The Regulative Principal for Worship

The Regulative Principle in Worship: A brief article.

by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

[Quoted from Puritans Mind]

The Regulative Principle was given its classical and definitive statement in the reformed Confessions formulated in the 17th century. It is stated in Chapter 21 paragraph 1 in the Westminster Confession:

The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.[1] But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.1] Rom. 1:20; Psa. 19:1-4a; 50:6; 86:8-10; 89:5-7; 95:1-6; 97:6; 104:1-35; 145:9-12; Acts 14:17; Deut. 6:4-5  [2] Deut. 4:15-20; 12:32; Matt. 4:9-10; 15:9; Acts 17:23-25; Exod. 20:4-6, John 4:23-24; Col. 2:18-23

Therefore, I must ask. Is this appropriate worship music? It was played on Easter Sunday 2009 at New Spring Church (Whatever that is).

One Year Ago

One year ago tomorrow, September 20, 2008, I wrote about our trip to Australia. Now, one year later, I asked myself if what I wrote still held true. Absolutely. I would leave for another trip tomorrow if I could. Anyway, here's what I said then:

9222 miles is a long way. That is the distance from Detroit, Michigan to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The hours it takes to traverse that kind of distance are daunting. Thirty-six hours is my conservative estimate, counting wait times in airports, not counting drive times to and from same. Those hours, by the way, are consecutive. No time-outs’ for hotels or real sleep: Just the dozing – called sleep – on airplanes and in waiting room seats. It is exhausting.

Was it worth it? Of course! How often in one life-time does a person get the opportunity to make that kind of journey?

So what were some high lights of the trip:

1) Deep sea fishing – four of us caught 31 fish (all legal): Then we ate them.

2) A drive to the “12 Apostles National Park,” along the Great Ocean Road.

3) Dinner and dancing with part of the largest Greek population outside Athens.

4) Being surrounded with Cockatoos and Parrots in the mountains outside Melbourne.

5) Seeing a Koala, Kangaroos, Wallabies, etc., in the wild.

6) Eating Kangaroo meat.

7) Getting to watch Australian Rules Football playoffs from a Sky-box, with a sit-down Filet Mignon meal served in the box.

Getting used to sitting where the driver is supposed to sit in a car, but doesn’t. That’s not true! I’ll probably never get used to right-hand drive and left-side traffic.

There is more, but even after three days I’m still dragging and lagging. Jet lag is a bummer.

Would I go again? Silly question! When do we leave? This is the back of our friends house. Wouldn't you go again?

Science changes again

Evolutionary science is really an oxymoron. Not only can it not provide connections between species, which it claims exist, it uses Darwinian assumptions to make predictions often proven by "science" itself to be erroneous.

The latest example is the change in opinion about the appendix. Darwin said the appendix was a "vesitgal organ," something unneeded but thus far still not eliminated in the evolutionary process. For 150 years just about every non-Christian believed that as a fact. Christian Doctrine however, has always insisted God does not make mistakes, therefore the appendix is necessary, we just had not figured out for what.

Now comes word, again from "science" that the appendix is a necessary organ which the body uses for a cleansing process after a serious attack of diahrrea.

As usual obfuscation is the norm when the Media report on these kinds of things. The story (linked by science above) headline reads. "Appendix May Be Useful Organ After All." That's not what scientists are saying. Here is what they are really saying, quoted from the article:

Maybe it's time to correct the textbooks," said researcher William Parker, an immunologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "Many biology texts today still refer to the appendix as a 'vestigial organ.

I wonder when ABC, NBC, and the rest of the propaganda machinery is going to report on this?

Obscure, but True History

Remonstrans just had to get me started. But, of course, that's why I read their blog. They post interesting , factual, current, stuff. (I like the word stuff. It covers just about everything). Anyway the writer of Remonstrans posted an article that begins with this:

"I hold Texans accountable for a lot of wicked things (like J. Frank Norris, Clyde Barrow, Lyndon Johnson, and Dan Rather),...

