Let me begin by apologizing for not posting this yesterday. For some reason, I sat at my desk yesterday thinking that it was Wednesday. Perhaps I drank too much coffee, perhaps not enough. Either way I am a day late, and I apologize.
In chapter three, “Worshipping the Correct God Correctly,” Michael Horton deals with the second commandment. The second commandment has been at the center of much debate throughout the history of the church. Horton does a great job of pointing out that the application of the second commandment goes far beyond the iconoclastic controversies of the 8th and 16th centuries.
Commenting on the focus of the reformers he wrote, “The glory of God, not the lowest common denominator of popular fancy, drove every new adventure” (Horton, 73). The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end man?” and answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” This principle applies in worship as well.
When theologians discuss what is appropriate in corporate worship the Regulative Principle of Worship often comes up. Depending on the circle you are in some will understand the Regulative Principle to mean that we can do in worship anything not forbidden and others will understand it to mean that we can only do in worship those things that are commanded. As you read Horton’s chapter on the second commandment and evaluate his arguments in light of Scripture, what are your thoughts?
As I read through this book, and especially this particular chapter, I am amazed at how often the practices I take for granted as “biblical” are simply cultural. The second half of the chapter really seems to bring this to light. I am reminded once again of the importance of being a “people of the Book” in such a way that all of our experiences, preferences, and cultural practices are filtered through the truth of the Word and the false ways we worship and live exposed by the light of it. Excellent, excellent book.
Kevin,
I just caught up on the reading, and I found this chapter to be very interesting.
I hadn’t thought about how easy it is to resort to drawing those ignorant of God into a church through cultural means. The extreme danger in this approach is that the ignorant are most in need of understanding God’s true nature, understanding their own nature as sinners, and the final solution to that inevitable clash. God’s Word is the only reliable source of that knowledge.
Diverting focus from that is a slippery slope that does a major disservice to the people we are trying to help.