History acts as a mirror, revealing both wisdom and warning—if we are willing to see it. One recurring pattern in church history is clergy bias, where leaders protect their own while holding others to stricter standards. A striking example of this can be found in the 16th century when John Calvin faced a scandal involving his close friend and mentor, William Farel.
At 69 years old, Farel—one of the leading figures of the Reformation—became engaged to 16-year-old Marie Thorel. The news sparked controversy among Protestant leaders, including Calvin, who personally opposed the marriage. Despite believing it was “contrary to the order and seemliness of nature,” Calvin did not publicly denounce his long-time friend. Instead, he urged discretion and damage control, instructing ministers to avoid exposing the scandal.
It’s a sharp contrast with Calvin’s treatment of others. For instance, when Pierre Ameaux criticized Calvin’s doctrine, he was subjected to public humiliation—forced to parade through Geneva in a shirt, carrying a torch, while begging for forgiveness. Why the difference? Was Calvin’s personal loyalty to Farel stronger than his commitment to equal accountability?
The goal of course, is to neither discredit nor excuse Calvin, but to hold up a mirror for today’s church. If we excuse the failings of our theological heroes, do we risk repeating their mistakes? Are modern churches still protecting powerful leaders while disciplining others with harsher scrutiny?
Church history is filled with cases of partiality, where influential leaders are treated with leniency, while ordinary believers suffer severe consequences for lesser offenses. The issue is not unique to the past—it remains relevant today in denominational leadership, church discipline, and even theological circles.
Hebrews 13:7 calls us to “consider the outcome of their way of life.” This means examining both the strengths and shortcomings of past leaders—not to discredit them, but to learn from them. If Calvin could fail in this way, what about our leaders today? What about us?
History warns us that partiality toward leaders is a recurring problem. By facing these patterns honestly, we can strive for integrity and biblical accountability in today’s church.