Introductory Perspectives on Public Worship, Part 1

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that the duty of public worship is rooted in the law of nature and, more importantly, in direct revelation, citing James Bannerman and detailing God's specific…

Martin quotes James Bannerman's 'The Church of Christ' to argue that the foundation for public worship lies in the law of nature, as man's social nature demands public expression of worship.

Now in his classic work on the Church of Christ, James Bannerman suggests on page 324 of volume 1 that the foundation for the duty of public worship lies in the law of nature itself. The heart of his argument, I read in the closing paragraph, or the closing section of a large paragraph, on page 324 of volume 1, in which Bannerman writes, Man in the closet, that is, man praying alone, man in the family, man in his domestic duties, man in the church, is equally bound to the duties of the personal, the domestic, and the public worship of God. Without this, there are many of the powers and faculti...

6:40 - 7:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to the New Covenant, highlighting Christ's radical alteration of worship in John 4, and then expounding on 1 Peter 2, Ephesians 2, and Philippians 3 to show…

The story of Nadab and Abihu is used as a stark example of God's displeasure with those who innovate or disregard details in His instituted worship, emphasizing the seriousness of divine directives.

And we know what happened to a couple of characters that thought they could violate some details about some of the rituals. Nadab and Abedin thought they could innovate with regard, with regard to the matter of the fire by which the incense would be ignited, and God showed his displeasure by opening up the earth and swallowing them. As if to say, do not take lightly any detail with respect to my instituted worship. Now when we come to consider this matter in the new covenant community, we find that under the freedom, and liberty of the new covenant, there is a radical alteration of worship tha...

14:46 - 16:11 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin distinguishes between the fixed essence of worship (mandated by God) and variable circumstances (ordered by light of nature), citing Thornwell and Cunningham, and grounds…

Martin quotes Thornwell to explain the regulative principle's distinction between fixed elements (essence, beyond discretion) and variable elements (circumstances, adaptable) in public worship.

but the basic thrust of those paragraphs is that the authority of Jesus Christ through his word is sufficient to guide us in all the ways of our obedience unto him. So what is the regulative principle? Well, in the language of our confession, it is the concept that every person, that every person, that every person, that every person, that everything in the worship of God is to have specific mandated warrant from the word of God. To use the language of Thornwell, writing in volume four, page 248, this is what he says. In public worship indeed, in all commanded external actions, there are two e...

47:11 - 48:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin distinguishes between the fixed essence of worship (mandated by God) and variable circumstances (ordered by light of nature), citing Thornwell and Cunningham, and grounds…

Thornwell's example of adapting the posture for the Lord's Supper (reclining vs. sitting) based on cultural norms illustrates the distinction between the essence of an ordinance and its variable circumstances.

The rules of social interaction and of grave assemblies in different countries vary. The church accommodates or arrangements so as not to be a burden to the church. To revolt to the public sense of propriety. Where people recline at their meals, the church would administer the Lord's Supper to communicants at a reclining attitude.

48:34 - 48:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin distinguishes between the fixed essence of worship (mandated by God) and variable circumstances (ordered by light of nature), citing Thornwell and Cunningham, and grounds…

Martin quotes Dr. Cunningham to highlight two 'offensive' views of the Reformers: the unlawfulness of introducing anything not warranted by Scripture into worship and the binding obligation of a particular church government, linking these to the regulative principle.

Where they sit, she would change the mode. Dr. Cunningham, the noble principal of the Free Church College at Edinburgh, and one of the finest divines of Europe, has not scrupled amid the light of 19th century to teach the same doctrine. And then he quotes Cunningham.

48:57 - 49:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin distinguishes between the fixed essence of worship (mandated by God) and variable circumstances (ordered by light of nature), citing Thornwell and Cunningham, and grounds…

The anecdote of Mr. Donnelly, a Covenanter who cannot sing uninspired hymns but can worship freely, illustrates how differences in applying the regulative principle (e.g., on hymnody) do not negate agreement on the principle itself, as long as there is biblical warrant.

This is why when a Mr. Donnelly comes among us he can worship with a free and open heart in our midst. Though his conscience will not allow him in his understanding of the application of the regulative principle to sing an uninspired hymn by Herodotus Bonar. He can worship without a grieved spirit among us because he knows as he told me that in our singing an uninspired hymn of Bonar or Wesley we are singing it in the conviction that it fulfills the mandate of Colossians 3.16 and we are therefore singing it in the framework of the regulative principle. Now his conscience differs in the applica...

51:27 - 52:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: After the fatal separation between man and God occasioned by the fall it remained for God and him alone to say whether he would ever again permit the approach of man to him in the way of worship and if so it remained for…

The use of a piano or a hand organ in Pakistan for musical accompaniment is given as an example of a 'circumstance' of worship, not an 'essence,' which can vary while still fulfilling the biblical mandate for singing.

Shall we sing without any musical accompaniment or shall we have a piano to help us keep in unison so that with in the language of Romans 15 with one voice we shall glorify God and in obedience to the command make his praise glorious. Our piano is there with the conviction that there are biblical principles that mandate it. If we were not of that conviction it wouldn't be there. But I've been in other circumstances where it wasn't piano but a little hand organ the little bellows over in Pakistan.

54:02 - 54:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: After the fatal separation between man and God occasioned by the fall it remained for God and him alone to say whether he would ever again permit the approach of man to him in the way of worship and if so it remained for…

Martin quotes James Bannerman again, emphasizing that after the Fall, it remained for God alone to determine if man could approach Him in worship and to prescribe the terms and manner of that approach, forming the ultimate scriptural ground for the regulative principle.

Well here I would refer you to the words of James Bannerman again volume one of his work on the Church of Christ and at the bottom of page 324 he writes in what manner man as the creature of God is to hold intercourse with him for the purpose of worship in what form or by what methods he is to express his natural duty of honoring and adoring his maker by what positive institutions or in what appointed way he is left to draw near in religious service to God all this has not been left to the wisdom or invention of men to regulate but has been determined and ruled by God himself. And then Bannerm...

55:20 - 56:48 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have any doubt that you are leading the people to bring something that God has not required, then hold off including that element in worship until your conscience is satisfied in the light of the Word that God Him…

The metaphor of 'multitude of Nadabs and Abihus offering strange fire' is used to describe those who introduce human innovations into worship, highlighting the seriousness of disregarding God's directives and God's infinite patience.

And we have a multitude of Nadabs and Abihus offering strange fire upon God's altar and I believe it is a manifestation of the infinite patience of God that he does not cause the ground on which many a so-called church building sits to open up and swallow up the ground on a Sunday morning with all the foolishness that goes on in the name of worship. It is a witness to the infinite patience of Almighty God in the face of the impudence of man the creature. So by way of application let me say as we bring to a conclusion our concern with regard to this matter of the regulative principle that there...

59:15 - 60:42 Read in full sermon