Presbyterian Worship: Old and New by Kevin Reed http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/FrameWor.htm A Review and Commentary upon Worship in Spirit and Truth, a book by John Frame. Kevin Reed shows how John Frame has abandoned the Reformation, both scripturally and confessionally, in regard to worship. He also gives an excellent summary of historic Reformed views and then contrasts them with the novel idolatrous ideas now being touted by John Frame.
Sadly, most Protestant churches (and even churches Reformed in their soteriology) are often closer to Rome than the Reformation in their public worship, practicing such Roman Catholic innovations in public worship as signing man-made hymns (rather than the using the "hymn book" God has provided in Scripture, and singing Psalms), using musical instruments (a practice abrogated, in public worship, with the rest of the ceremonial law with the coming of Christ), and keeping Popish holy days like Christmas and Easter (which violates the second and fourth commandments).
The quote below illustrates how quickly "Reformed" people and churches have backsliden into Arminian and Romish worship patterns:
In 1899, the General Assembly of the PCUS was overtured to give a "pronounced and explicit deliverance" against the recognition of "Christmas and Easter as religious days." Even at this late date, the answer came back in a solid manner: "There is no warrant in Scripture for the observance of Christmas and Easter as holydays, rather the contrary (see Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:16-21), and such observance is contrary to the principles of the Reformed faith, conducive to will-worship, and not in harmony with the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." - Kevin Reed, Christmas: An Historical Survey Regarding Its Origins and Opposition to It (Free Online Book), emphases added.
"The Regulative Principle of Worship declares that God alone is sovereign in worship. The Regulative Principle of Worship simply applies the principles of Calvinism (i.e. God's sovereign Lordship) to worship, whereas the view that what God doesn't forbid in worship is permitted is applying the principles of Arminianism (i.e. man's sovereign lordship) to worship. Just as fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in salvation (e.g. "I can cooperate with God in salvation", or "I have a natural freedom to choose Christ"), so fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in worship ("I can cooperate with God in worship by adding what I desire so long as God doesn't specifically forbid it"). But just as God condemns a man-centered salvation, so God condemns a man-centered worship (Col. 2:23 specifically condemns all will-worship, i.e. all worship instituted by man)." - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, p. 10, free at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm or on the Puritan Hard Drive
The Bible teaches that only God can lawfully institute holy days and that all man-made holy days, like Easter and Christmas, are sinful -- and God says he hates them (especially as they lead to Antichrist rather than Christ and are, ultimately, a denial of the Gospel and Christ's work).
"Forasmuch then, as kneeling before the consecrated bread, the sign of the cross, surplice, festival days (Eater, Christ-Mass, etc. - ed.) , bishopping, bowing to the altar, administration of the sacraments in private places, etc. are the wares of Rome, the baggage of Babylon, the trinkets of the whore, the badges of Popery, the ensigns of Christ's enemies and the very trophies of Antichrist: we cannot conform, communicate, and symbolize with." - George Gillespie, Scottish Commissioner to the Westminster Assembly
"We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no scriptural warrant for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. " - Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, p. 697
All human inventions which are set up to corrupt the simple purity of the Word of God, and to undo the worship which he demands and approves, are true sacrileges, in which the Christian man cannot participate without blaspheming God, and trampling his honour underfoot. - John Calvin, emphases added.
Singing the Psalms With Jesus and the Idols (Man Made Hymns) of John and Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, the Trinity Hymnal, Fanny Crosby, and Others By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, W.J. Mencarow, Westminster Divines, Greg Price, Dr. Reg Barrow, et al http://ow.ly/y3WQn
Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland on Festival Days
1. Festival days not commanded nor warranted by scripture. General Assembly seeks total abolition not reformation of abuses only
December 10, Session 17, 1638.
And next in particular, concerning festival days findeth that in the explication of the first head of the first book of discipline it was thought good that the feasts of Christmas, Circumcision, Epiphany, with the feasts of the Apostles, Martyrs and Virgin Mary be utterly abolished because they are neither commanded nor warranted by Scripture and that such a observe them be punished by Civil Magistrates. Here utter abolition is craved and not reformation of abuses only and that because the observation of such feasts have no warrant from the word of God. In the General Assembly held at Edinburgh Anno 1556 the large confession of Helvetia was approved but with special exception against the same five days which are now urged upon us. It was not then the Popish observation only, with the Popish opinion of worship and merit, which was disallowed; (for so the reformed Kirk in Helvetia did not observe them) but simpliciter all observation. For this end was read a letter in Latin, sent at that time by some of our divines to certain divines in these parts to this purpose. In the Assembly holden 15 5. in August, complaint was made against the Ministers and Readers beside Aberdeen; because they assembled the people to preaching and prayers upon certain festival days: So that preaching and prayers upon festival days was judged rebukable. It was ordained likewise, that complaint be made to the Regent, upon the town of Drumfreis, for urging and convoying a Reader to the Kirk with Cabrfet and Whistle, to read Prayers, all the holy days of Christmas, upon the refusal of their own Reader. Among the articles directed by this Assembly to the Regent: It was craved that all holy days hereto-fore keeped holy, beside the Lords day, such as Yooleday, and Saints days, and such others may be abolished, and a certain penalty appointed for banqueting, playing, feasting upon these days. In the Assembly held in April, Anno 1577. It was ordained that the visitors with the advice of the Synodal Assembly, should admonish Ministers, preaching or administrating the Communion at Easter, or Christmas, or other like superstitious times, or Readers reading, to desist, under the pain of deprivation. In the ninth head of the first book of Discipline, the reason is set down against Easter Communion. Your honours are not ignorant how superstitiously the people run to that action at Pascheven; as if the time gave virtue to the Sacrament, and how the rest of the whole year, they are careless and negligent as if it appertained not to them, but at that time only. And for this reason, other times were appointed by that book, for that holy action. In the Assembly holden 1596, begun in March 1595, at which time the Covenant was renewed, superstition and idolatry breaking forth in observing festival days; setting out of bonfires, singing carols, are reckoned amongst the corruptions which were to be amended: And the pulpits did sound from time to time, against all show of observing any festival day whatsoever, except the Lords day.
- CHURCH OF SCOTLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, 1638-1649, pp. 37-38 (republished by Still Waters Revival Books in 1997), on the Puritan Hard Drive
"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." - The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 15:9)
http://ow.ly/y3WVw The Vain Worship Of Hypocrites and How False Worship Destroys Nations Under God's Wrath By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, John Knox, Kevin Reed, Westminster Divines, Dr. Steven Dilday, Thomas Watson and Others (Free MP3s) http://ow.ly/y3WVw
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