Whoa thar pardner! J. Frank Norris; wicked...? I thought I was the only one who looked for and actually reads obscure history about people I hear mentioned from time to time.

Some Things We Can Choose

I chose to steal this picture from Pyromaniacs

You're One Of Those

One day I was chatting with a friend from Church about spiritual matters when he remarked, "Oh! You're of those!" I said, "what are you talking about?" He replied, "you're one of those Calvinists." By that he meant I was not really a Christian - in the sense that I wasn't interested in seeing folks added to the church daily as happened in the book of Acts.

I had just recently stumbled onto Calvinism by reading and listening to John Piper. Oh, I had heard about T.U.L.I.P., but had never investigated fully what that was all about. My friend's remark was said in jest, but my curiosity was aroused to the point that I began seriously investigating what it is I really believe. What a tremendous journey God has me on. Little did I know that what I had heard most of my life was a shallow, mostly man-centered, gloss of what God has truly revealed of Himself in his Word.

Billions Wasted on A Picture

"What I see is the grandeur of creation, however it got there...." That quote is from Hubble senior scientist Dave Leckrone. [Assoc Press article here.]



What is it in scientists that will not allow them to say "creation" without some qualifying language that refuses to acknowledge God? Is it that their peers are so intolerant they cannot say God for fear of being ostracized?

This picture is from the refurbished Hubble space telescope. It is a picture of the remnants of a dying star. The "butterfly wings" are superheated gases(36000 degress) being expelled at over 600,000 miles per hour. That speed would give you a round-trip to the moon in 24 minutes.  The Butterfly is located 3800 light years from earth.

The temperatures, the distances, the speeds of events happening in the Universe are mind-boggling. But, to witness these and claim they are accidental - evolutionary processes - is beyond my understanding. The minds which can do the math, the engineering, the calculations, with will and determination as exhibited by our scientists, must believe in their science as religion as I do my Christianity - with faith.

Alistair Begg Talks about Preaching

Begg asks: "Why is there such a disinterest in preaching."

Later he says: "Much of the trouble with our contemporary preaching is it is built on the fallacious assumption that anybody can and will respond to the gospel if only it's presented to them in the proper fashion."

See my post on "Free Will?" below!



A large portion is transcribed here.

Free Will?

There's a pretty good discussion in the comments section of the Pyromaniacs today (9-9-09) about free will. I particularly liked Mike Riccardi's comment: [Note: Mike has a post this subject here.]

We've got to be careful. The opposite of free will is not "no will"; it's an enslaved will (John 8:34; Rom 6:6, 6:16-20, 8:7-8). Everyone makes choices. But they can only make choices in accordance with their nature. In humanity's case, that nature is in bondage; it is not free. It is a sin, death, and child-of-wrath nature (Eph 2:1-3).

The unregenerate sinner has a will (i.e., a moral inclination to this or that). But his will is enslaved to sin until freed (or changed) by the sovereign grace of God (Eph 2:4-5; John 1:13; Jas 1:18).

"The opposite of free will is not no will..." Mike's statement points out a fact I have been wrestling with and it is this. Many folks I know, seem to have gotten caught up in the concept of "choosing" when discussing salvation. As in, "you must choose Christ as savior." However, Jesus himself commanded us to "repent," He didn't offer a choice.  Here is what He said, Matt 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Books 'n' Stuff

I love books. I haven't read this one, but the title sure is intriguing. From what I gather this book is a compilation of stories about life from people like me. It's about old people and their experiences. One of my favorite experiences is to be in a Borders Book store, with a Cappuccino, at a table perusing books I want and just might buy. I always buy one; Borders isn't a library.

Labor Day Conversation

I had one of the best Vocation Labor day's I've had in -- I can't remember when. A young man from my church invited me to breakfast at a local restaurant, and we talked about God and His Word for three hours. What a great time that was.

