Thread by @tisaiahcho

Calvin's understanding of the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) is that while we must not introduce anything to the *essence* of worship that God has not prescribed, the virtue of charity/love guides the *circumstantial* forms, disciplines, and ceremonies we employ to...

apply biblical worship in the contextual nitty gritty.

In fact, Calvin argues that it is proper and necessary for the church to get rid of old forms and introduce new ones that are contextually relevant and meaningful to the time and space of the worshipper. Such changes are...

for the edification of the church, according to Calvin.

Further, when reading Calvin's Institutes and his commentaries, he actually speaks in favor of posturing in worship (e.g. Kneeling, raising hands, expressing oneself bodily) because they may be helpful, circumstantial...

aspects of worship.

Unfortunately, the picture of Calvin that's portrayed by many Reformed Christians is a hardliner who would have flipped out if something other than solemn, somber, unexpressive, and unemotional worship (what's often called "Reformed worship") were to be...

found in a Reformed church. How different from reality is that from the Calvin who said regarding worship, "...if we allow [love] to be our guide, all things will be safe."

"...as in external discipline and ceremonies, [God] has not been pleased to prescribe every...

particular that we ought to observe (he foresaw that this depended on the nature of the times, and that one form would not suit all ages), in them we must have recourse to the general rules which he has given, employing them to test whatever the necessity of the Church...

may require to be enjoined for order and decency...as [God] has not delivered any express command, because things of this nature are not necessary to salvation, and, for the edification of the Church, should be accommodated to the varying circumstances of each age and...

nation, it will be proper, as the interest of the Church may require, to change and abrogate the old, as well as to introduce new forms. I confess, indeed, that we are not to innovate rashly or incessantly, or for trivial causes. Charity is the best judge of what tends to...

hurt or to edify: if we allow her to be guide, all things will be safe."

Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.10.30.

Further thoughts on why the RPW leads to a broad application of worship forms and styles:

link.medium.com/tOeUoQQsuY