All rules and no play, make the world a very dull place// Ezra Kennedy
The Geneva Ordinances are quit the set of rules and restrictions with very little room for excuse or leniency.
You are to always to attend sermons, you and everyone else under your roof. The only excuse for having not been there is where children are concerned. I mean it’s understandable, you can’t leave them home alone— they could kidnapped or worse. And bringing them to service can be difficult as well, children can become restless which can easily become disruptive or distractions. And because all are “pay attention during sermon” that would not be good. It would actually be breaking the law.
The ordinance concerning baptism is pretty reasonable and agreeable so I’d just like to mention it in passing by saying that. The ordinance concerning Blasphemies does however raise a couple of questions. What are the blasphemies that they speak of? I.e. What is considered blasphemy and who decides that? And what type of punishments are just for said sin? According to Calvin Swearing by the blood or body of Christ is considered blasphemous, but are their certain circumstances that make this alright? I get that the council decides what is blasphemous but the council isn’t omnipresent. They wouldn’t know if someone spoke out of term, so would someone else who doesn’t care for these rules either turn them in? Lastly I don’t like how vague the punishments are described. I want to know if toes, fingernails, or piercings were violently removed. Punishment is supposed to make people repent and go back no more. Hopefully the bread and water worked well enough.
The ordinance on songs and dance reminds me of any church youth gathering, where you can only listen to remakes of old hymns or Mary Mary and if anyone DARE play Tye Tribbett, Andy Andy Mineo or Justin bieber, they will be punished for their wicked deeds. They must walk through the church stripped of dignity and walking in shame as they are being stoned.
Although some of these are way outrageous, they worked more or less I don’t know if they would have the same power in this day and age, but they worked in the day of Calvin. There’s nothing new under them sun so our sins are still the same, but the mindset of this time would definitely class with that one.
You are to always to attend sermons, you and everyone else under your roof. The only excuse for having not been there is where children are concerned. I mean it’s understandable, you can’t leave them home alone— they could kidnapped or worse. And bringing them to service can be difficult as well, children can become restless which can easily become disruptive or distractions. And because all are “pay attention during sermon” that would not be good. It would actually be breaking the law.
The ordinance concerning baptism is pretty reasonable and agreeable so I’d just like to mention it in passing by saying that. The ordinance concerning Blasphemies does however raise a couple of questions. What are the blasphemies that they speak of? I.e. What is considered blasphemy and who decides that? And what type of punishments are just for said sin? According to Calvin Swearing by the blood or body of Christ is considered blasphemous, but are their certain circumstances that make this alright? I get that the council decides what is blasphemous but the council isn’t omnipresent. They wouldn’t know if someone spoke out of term, so would someone else who doesn’t care for these rules either turn them in? Lastly I don’t like how vague the punishments are described. I want to know if toes, fingernails, or piercings were violently removed. Punishment is supposed to make people repent and go back no more. Hopefully the bread and water worked well enough.
The ordinance on songs and dance reminds me of any church youth gathering, where you can only listen to remakes of old hymns or Mary Mary and if anyone DARE play Tye Tribbett, Andy Andy Mineo or Justin bieber, they will be punished for their wicked deeds. They must walk through the church stripped of dignity and walking in shame as they are being stoned.
Although some of these are way outrageous, they worked more or less I don’t know if they would have the same power in this day and age, but they worked in the day of Calvin. There’s nothing new under them sun so our sins are still the same, but the mindset of this time would definitely class with that one.
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