This young man is so well versed in scripture, he has my head spinning. He pointed out some scriptural things most Baptists just assume to be "true" because of constant repetition. Many of these ideas are, in fact, borderline heresy. (That's my word, not his). I have much praying and studying to do.

Obama to speak to children

Tuesday Pres. Obama is going to address the school children of America.

Wednesday he will expect them to look and act like those in the picture.

Oh wait! Those aren't children (maybe). They are part of the other "Great Leader's" navy.

It's so hard to keep the ideologies of the Great Leaders separated, they think so much alike. I just wish our Great Leader would do something really special: You know resign! Preferably before he speaks to the kids.

They don't like me

Sometimes I run across things that just seem to hit the 'ol funny-bone. The Wittenberg Door (Link in my link list) posted some quotes from various church bulletins. All of them are funny, but this one just got to me:

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

I hate when they me go around back. And, this, just when I'm starting to think I might not be all bad. Oh well! Maybe they'll let me use the front door next week, that is if they let me attend again. They probably really don't like me.

Music and relevance

Dr. Gene Veith has made some very important comments about the state of music in the United States. Sorry to say, I fear his forray into this subject is too late. Even the conservative Baptist Church I attend, has allowed the camel, so to speak, to get his nose under the tent flap. We have gone to what is called "blended" worship. We sing the standard Baptist hymns with the exception of one song, each Sunday morning. That song/chorus is accompanied by a video and sound track, and is a modern style "chorus." Our music director does his best to keep these scripturally based, but as with anything commercial, there are some that might be a little off track. The purpose for our doing this is to give the "young people" something that is supposed to seem more relevant to them.

What Dr. Veith has suggested is something I have known but did not have the will to talk about. It is the fact that whether we realize it or not, we are contributing to the dumbing-down of our membership by getting involved in these culturally initiated attempts at relevance. God did not call us to be relevant. He called us to take the good news of the gospel to a world that would hate us for it. We can't take the world the gospel if we are so lazy we do not want to retain structural church content that has served "the Church" for centuries. Proverbs 1:21 says, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?"

Fools hate knowledge and it is no more evident than through the simplistic jingoes we now sing for choruses. Dr. Veith says:

But that artists have to scale back their talent in order to achieve commercial success is a sobering thought. It makes sense: Complex artistic performances–in whatever genre, including popular ones such as rock and country–will move us into the realm of “high culture.” It requires knowledge, experience, and taste for an audience to appreciate. “Pop culture” has to be simpler and more homogenized to appeal to a mass commercial audience.

"High culture...requires knowledge, experience and taste...." We do not help our young people by feeding them more of what they feed on 24/7 in the way of music. We feed our young and ourselves by singing, playing, and repeating psalms, hymns, and worship music written about God, not about what we are doing for God. Most of the choruses we sing are ditties telling God how we "feel," what "we" are doing in the way of worship, etc. Our focus in worship should be about what God has done, not what we have done or will do for Him.

Veith goes on to say, "...this strikes me as a dysfunction and as a violation of vocation." Dr. Veith is absolutely correct. It is a violation of vocation to capitulate to the desires of sinful men. Vocation (a word we use instead of calling) is God ordained, in that if we pursue our gifts in the way He desires, God will usually place us in a work situation that compliments us, and from which we will be better able to witness about Him. If we do not pursue our vocation using our gifts to the best of our abilities, we begin to lose the effectiveness God intended for us to have. Musicians, nor anyone else, should ever be required to give less than their best just for "comercial" success, or to "be relevant." This is especially true for people serving in church.

A good example of what happens when we try to be relevant, is people begin to shop for churches like they do shirts at the mall. Our church recently lost a couple because they "didn't like" the music. That we preach the gospel apparently doesn't matter to them. Their unspoken complaint is that we were not feeding their ego's and the "entertainment" we provided just didn't make them "feel" good.

Every Christian should make it a point, all day every day, to do whatever is necessary to gain just a little more knowledge, and perform his tasks just a little bit better. I can only imagine what kind of nation we would have today if Christians had been following that simple formula for the past 200+ years.

