John Calvin - Biblical Authority for Worship John Calvin notes: I know how difficult it is to persuade the world that God disapproves of all modes of worship not expressly sanctioned by his word.Quotes from. The Necessity of Reforming the Church (1543) To the Most Invincible Emperor, Charles V,
and the Most Illustrious Princes and Other Orders,
Now Holding a Diet of the Empire at Spires,
August Emperor:
Compelled Us to Seek RemediesLet us now see what is meant by the due worship of God.Its chief foundation is to acknowledge him to be, as he is, the only source of all virtue, justice, holiness, wisdom, truth, power, goodness, mercy, life, and salvation;
in accordance with this, to ascribe and render to him the glory of all that is good, to seek all things in him alone, and in every want have recourse to him alone.
Hence arises prayer, hence praise and thanksgiving -- these being attestations to the glory which we attribute to him. This is that genuine sanctification of his name which he requires of us above all things. To this is united adoration, by which we manifest for him the reverence due to his greatness and excellency; and to this ceremonies are subservient, as helps or instruments, in order that, in the performance of divine worship, the body may be exercised at the same time with the soul.
Next after these comes self-abasement, when, renouncing the world and the flesh, we are transformed in the renewing of our mind and living no longer to ourselves, submit to be ruled and actuated by him. By this self-abasement we are trained to obedience and devotedness to his will, so that his fear reigns in our hearts, and regulates all the actions of our lives.
That in these things consists the true and sincere worship which alone God approves, and in which alone he delights,
is both taught by the Holy Spirit throughout the scriptures, and is also, antecedent to discussion, the obvious dictate of piety.
Nor from the beginning was there any other method of worshipping God, the only difference being, that this spiritual truth, which with us is naked and simple,
was under the former dispensation wrapped up in figures. And this is the meaning of our Saviour's words,
"The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23).For by these words he meant not to declare that God was not worshipped by the fathers in this spiritual manner, but only to point out a distinction in the external form:
that is, that while they had the Spirit shadowed forth by many figures, we have it in simplicity. But it has always been an acknowledged point, that God, who is a Spirit, must be worshipped in spirit and in truth.
Moreover, the rule which distinguishes between pure and vitiated worship is of universal application,
in order that we may not adopt any device which seems fit to ourselves,
but look to the injunctions of him who alone is entitled to prescribe.
Therefore, if we would have him to approve our worship, this rule, which he everywhere enforces with the utmost strictness, must be carefully observed.For there is a twofold reason why the Lord, in condemning and prohibiting all fictitious worship, requires us to give obedience only to his own voice.
First, it tends greatly to establish his authority that we do not follow our own pleasure, but depend entirely on his sovereignty; and,
secondly, such is our folly, that when we are left at liberty, all we are able to do is to go astray.And then when once we have turned aside from the right path, there is no end to our wanderings, until we get buried under a multitude of superstitions.
Justly, therefore, does the Lord, in order to assert his full right of dominion,
strictly enjoin what he wishes us to do,
and at once reject all human devices which are at variance with his command.Justly, too, does he, in express terms, define our limits,
that we may not, by fabricating perverse modes of worship, provoke his anger against us.Protestant: I know how difficult it is to persuade the world that
God disapproves of all modes of worship
not expressly sanctioned by his word.Catholic: The opposite persuasion which cleaves to them, being seated, as it were, in their very bones and marrow, is,
that whatever they do has in itself a sufficient sanction,
provided it exhibits some kind of zeal for the honor of God.But since God not only regards as fruitless, but also plainly abominates, whatever we undertake from zeal to his worship,
if at variance with his command, what do we gain by a contrary course?
The words of God are clear and distinct, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," (1 Sam. 15:22; Matt. 15:9).
Every addition to his word, especially in this matter, is a lie. Mere "will worship" (ethelothreeskeia) is vanity.
This is the decision, and when once the judge has decided, it is no longer time to debate.John Calvin speaks to church officers not ordained by God and assuming authority as mediator which only belongs to Jesus Christ. Then he wrote:
I come now to ceremonies, which, while they ought to be grave attestations of divine worship, are rather a mere mockery of God. A new Judaism, as a substitute for that which God had distinctly abrogated,
has again been reared up by means of numerous puerile extravagancies,
collected from different quarters; and with these have been mixed up certain impious rites,
partly borrowed from the heathen, and more adapted to some theatrical show than to the dignity of our religion.The first evil here is, that an immense number of ceremonies, which God had by his authority abrogated, once for all, have been again revived.
The next evil is that, while ceremonies ought to be living exercises of piety, men are vainly occupied with numbers of them that are both frivolous and useless.
But by far the most deadly evil of all is, that after men have thus mocked God with ceremonies of one kind or other,
they think they have fulfillled their duty as admirably as if these ceremonies included in them the whole essence of piety and divine worship.
