France and the gospel
John Calvin was a Frenchman and his great work, "The Institutes of the Christian Religion", was addressed to the King of France to inform him of the true nature of the reformed faith. France was extensively evangelised during the reformation period, and many cities in France became strongly protestant.
However, this was seen as a threat to the unity and the peace of the country ("Une foi, une loi, un roi"), and war broke out, including scenes of horror like the St Bartholomew's Day massacre and the siege of La Rochelle. Many protestants left France, and gospel Christianity became limited to certain areas in the south of the country like the Cevennes, parts of Aquitaine and Savoy.
The rise of secularism following the 1789 revolution, and the prominence of atheistic philosophies in the country made France difficult soil for faith to grow in and the Catholic church declined dramatically. Paradoxically, the occult, alternative therapies and esoteric philosophies are very popular in France, and it is often said that there are more occult practitioners than Christian workers of any kind. Also the history of "Wars of Religion" means that some French people fear strong faith and believe it to be socially destructive.
So although France has about the same population as the UK, and although they are separated by such a narrow channel of sea, there are only approximately 1/10 as many Christians in France as in the UK, and these tend to be concentrated in certain parts of the country - the Cevennes, Paris, Alsace & Lorraine - while other parts of the country have much less Christian witness.
However, over the past 50 years the church has been growing in France and churches are being established in many centres of population. Also, many French gypsies have become Christians in recent years.
However, this was seen as a threat to the unity and the peace of the country ("Une foi, une loi, un roi"), and war broke out, including scenes of horror like the St Bartholomew's Day massacre and the siege of La Rochelle. Many protestants left France, and gospel Christianity became limited to certain areas in the south of the country like the Cevennes, parts of Aquitaine and Savoy.
The rise of secularism following the 1789 revolution, and the prominence of atheistic philosophies in the country made France difficult soil for faith to grow in and the Catholic church declined dramatically. Paradoxically, the occult, alternative therapies and esoteric philosophies are very popular in France, and it is often said that there are more occult practitioners than Christian workers of any kind. Also the history of "Wars of Religion" means that some French people fear strong faith and believe it to be socially destructive.
So although France has about the same population as the UK, and although they are separated by such a narrow channel of sea, there are only approximately 1/10 as many Christians in France as in the UK, and these tend to be concentrated in certain parts of the country - the Cevennes, Paris, Alsace & Lorraine - while other parts of the country have much less Christian witness.
However, over the past 50 years the church has been growing in France and churches are being established in many centres of population. Also, many French gypsies have become Christians in recent years.
Comments
Comment allez-vous? Je m'appelle Julia Sedlack, et je suis une etudiante de français americaine. I was looking across the web and was delighted to come across your blog! I've known that I was called to the missions field from the time I was about 11, and, as of yet, the compass seems to be pointing me to France. I'm hoping to go on a mission trip this summer, and, in the future, to make ministry my full time career (while utilizing my writing for the cause of actually eating).
Here's hoping (and praying) that God will bless you, your family, and your ministry! I know that He has yet greater things planned for you all in the months and years to come.
Que dieu vous bénisse!
Julia