Whether music, preaching, teaching, or participating in Worship we should always and in everway give our best. After all, these endeavors are supposed to about God, and not about us.

Christianity 21

It's called Christianity 21. Apparently it is a gathering of people searching for something. I don't quite know what to make of it. The Web Site says, in part:

Christianity21 is more than just a set of presentations. The entire experience is designed to create value for the participants.

I did note that all of the participants are female, even Seth, (not that there's anything wrong with that) which I find strange, since it is not billed as a "female only" gathering. Many of the participants appear to have "gender identity" issues as is exemplified by this presenter:

Her name is Nadia. She's an ordained "Pastor" in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Her church is House for All Saints and Sinners, Denver, Colorado. I only know of her by what I read on the web. I haven't been to her church, nor heard her speak. The fact that I do know, however, is this, which I obtained from her church's web site:

House for All Sinners and Saints' is a group of folks figuring out how to be a liturgical, Christo-centric, social justice oriented, queer inclusive, incarnational, contemplative, irreverent, ancient - future church with a progressive but deeply rooted theological imagination.

I've posted - a lot - recently about language and some of the reasons to be clear when communicating. This "church" makes it very clear why this is so important. The only place I found, in any of the church's or the Conference's material where an attempt was made to include God in their program is the phrase, "Christo-centric." But, that is not a religious, biblical, scriptural, or in any way god related phrase. It is about being human centered. It is sociological, progressive, (read liberal) feel good, jargon.

Moreover, the entire Christianity 21 set-up, appears to be no more than a redefined pagan celebration of all that is currently popular in American "pop" religion. The language they use, i.e., contemplative, social- justice, queer inclusive, irreverent, etc., says they are about designing a pragmatic "what works" religion.

"Theological imagination," I think, is the key to what so many, in our culture, like these people, find confusing. The Bible is objectively real, not imaginary. Theology is supposed to be about how men/women put into proper perspective the facts about God that He has given us in His Word. It is not supposed to be about imagining what we think about what He said.

God warned us about this kind of thing in His Word. He said:

(2 Peter 3:3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

I think God pretty well summed up who and what these people are about via that verse. They don't like the Christ of the Bible, so they are intent on inventing an imaginary savior.

In olden times this religion was called Pagamism. The Israelites built a Golden Calf to honor their pagan god, Christinity 21 appears to be using other means to honor theirs.

Form of Words

I believe I'm turning into a thief. Wait! I am a thief. I've been stealing all kinds of really good stuff from other web sites. But, then, I don't think the others mind, I always try to attribute what I use, to them, and am grateful they have not threatened to soak my typing fingers in hot-grease or something. Besides, the 'Gummint' says we can use reasonable amounts of copyrighted material if we attribute the usage to the authors. Ok! So much for rationalizing, justifying, weasling-out, and generally making excuses for my un-originality.

I've also been hung-up recently on the use of language in and around church in particular, and in life, in general. Seems the folks at Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics thought about this as well. This I stole from them:

2 Timothy 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

13. Hold the form of sound words. Some explain it thus: “Let thy doctrine be, as it were, a pattern which others may imitate.” I do not approve of that view. Equally removed from Paul’s meaning is Chrysostom’s exposition, that Timothy should have at hand the image of virtues engraven on his heart by Paul’s doctrine. I rather think that Paul commands Timothy to hold fast the doctrine which he had learned, not only as to substance, but as to the very form of expression; for — the word which Paul employs on this occasion — denotes a lively picture of objects, as if they were actually placed before the eyes. Paul knew how ready men are to depart or fall off from pure doctrine. For this reason he earnestly cautions Timothy not to turn aside from that form of teaching which he had received, and to regulate his manner of teaching by the rule which had been laid down; not that we ought to be very scrupulous about words, but because to misrepresent doctrine, even in the smallest degree, is exceedingly injurious.

