.
00:27:18.40\00:27:20.27
He's a man that had an influence
00:27:20.30\00:27:21.97
far more wider
reaching than just his church.
00:27:22.00\00:27:25.81
But really he
started off just as a pastor
00:27:25.84\00:27:29.11
of a church in Geneva.
00:27:29.14\00:27:31.31
From small beginnings,
he had a great influence.
00:27:31.35\00:27:35.52
In Luke 16:10,
the Bible tells us,
00:27:35.55\00:27:39.05
"He that is faithful
in that which is least
00:27:39.09\00:27:42.42
will be faithful also
in that which is much."
00:27:42.46\00:27:45.76
May we be faithful
wherever God has placed us,
00:27:45.79\00:27:49.30
in whatever small
place or small thing it is,
00:27:49.33\00:27:52.73
that we may be faithful,
00:27:52.77\00:27:54.20
should God give us
greater responsibilities
00:27:54.24\00:27:56.97
or a greater
sphere of influence.
00:27:57.01\00:27:59.11