Trials that John Calvin encountered during his life

Calvin, showed perseverance throughout his life and there has been many situations where his faith has been attacked. He was given many trials that tested his faith, however throughout these situations he still remained true to God. Trials are tests of ones faith and are designed to strengthen oneself in the Lord.  One situation in where God had tested him and his faith was attacked was buy a man named Servetus. Now Servetus was a Spaniard who greatly criticized Christian dogma. He and Calvin would send letters back in forth debating Christianity. His letters to Calvin were pronounced as heresy and criticism to the Catholic Church. However Servetus would deny writing these letters, and kept telling Calvin that he would pay him a visit in Geneva. Calvin, enraged with hate, basically told him that if he did come he would be killed. Servetus ended coming to Geneva and met Calvin, which resulted in Servetus being arrested and hanged later on. After the death of Servetus, Calvin was claimed a defender of Christianity, and had shown him defending his faith in God. Even when he had established his church back in Geneva, there were many people who contradicted his teachings. Jerome Bolsec, a philosopher, had repeatedly attacked Calvin’s doctrine of predestination. However Calvin’s continued to defend his doctrine and even emphasized it more than before. God has given Calvin many trials and positions in which his faith had been attacked, but no matter how bad his position was he continued to preach the word of God. In James 1:2-3 he says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”. Through Calvin’s life he had encountered many trials in which he had persevered in, which had made his faith stronger and to be known as a defender of Christianity.

Another situaton in which Calvin’s was tested was during his work in Geneva from 1546 to 1555. Around 1546, various circumstances led to Calvin’s discovery of a group consisted of wealthy, politically powerful, and interrelated families in Geneva. This group was known as the libertines, and they were in opposition to John Calvin’s work. The group, described by Calvin, felt that by being saved through grace, they were exempt from both civil and religious law. The libertines continued their opposition to John Calvin for many years. They stirred up discontent, insulted the ministers, and opposed the authority of the Consistory, which was an ecclesiastical court, composed of elders and ministers. The authorities swayed back and forth on both sides of the conflict, sometimes siding with the libertines and sometimes with Calvin. By 1547, the majority of the syndics and civil magistrates of Geneva opposed Calvin and other French refugee ministers. Even through the opposition of the libertines and the majority of the government, Calvin continued to obey the will of God faithfully throughout his ministry. Ami Perrin, the man who brought Calvin to Geneva, became a libertine and had moved into opposition with John Calvin. When he was elected first syndic in February 1552, Calvin’s authority appeared to be at its lowest point. After several losses, Calvin believed he was defeated, and nearly lost hope. But even then, when Calvin’s influence was at its lowest, he stayed faithful to Christ. He continued to obey the will of God by preaching his Word to those around him. Although the libertines controlled the authority, they did not have enough power to banish him.