John Calvin on liturgy:
“As to what concerns a form of prayer and ecclesiastical rites, I highly approve of it that there be a certain form, from which the ministers be not allowed to vary: That first, some provision be made to help the simplicity and unskillfulness of some; secondly, that the consent and harmony of the churches one with another may appear; and lastly, that the capricious giddiness and levity of such as affect innovations may be prevented.”
C. S. Lewis’ “Letters to Malcolm” makes the same point, with more detail and elegance:
“Novelty may fix our attention not even on the service but on the celebrant. You know what I mean. Try as one may to exclude it, the question “What on earth is he up to now?” will intrude. It lays one’s devotion waste. There is really some excuse for the man who said, “I wish they’d remember that the charge to Peter was Feed my sheep; not Try experiments on my rats, or even, Teach my performing dogs new tricks….
The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God…
Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best–if you like, it ‘works’ best–when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count, the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance.”
Lewis says he can do with most any form of service so long as it stays the same. There is wisdom in that.
Calvin is arguing for a service that is reverent — and constant innovations and novelties, especially those aimed at entertaining, undercut the real purpose of worship.
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