R. Scott Clark laments the loss of the Psalter in Reformed worship. Odd that Puritanism ultimately leads to a rejection of God's prescription for worship and to liberalism. The same can be said for Anglicanism which has rejected the full reading of the Psalter and the Old and New Testament lessons of the 1559 and 1662 lectionary. God's Word exceeds human paraphrasing every time. Why? Because the tendency towards idolatry in the human heart exists by virtue of original sin and the remaining depravity and corruption of the human heart. Trusting the word of a pastor when he paraphrases is equally dangerous. The priesthood of believers calls every Christian to search the Scriptures to see if these things are so (John 5:39-40; Acts 17:11 ; 2 Timothy 3:15; Luke 24:47; 1 John 4:1).
The theology of hymns both ancient and modern are subject to be tested by Scripture. Why not purify worship by making the Scriptures the focus of our liturgy rather than man-made paraphrases? Surely R. Scott Clark has a valid point here. If Reformed worship is to be recovered there needs to be a return to Scripture as the basis of worship. For Anglicans there is no better liturgy and Scriptural worship than the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Reformed Anglicans ought to consider purifying their liturgy by returning to the 1662 lectionary and psalter and rejecting modern hymnology. Although Reformed Anglicans follow the "normative principle of worship" that principle is not that far removed from the "regulative principle of worship". The most pure form of Anglican worship is the 1662 Book of Common Worship, although some would argue for the 1552 or the 1559 BCP.
To read Dr. Clark's analysis of Lane Keister's more liberal view of the regulative principle click on the link below:
Responses to Lane and Others on Recovering Reformed Worship « Heidelblog
The theology of hymns both ancient and modern are subject to be tested by Scripture. Why not purify worship by making the Scriptures the focus of our liturgy rather than man-made paraphrases? Surely R. Scott Clark has a valid point here. If Reformed worship is to be recovered there needs to be a return to Scripture as the basis of worship. For Anglicans there is no better liturgy and Scriptural worship than the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Reformed Anglicans ought to consider purifying their liturgy by returning to the 1662 lectionary and psalter and rejecting modern hymnology. Although Reformed Anglicans follow the "normative principle of worship" that principle is not that far removed from the "regulative principle of worship". The most pure form of Anglican worship is the 1662 Book of Common Worship, although some would argue for the 1552 or the 1559 BCP.
To read Dr. Clark's analysis of Lane Keister's more liberal view of the regulative principle click on the link below:
Responses to Lane and Others on Recovering Reformed Worship « Heidelblog
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3 comments:
Agreed with the reasoning that using Psalter is the safest approach. Then there is also the argument used by Calvin & many other Reformers that we ought to offer in public worship only the best - and surely songs inspired directly by the Holy Spirit are the best?
Then there is the argument that the Regulative Principle requires the exclusive use of Psalms, to which I subscribe.
Manuel, I would argue that Cranmer most likely agreed with the exclusive use of the Psalter rather than hymns.
Where I part ways with Puritans is over things like rejecting the general confession of sin and the gospel absolution pronounced to all in the congregation.
The 1662 BCP by far exceeds modern Puritan worship on both counts. Also, modern Reformed churches read way less Scripture than a truly Reformed Anglican service does when using the 1662 lectionary and 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
Peace,
Charlie
It is interesting to see Reformed people questioning their own failure to preserve liturgical worship. It indicates a proper sense of humility and self-perception.
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