In the previous post, I drew from the Philadelphia Confession (1742) to answer the question posed: are Baptists Calvinists? The article I quoted from is basically what Calvin had argued in The Necessity of Reforming the Church in the 1530s. Let me also add that the article from the Philadelphia Confession is the same as that in the London Baptist Confession (1689), the Savoy Declaration (1658) used by Independents and American Congregationalists, and originally written by the Westminster Divines published in 1647.
Someone may ask the question: this is only from the Calvinistic wing of the Baptist movement; what about the General Baptists? Before answering the question, allow me to confess one thing: though I am a convinced and ardent Calvinist, I first learned of the "Regulative Principle" by reading the early General Baptists. Men like John Symth and Thomas Helwys believed that the Church must believe and practice what is specifically taught and commanded in the Holy Scriptures with the New Testament as a sort of final authority within the Scriptures. This conviction led them to reject infant baptism and episcopal and presbyterian governments, and affirm believer's baptism and local church autonomy. General Baptists carried this conviction so far as to deny a place for singing praise in the corporate worship believing that the commands to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) were meant for private and family meetings. Even though I disagree with much of General Baptist doctrince (including their doctrine denying singing in corporate worship), I must give them credit for introducing me to a type of the Regulative Principle.
Other than Baptist Confessions, which uphold the spiritual law of worship, Baptist catechisms do as well. The Baptist Catechism that attached the London Confession of Faith teaches this regarding the Second Commandment:
Q/A 56-What is required in the Second Commandment? The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has appointed in his Word. (Italics mine).
Q/A 57-What is forbidden in the Second Commandment? The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word. (Italics mine).
This is the same catechism used by American Baptists during Colonial days and into the 19th century. In fact, this was the first catechism used by proto-Southern Baptists as the framers of the Charleston Baptist Confession (the same as the Philadelphia Confession) attached this catechism to the confession in 1813.
Compare this catechism's questions and answers on the second commandment to the Westminster Shorter Cathechism (Q/A's 50-51) and the Heidelberg Cathechism (Q/A 96). The conclusion is clear: Baptists historically are Calvinistic, even Reformed in their teaching on the Second Commandment, which the spiritual law of worship emerges. To reiterate the Church of Christ (corporately) is to worship only according to the express commandments and approved examples of the Holy Word of God, and is never to add anything to, or take from these commandments and examples. I also believe that the spiritual law of worship is in effect in private and family worship, but this current conversation is concerned with public worship.
African American Baptists have lost sight of this teaching along with other Baptists. On a personal note that I believe illustrates how far African American Baptists have drifted, I attended a well-to-do, progressive African American Baptist church in Houston, Texas over two years ago on December 25. Actually, the "worship service" was held in an arena with possibly a thousand people in attendance. The "service" was replete with "praise dancers," a hand-bell choir, special music, and NO SERMON. When asked, "how did I like the service?" I answered, "I didn't." When asked, "why?" I stated, "The worship was unbiblical; it went against the second commandment." That assertion caused a little rancor because I wholly believe that the other person in the discussion had no idea that the second commandment dealt with praise dancing, etc. The conversation shifted abruptly, but one other person stated that, "Everyone worships in his own way." That statement more than anything else left me in a mournful state of mind. If a worshiper believes such, can he/she really worship God in spirit and in truth? I think not. To follow the logic this person used, Christians have the authority to change the elements of the Lord's Supper; rather than using the fruit of vine, why not mineral water, or Jones Soda? Instead bread, how about calamari, or egg rolls? That would be blasphemous, wouldn't it? How would Christ feel about this usurpation? When we, the creatures, assume to know better than God in either doctrine or practice, we have usurped God's authority and sovereignty. We are guilty of idolatry.
Brother and sisters, we have some worked to do and much praying to do on this issue.
We who are committed to historic Reformed theology and practice must argue (lovingly) what the Scriptures teach on the issue of worship.
Reformed4ever.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Are Baptists Calvinists?
As we have seen, Calvin argues that God institutes his own worship; if man either abrogates these worship ordinances, or adds to them it is the same as idolatry. Herein lies the simplicity of gospel worship. The question posed is this: are Baptists historically and confessionally Calvinists on this point? The answer is: yes!
When the Baptist movement emerged in earnest during 17th century England, Baptists worshiped with simplicity continuing a Puritan emphasis. The simple elements of gospel worship as found in the NT are: prayer with thanksgiving, the reading and hearing of the Holy Scriptures, singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, the preaching of the word of God, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and Lord's Supper. Baptists in England confessed such in the Baptist Confession of 1689, and Baptists in America adopted this confession with two additional articles in 1742 as the Philadelphia Confession.
Read a portion of Chapter XXII, "Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day" from the Philadelphia Confession of Faith:
But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggesstions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
The Confession goes on to list the aforementioned elements of worship in articles 3-5.. Here is a quick survey of the biblical passages to support these elements: prayer-1 Cor 14:16-17; reading the Scriptures-1 Tim 4:13; singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs-Eph 5:19; the preaching of the Word-2 Tim 4:2; and the observance of the sacraments-Matt 28:19-20; 1 Cor 11:26.
Take note of the quote from the confession: it is a re-statement of Calvin's scriptural law of worship. My conclusion is simple: in terms of their conception of worship Baptists are Calvinists. We, yes, we Baptists confess that the acceptable way of worshiping our great God is instituted by Himself.
Reformed4ever.
When the Baptist movement emerged in earnest during 17th century England, Baptists worshiped with simplicity continuing a Puritan emphasis. The simple elements of gospel worship as found in the NT are: prayer with thanksgiving, the reading and hearing of the Holy Scriptures, singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, the preaching of the word of God, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and Lord's Supper. Baptists in England confessed such in the Baptist Confession of 1689, and Baptists in America adopted this confession with two additional articles in 1742 as the Philadelphia Confession.
Read a portion of Chapter XXII, "Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day" from the Philadelphia Confession of Faith:
But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggesstions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
The Confession goes on to list the aforementioned elements of worship in articles 3-5.. Here is a quick survey of the biblical passages to support these elements: prayer-1 Cor 14:16-17; reading the Scriptures-1 Tim 4:13; singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs-Eph 5:19; the preaching of the Word-2 Tim 4:2; and the observance of the sacraments-Matt 28:19-20; 1 Cor 11:26.
Take note of the quote from the confession: it is a re-statement of Calvin's scriptural law of worship. My conclusion is simple: in terms of their conception of worship Baptists are Calvinists. We, yes, we Baptists confess that the acceptable way of worshiping our great God is instituted by Himself.
Reformed4ever.
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