John Calvin: Reluctant Reformer
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries. A Daring Escape
John Calvin tugged on the last knot in his "chain" of linen bed sheets.
Every tie had to be secure since he needed this home-made "rope" to make
his escape. On his way to the open window, John paused by the looking
glass. Surely no one would recognize the professor now dressed in the
shabby clothes of a poor farmer. "God help me," he prayed as he gathered
the "rope" and tied the final knot firmly to the heavy bedpost. Seeing
no one in the darkened Paris Street, he quickly slipped over the sill
and shimmied down the wall with a satchel containing some clothes and
books. The hoe thumped to the ground first, and then John felt his feet
touch. With the hoe over his shoulder, the 24-year-old teacher strolled
out of town, trying his best to look casual.
 John
Calvin
Why was it that this distinguished and quiet scholar needed to escape
from Paris in the middle of the night? Recently, John had written a sermon
challenging people to obey the Bible and not the church officials. Now
he was paying the price. The officials wanted to throw him into prison,
maybe even kill him. With a fake name and his new clothes, John hoped
to make it to a safer place. He dreamed of the day when he could stop
running and settle into a calm life studying and writing about the Bible.
For the next few years, he would live as a hunted man. But no matter what
came his way, John decided he would keep teaching. "I will not be quiet
just because the authorities don't like what I'm saying."
Secret Meeting in a Cave
Water dripped from the ceiling and light from torches played on the walls
of the cold, stone cave. John gazed intently at the shadowy faces of the
young men who had risked everything to come hear him teach. If the French
authorities found their Protestant meeting, they'd all be arrested. This
cold, dark cave was a far cry from the comfortable middle class home he
had grown up in, yet John felt honored that God called him to teach in
such a place at such a time. Seeing his fellow refugees so hungry for
spiritual food, John took a deep breath and began to tell of the things
that had changed his life. "Good works will never save you. Only Jesus
can do that. Put your faith in him!"
During his three years of running, John found time to write one of the
most important works of the era. In The Institutes of the Christian
Religion, he stressed that God is in control and that the Bible can
be trusted. These ideas caused quite a stir and made John Calvin even
more of a wanted man.
Finally John left France for the free city of Strasbourg in search of
a quiet place to do more writing. However, God had other plans, and on
his way John was detoured through Geneva, a place whose bad reputation
was well known. "I'd rather not go near this filthy town," John thought
as he passed the drunken men and women scattered along the street. "I'll
just spend one night and be on my way in the morning!"
Two Terrible Years
At the inn that night, Geneva's most prominent preacher, William Farel,
came to John with a request. As they sat down to a meal of bread and cheese
at a rough wooden table, Farel's voice was somber. "This town is a mess.
There is so much immorality, and people don't seem interested in the gospel."
"Yes, I noticed," John said.
Then Farel dropped a bombshell. "I need help to clean this place up,
and I believe you are the man for the job."
John nearly choked on a piece of bread. "Thank you, but I would rather
not. I am not cut out for church leadership. I wish to study and write."
There was no way he wanted to stay in such an immoral place!
The man's eyes flashed, and he brought his hands down hard on the table.
"You are concerned about your rest and your personal interests. I proclaim
to you in the name of Almighty God whose command you defy: upon your work
there shall rest no blessing. . . If you do not stay and help me, you
will be going not against me, but the Lord himself!"
 John
couldn't find his tongue, he was so deeply shaken. No one had ever spoken
to him in that way before. He looked around at the candles casting shadows
against the wall, trying to avoid the curious stares. He didn't want to
stay, but he was even more terrified of not obeying God. "It seems as
though God has stopped me in my tracks," he thought. "I must help Farel
in spite of my fears."
The next two years were among the worst of his life. The city government
had been trying to curb the drunkenness and gambling, but the people ignored
them. John preached in the churches about clean living, but few would
listen to him. "That John Calvin is a nuisance!" they said.
John was miserable. "Why have I come here?" he wondered. He suffered
from stomach upsets and constant headaches, and his asthma often flared
up. "Have I heard you correctly, Lord?" he prayed. "Was it really You
who called me here?" He was glad when he finally had to leave.
Why did John Calvin have to leave Geneva? Find
out in part two of this Glimpses for Kids childrens worship bulletin
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