–– John Calvin, from his commentary on 2 Timothy

Could it be that our modern paraphrases and simplified versions of the Bible and Confessions will, in the end, have the exact opposite effect from what we hoped for? What form will we use for the next generation?

Now, before everyone becomes apoplectic over "Calvin," I recommend actually reading some of his material to find out what he says - not what people say he says.

A really good quote

I was wandering around cyberspace a few moments ago and came across this:

We must always take what our opponent says seriously and treat him respectfully. That means we don’t scoff when he says something really stupid. (From the Wittenberg Door)

That  makes sense. It's always difficult to hold a conversation with someone stupid after you've told him he is stupid. Talk between you then tends to turn into a shouting match, and nothing is gained. A lot more can be accomplished by allowing him to come to the realization he is stupid all by himself.

Stupid is defined as a lack of intelligence. For the most part, I think stupid folks are that way because of their laziness in trying to better themselves. Not many of us would identify someone who lacks inate intelligence as stupid. No, stupid people are stupid because they choose to be.

Still, we gain a lot more by treating them respectefully as human-beings made in the image of God and not as the dolts they truly are. Besides, God commands we treat our neighbors as ourselves, even if they are jerks. But, I still like what Jesus called some stupid, jerks, while He was here - "whitewashed tombs." That pretty much says it.

This will start your brain churning

It's Friday, so it isn't time to turn off the brain for the weekend just yet! With that in mind, how about this from the Pyromaniacs, "All Religions Do Lead To God":

Other religions will bring you to God. Shintoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam — they'll all eventually bring you to God. Mormonism, Christian Science, paganism, animism, and Roman Catholicism will bring you to God. Every practitioner of every religion created by man and/or demon will, by that religion, be brought to God.

If that doesn't start the old Christian brain cranking I don't know what will. This is a good article. The writer goes on to say:

But none of those religions will bring us to God as "Father"!

Fooled you didn't I? All religions lead to God, but only the true religion leads to Him as Father, every other leads to Him as Judge.

I sure am thankful I am covered by the grace and blood of Jesus Christ. I would not want to meet God as the Judge of my life without protection.

If you can't say that read this.

The Gospel In Four Sentences

Man was created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

"Worthy are you, our Lord and our God to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things." (Rev 4:11) "Do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31)

Man has failed to glorify God and; is under His just condemnation

"For all have sinned..." (Rom 3:23) The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23) "These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction" (2 Thes 1:9)

Jesus fully bore the wrath and suffered the punishment sinners deserve

Not wishing that sinners perish forever, God determined to save a people for Himself in the Eternal Son who became a man and lived the life we should have lived and died the death we justly deserve. God loves sinners and sent His Son to be the wrath absorbing sacrifice for their sin (1 John 4:10; John 6:37) he "...gave His life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45) & "rose again" from the dead (2 Cor 5:15) on their behalf.

All who, by the grace of God, turn to Jesus in repentantant submissive faith are forgiven
and; begin a life-changing, eternally satisfying relationship with God!

"Repent and believe the gospel (Mk 1:5) "In Your presence is fullness of Joy (Ps 16:11)

Reformationtheology.com

Another Day another Book

The Guinness family is famous for beer. In Great Britain, I’m told, that’s the only kind to drink.


However, that family also produced one of the greatest Christians alive today, at least that’s my opinion. Dr. Os Guinness is a member of that family. As a Christian speaker, author, apologist, debater, and spokesman for Christianity, I don’t think there are too many men better than he in that capacity.

I bought his book “The Call,” a while back, and am just now starting to read it. The blurb on the back says, “Os Guinness invites you to explore the ultimate answer to identity, meaning, and purpose. ‘The Call’ speaks to the longing in every human heart and answers – You were created with a purpose.’”
On page 30 he says, “(Calling) is almost a synonym for salvation. In this context, calling is overwhelmingly God’s calling people to himself as followers of Christ.”

If that’s any indication, this should be a great book.