The Catholic Encyclopedia supports John Calvin by noting that: "We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and in the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service, just as she adopted many other things indifferent in themselves, which seemed proper to enhance the splendour of religious ceremonial. We must not forget that most of these adjuncts to worship, like music, lights, perfumes, ablutions, floral decorations, canopies, fans, screens, bells, vestments, etc. were not identified with any idolatrous cult in particular; they were common to almost all cults. They are, in fact, part of the natural language of mystical expression, and such things belong quite as much to secular ceremonial as they do to religion. Catholic Encyclopedia, Candles
Having observed that the word of God is the test which discriminates between his true worship and that which is false and vitiated, we thence readily infer that the whole form of divine worship in general use in the present day is nothing but mere corruption.
For men pay no regard to what God has commanded, or to what he approves, in order that they may serve him in a becoming manner,
but assume to themselves a licence of devising modes of worship, and afterwards obtruding them upon him as a substitute for obedience.
If in what I say I seem to exaggerate, let an examination be made of all the acts by which the generality suppose that they worship God. I dare scarcely except a tenth part as not the random offspring of their own brain. What more would we? God rejects, condemns, abominates all fictitious worship,
and employs his word as a bridle to keep us in unqualified obedience. When shaking off this yoke, we wander after our own fictions, and offer to him a worship, the work of human rashness, how much soever it may delight ourselves, in his sight it is vain trifling, nay, vileness and pollution.
The advocates of human traditions paint them in fair and gaudy colors; and Paul certainly admits that they carry with them a show of wisdom; but as God values obedience more than all sacrifices, it ought to be sufficient for the rejection of any mode of worship,
that it is not sanctioned by the command of God.
We come now to what we have set down as the second principal branch of Christian doctrine: that is, knowledge of the source from which salvation is to be obtained. Now, the knowledge of our salvation presents three different stages. First, we must begin with a sense of individual wretchedness, filling us with despondency as if we were spiritually dead.
The first thing we complain of here is, that the people are entertained with showy ceremonies, while not a word is said of their significance and truth.
From Harmony of the Law - Volume 2 by John Calvin
"For this office, to which they were appointed, was no servile one, as that they should blow the trumpets at the command of others; but rather did God thus set them over public affairs,
that the people might not tumultuously call their assemblies in the blindness and precipitation of passion, but rather that modesty, gravity, and moderation should be observed in them.
We know how often in earthly affairs God is not regarded, but counsels are confidently discussed without reference to His word.
He testified, therefore, by this employment of the priests, that all assemblies, except those in which He should preside, were accursed.
"Profane nations also had their ceremonies, such as auguries, supplications, soothsayings, victims, because natural reason dictated that nothing could be engaged in successfully without Divine assistance; but God would have His people bound to Him in another way,
so that, when called by the sound of the sacred trumpets as by a voice from heaven,
........... they should assemble to holy and pious deliberations.The circumstance of the place also has the same object. The door of the Tabernacle was to them, as if they placed themselves in the sight; of God.
We will speak of the word dewm, mogned (synagogue) elsewhere. Although it signifies an appointed time, or place, and also an assembly of the people, I prefer translating it convention, because God there in a solemn manner, as if before
His sacred tribunal, called the people to witness, or, according to appointment, proceeded to make a covenant with them.
Thus Malvenda in Poole's Syn., "et clangetis taratantara." The word is used by Ennius "At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit." -- Serv. in, AEn, 4. A.V., "an alarm."
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Matt 7:5
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Matt 7:6
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Matt 7:5
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Matt 7:6
Ezekiel also wrote the same thing:
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words,
but they do not put them into practice.With their mouths they express devotion (Lord, Lord as amorousness - inordinate love),
but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain (commerce or trade or attendance). Eze 33:31Egeb (h5690) eh'-gheb, from 5689; love (concr.), i. e. amative words: - much love, very lovely.
Gen 4:21 And his brothers name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
The organ is:
Uwgab (h5748) oo-gawb'; or uggab oog-gawb'; from 5689 in the orig. sense of breathing; a reed-instrument of music: - organ
Taphas (h8610) taw-fas'; a prim. root; to manipulate, i. e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield; spec. to overlay; fig. to use unwarrantably: - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, * surely, surprise, take.
Taphaph (h8608) taw-faf'; a prim. root; to drum, i. e. play (as) on the tambourine: - taber, play with timbrels.
Tophtheh (h8613) tof-teh'; prob. a form of 8611; Tophteh, a place of cremation: - Tophet.
And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. Isa 30:32
For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. Is.30:33
Agab (h5689) aw-gab'; a prim. root; to breathe after, i. e. to love (sensually): - dote, lover.
Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted. Eze.23:9
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt. Eze. 23:19
For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. Eze. 23:20
Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth. Eze. 23:21
Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side; Eze. 23:22
Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs (minstrel as a prostitute) with a beautiful voice and plays (make melody on) an instrument well,
for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. Eze 33:32
When all this comes true--and it surely will--then they will know that a prophet has been among them." Eze 33:33Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matt 7:7
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Matt 7:8
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Matt 7:9
Neither be ye called masters (Teacher): for one is your Master, even Christ. Matt 23:10
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant (diakonos). Matt 23:11
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matt 23:12
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Matt 23:13
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Mt.23:14
