Calvin and rethinking corporate worship

http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/theology/calvin_and_rethinking_corporate_worship/

[sydneyanglicans.net] 19 Aug 2009--When in the midst of the Reformation John Calvin was asked to spell out the reasons for reform, he listed the two defining elements of Christianity as “a knowledge, first, of the right way to worship God; and, secondly, of the source from which salvation is to be sought”.

The order here is important. According to Calvin salvation is a means to an end, with the worship of God being that end. In fact, Calvin says, our public worship together is a foretaste of the worship that lies before us in heaven above.

As such worship is not so much about fellowship, mutual encouragement, entertainment, sermon tasting, nor even education or saving souls, but rather a meeting with God.