On Expedition +

BIG ISSUES WE FACE TODAY AND GUY DE BRÈS

As I have mentioned from time to time, I am working on a manuscript titled, Big Issues We Face Today, subtitled “Where did the Western World turn off from a Judeo-Christian worldview.” One chapter looks at the spread of the Reformation and the Gospel to the Low Countries (modern day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg … hey, we started churches in Holland and Belgium).

Instrumental in the spread of the Reformation was the message (the Gospel) that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone … not by our own effort or goodness. In the 1500s, a Walloon (a Belgian today) named Guy de Brès came in contact with the writings of Martin Luther and was transformed by the message of being saved by grace. De Brès spent three years with John Calvin in Geneva (hey, Sharon and I and two other couples started a church there, too).

Returning to Belgium to spread the good news of the Gospel, De Brès was forced to travel in disguise as the persecution of Protestants was severe. Several members of the congregation he ministered to had been tortured and burned to death. Nevertheless, de Brès faithfully preached the gospel and built up congregations in the Low Countries (which included part of northern France).

De Brès was eventually arrested for his Reformation/Protestant beliefs and placed in a prison in Valenciennes (between Lille and Mons). Known as the “Black Hole,” the prison was a small dark room in which the only “light came from a hole which allowed human excrement to pass from other cells in the prison.” Before his imprisonment he was chiefly responsible for writing the the Belgic Confession of Faith.

THE LOVE LETTER

Chained during his two-and-a-half months imprisonment, and before he was hung for his faith on May 31, 1567, Guy wrote a touching letter to his wife Catherine, expressing his love for her and his incredible faith despite the wretched conditions and impending death he faced.

Here is the beginning of Guido de Brès’ touching, faith-filled, God-glorifying letter of love and comfort to His Wife Catherine.

[Note: I, Linus, have added the headings of the letter in bold to highlight some of the themes of Guy’s incredible love and faith, despite his horrific prison conditions and his impending death.]

Separated

“The grace and mercy of our good God and heavenly Father, and the love of His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, be with you, my dearly beloved.

Catherine Ramon, my dear and beloved wife and sister in our Lord Jesus Christ: your anguish and sadness disturbs somewhat my joy and the happiness of my heart, so I am writing this for the consolation of both of us, and especially for your consolation, since you have always loved me with an ardent affection, and because it pleases the Lord to separate us from each other.

I feel your sorrow over this separation more keenly than mine. I pray you not to be troubled too much over this, for fear of offending God. You knew when you married me that you were taking a mortal husband, who was uncertain of life, and yet it has pleased God to permit us to live together for seven years, giving us five children. If the Lord had wished us to live together longer, he would have provided the way. But it did not please him to do this and may his will be done.

Encouraged

Now remember that I did not fall into the hands of my enemies by mere chance, but through the providence of my God who controls and governs all things, the least as well as the greatest. This is shown by the words of Christ, “Be not afraid. Your very hairs are numbered. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And not one of them shall fall to the ground without the will of your Father. Then fear nothing. You are more excellent than many sparrows.”

These words of divine wisdom say that God knows the number of my hairs. How then can harm come to me without the command and providence of God? It could not happen, unless one should say that God is no longer God.”

To read the rest of the letter, click the link:

Guy de Brés letter to his wife Catherine

MY (LINUS) REFLECTIONS

I hope you will take the time to read the rest of Guy de Brès letter and that you will be encouraged by and aspire to the love and faith he expresses. Some day we will meet Guy and Catherine, their five children, and thousands and thousands (maybe millions) of other people who came to put their trust in Jesus Christ (and faith alone in His saving grace) because of the faith, ministry, faithfulness, courage, and sacrifice of Guy. He was willing to give up his family and his life that others might live … forever, as was our Savior, Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ.

I aspire to be more like Guy.

Moreover, I desire to be more and more like Jesus as we spread the Good News about Him near and far through Global Training Network and our Divine Expedition training.

Grateful to God; grateful for you; grateful to be in Christ,

Linus for the GTN Divine Expedition team