Regulative Principle and Easter
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Bill The Baptist
Puritan Board Graduate
I think that entire point of The Lord's Supper is to remember what Christ did for all of us, and so a "special" service for Easter seems unneccesary. I also hate how pagan fertility festivals have been so seamlessly interwoven into what is supposed to be a celebration of the ressurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How sickening. On a more personal note, where are you currently worshipping? We still haven't found a church we really like in Wake Forest.
I've started calling it Resurrection Sunday, I feel a bit uncomfortable calling it something else.
Jack K
Puritan Board Doctor
It depends on what you mean by subscribe? As an official requirement?
I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church, which was still pretty conservatively Reformed in those days. The church subscribed to the Heidelberg Catechism, which states God may not be worshiped in any way other than he commanded (regulative principle). At the same time, the denomination's church order required that worship services be held in observance of Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost and New Year's Day. So there are Reformed bodies, especially in the continental wing of things, that have subscribed to (mandated) both the regulative principle and Easter.
Personally, I agree with the confessions that God must only be worshiped as he has commanded. I believe that extends to include things some folks here would exclude, but I affirm the principle. I also believe we're allowed to carefully give extra attention to the resurrection this time of year and even to call it Easter if we like, but I would never prescribe it as to say churches must observe this. So do I subscribe to both? Depends on what you mean by "subscribe."
Curt,
By the same rubric, some church can deny subscription to the RPW to those who claim both RPW and "hymns," or the RPW and "credobaptism." For what you say to be so, you have to argue that the RPW is a distinctive of the British Isles Reformation, and the Continental stream is wedded to a different principle.
That seems indemonstrable. The question returns to the matter of applicational differences among and between the related traditions. Churches unaware of, or that make no attempt to mind, their own Confessional principles are not in the same category as those who respect the same.
It seems undeniable to me that, just as there can be Presbyterians and Baptists who both subscribe to the same RPW (in some sense), one must also be willing to admit there can be churches that keep annual observances (directed clearly by church-order authority, and not by an appeal to divine warrant) who also respect the RPW.
By the same rubric, some church can deny subscription to the RPW to those who claim both RPW and "hymns," or the RPW and "credobaptism." For what you say to be so, you have to argue that the RPW is a distinctive of the British Isles Reformation, and the Continental stream is wedded to a different principle.
That seems indemonstrable. The question returns to the matter of applicational differences among and between the related traditions. Churches unaware of, or that make no attempt to mind, their own Confessional principles are not in the same category as those who respect the same.
It seems undeniable to me that, just as there can be Presbyterians and Baptists who both subscribe to the same RPW (in some sense), one must also be willing to admit there can be churches that keep annual observances (directed clearly by church-order authority, and not by an appeal to divine warrant) who also respect the RPW.
now, I'm not going to argue either with the RPW or with the people who are wiser and more instructed than I am, but there's one aspect of this I've often wondered about, and never seen discussed.
God gave Israel several yearly festivals to celebrate, which suggests that he considers yearly festivals good for his people. Should we think that has changed? It's one of the reasons I'm comfortable with observing Christmas and Easter - always assuming it's done with Godliness, and not as the world observes them.
God gave Israel several yearly festivals to celebrate, which suggests that he considers yearly festivals good for his people. Should we think that has changed? It's one of the reasons I'm comfortable with observing Christmas and Easter - always assuming it's done with Godliness, and not as the world observes them.
The conclusion does not follow, relative to the principle at stake. God gave is fundamentally distinct from, therefore we should give unto ourselves in like manner. God gave, and then he took away. A strict imitation is not warranted by inference. If that were the case, just as strong an argument could be fielded for the RC Mass as an imitation of the OC sacrifices.
We can debate the wisdom of the continental tradition in allowing (or even mandating) the recognition of four-to-six "holydays" as worthy of annual observance in some sense. But we must definitely steer clear of bolstering such a practice by appealing to the divine prescriptions for annual observances in OC Israel.
The Second Helvetic is an example of a Confession that subscribes to both. From Chapter 24:
I would consider myself to adhere to the RPW and yet I participate in feasts of the church. Here is my reasoning:
I cannot see where exactly anything is being done outside of what God has commanded. Let's take the example of a church observing "holy week" (again the term is unfortunate). I would have a problem if there were elements such as footwashing, etc, but generally, my experience has been that most services are similar in format to ordinary services, with maybe a couple of prayers or extra hymns added, and a particular focus to the proceedings. The only thing that can conceivably be argued here is that a church is meeting for worship on a day other than the Lord's Day---and that's an extremely weak argument.
The only other objection I can see is a possible binding of the conscience of believers with regard to these things. However, that is easily remedied: one can recommend things and yet not require them.
I cannot see where exactly anything is being done outside of what God has commanded. Let's take the example of a church observing "holy week" (again the term is unfortunate). I would have a problem if there were elements such as footwashing, etc, but generally, my experience has been that most services are similar in format to ordinary services, with maybe a couple of prayers or extra hymns added, and a particular focus to the proceedings. The only thing that can conceivably be argued here is that a church is meeting for worship on a day other than the Lord's Day---and that's an extremely weak argument.
The only other objection I can see is a possible binding of the conscience of believers with regard to these things. However, that is easily remedied: one can recommend things and yet not require them.
Rich Koster
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
I don't even like using the word "Easter", in reference to our Lord's resurrection, because of this idolatrous root: Ishtar (and all of it's variations).
Romans922
Puritan Board Professor
Q. 112. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the Word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, his works, and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves, and others.
Q. 113. What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarrelling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God’s decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it; to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful, and offensive walking, or backsliding from it..
A. The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the Word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, his works, and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves, and others.
Q. 113. What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarrelling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God’s decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it; to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful, and offensive walking, or backsliding from it..
dudley
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
I have to agrre with Joshua on this because and The logic in aswering that question is correct ...if we renounce and reject papist practices than we should renounce the holidays created originally by the Romanists.
See the following article by our own Dr. McMahon.
Easter: The Devil's Holiday - McMahon
Recalling the fundamentals of the Papist Holiday and what we should be thinking about ... What does one find when looking at the celebration of Easter? .... What may have been the period of fasting in the Roman Church before sitting of ...
Easter: The Devil's Holiday - McMahon - Cached - Similar-
What is "Easter?" Some scholars believe it arose out of the annual celebration of the Lord's supper, which took the place of the Passover and was something distinct from the love feast. If that is the case, then "Easter" might represent nothing more than seasonal communion.
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steadfast7
Puritan Board Junior
As long as there are some elements in a worship service that are guided by applying reason and general revelation, I think there can be room for permitting the commemoration of the resurrection. For example, is there scriptural command for worship order, announcements, bulletins, offering plates, pulpits, pews, sound equipment? These are guided by reason and tradition and the RPW is not invoked against them (or perhaps they are in your churches, please clarify). Why, then, invoke the RPW against calling worshippers to recognize the historic day of our Lord's resurrection?
This might not be an accurate charge. According to wiki, "the earliest extant primary source referencing Easter is a mid-2nd century Paschal homily attributed to Melito of Sardis, which characterizes the celebration as a well-established one." This is well before Roman Catholicism.
I personally say, it is appropiate given the culture to use it as an evangelictic outreach tool (free meal after the service; book/tract giveaway, etc...) to reach the community around us. We're stuck with it, why not just take a break in ur serires preach on the resserection and treat it like any other lord's day?
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