Did you ever hear the name Pelagius

Pelagius was a monk who argued with Augustine that men are not really "dead" spiritually, they retained he asserted, the capcity to choose God or not.

That argument ensued about 400 AD and it continues to this day. The end result for us modern Americans is that we that we still have to pick which side we are on: Agustine's or Pelagius'.

Dr. Michael Horton has an article which makes the choice quite clear. Choose Pelagius - you lose.

Augustine taught that human beings, because they are born in original sin, are incapable of saving themselves. Apart from God's grace, it is impossible for a person to obey or even to seek God. Representing the entire race, Adam sinned against God. This resulted in the total corruption of every human being since, so that our very wills are in bondage to our sinful condition. Only God's grace, which he bestows freely as he pleases upon his elect, is credited with the salvation of human beings.

On the other hand, Horton says this about Pelagius:

According to Pelagius, Adam was merely a bad example, not the father of our sinful condition-we are sinners because we sin-rather than vice versa. Consequently, of course, the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, was a good example. Salvation is a matter chiefly of following Christ instead of Adam, rather than being transferred from the condemnation and corruption of Adam's race and placed "in Christ," clothed in his righteousness and made alive by his gracious gift. What men and women need is moral direction, not a new birth; therefore, Pelagius saw salvation in purely naturalistic terms-the progress of human nature from sinful behavior to holy behavior, by following the example of Christ.

So, if we go along with Pelagius's belief that we are not really "dead" in our "trespasses and sins," as scripture states, then of course we can "choose" to believe - or not. Horton adds this about Pelagius:

In his Commentary on Romans, Pelagius thought of grace as God's revelation in the Old and New Testaments, which enlightens us and serves to promote our holiness by providing explicit instruction in godliness and many worthy examples to imitate. So human nature is not conceived in sin. After all, the will is not bound by the sinful condition and its affections; choices determine whether one will obey God, and thus be saved.

This is what Oprah believes. I think I believe what Augustine, Luther, etc., believed. If God doesn't change us we don't get changed.

A quote I like

I read this this morning and fogot to get the link. But, anyway, I liked it so much I will repeat it without attribution:

"the culmination of hatred is indifference."

That's something to think about.

If you happen to know where it came from let me know, please!

If the Post Office is any indication...

...we are headed for deep trouble when the Government takes over health care. Let me explain!

The other day the wife got a call from a customer asking if we had received her package. We had not. This morning the customer called to advise us, the Postal Service had tried to deliver the package in July. She said they had left three notifications that the package was available for pickup at the Post Office, but we had not responded. Note: The Post Office always blames the customers for errors.

We did not receive any notification of a package for pickup but I went to the P.O., as our customer requested. Well sure enough the package was in the Post Office. Now, the thing of it is, the package should not have been there, it should have been returned to sender. Postal regulations state that packages are to be returned to the sender after 12 days. So much for rules and regulations of the Federal Government.

So, if I take into consideration the efficiency (actually inefficiancy) of the Post Office which has been in operation for over one hundred years, I can only imagine what the health care system will be like in 5 years.

It will be our fault for getting sick in the first place; we got the wrong medicine because we didn't ask the right question; the Doctor can't see us until next year because his union won't let him; and the Hospital closes sharply at 5:00 PM so come back tomorrow, except for the weekends, then they will tell us to come back Monday.

God help us!

We invent a God in whom we wish to believe.

Dr. Mohler is President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. To my mind he is also one of the greatest teachers alive today. His ability to bring clarity to tough subjects is unequaled. His sermon, "How can a God of love send anyone to hell?", I believe, is one of the best, if not the best, I have ever heard on this question.

In it he explains who and why people go to hell. Furthermore, he comments on our American penchant for idolatry, which most of us are unaware is taking place. He says it is:

 "The idolatry wherein we invent a God in whom we wish to believe."

The messsage is 43 minutes long, but Mohler makes is seem as though it is way too short. It is well worth the investment in time to watch. I highly recommend it.