Concerns on (Some) Modern Regulative Principle Proponents
Times recently ranked 3rd the “new Calvinism” as the “idea that is changing the world right now”1. I myself have been noticing this. This is quiet true in Korea; and I thank the Lord for his abundant blessings to the Christians in Korea, and raising up reformed churches there. It is worth while to note that one of the main object or reason for the Reformation was to bring back biblical worship.2 The Hebrew word “shachah” (translated “worship” in English) has a simple and clear meaning of “bowing down”; but since it is so easy for humans to understand it as a physical activity, our Lord taught us that we…
Calvin on Worship: The Necessity of Reforming The Church
Here are some schematic equations representing Calvin’s thought on worship, according to some people: “Old Testament Worship $ \overset{?}{=}$ Sacrificial Ceremonies in the Temple” and “Worship $ \overset{?}{=}$ Reading of Scripture + Prayer + Sacraments” but “Worship $\neq$ Reading of Scripture + Prayer + Sacraments + Dancing”. According to my reading of Calvin, however, he says that ‘None of the above is right.‘ His view on worship is carefully written in his letter The Necessity of Reforming the Church. And I shall quote Calvin from that letter throughout this post. In essence, what Calvin says there is that worship cannot be defined in terms of external forms; and that the…
