Just as Bad in Geneva

I recently finished a new biography of John Calvin, titled John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life. I was strangely encouraged by Calvin's complaints in Geneva about people's attitudes towards the service of worship. During the administration of the sacrament of baptism, people would be in the back of the church discussing business or walking around. I don't feel so bad now when people get up in the middle of a sermon and wander around or when the kids drop the pencils on the hardwood floor and they roll all the way to the front of the sanctuary. Even Calvin had to put up with distractions and people distracted from the service of worship. And that was before TV and texting....