R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
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I’ll admit that I’m fairly sympathetic to the Second Helvetic Confession, which makes holidays based on the life of Christ adiaphoric–as long as consciences are not bound by them. However, “Write your own Psalm”? Paraphrase or set to meter, fine. But compose one’s own? It’s a little like composing one’s own Gospel or prophecy to me.
Without wishing to exonerate this lot in any way, and without wishing to fork out dosh in order to obtain a copy of the magazine to read it, I’m wondering whether the article inside is quite as sinister as the heading “Writing Your Own Psalms” suggests. It might simply be about writing your own accurate paraphrase and setting it to your own music. Presumably, Dr Clark, you have read it and can inform us further?
I forgot to ask if we get to tack our homemade psalms onto the back of the Bible or will they be inserted in the Book of Psalms?
Good morning,
There will be some “Reformed” folk who would say that the things in the picture can be “means of grace”, so long as it is not necessarily forbidden by Scripture (No offense to Lutherans).
Regards,
David Han.
They wouldn’t be paper bags, they’re a bit too roundly shaped for that – and they’d have caught fire. I dunno WHAT they are!
They are Chinese lanterns, and they are pretty neat. As they burn, they rise and float away. They can pick up some good speed if there is a breeze. And as cool as they are, they have absolutely no place in worship.
Oops! They’re not candles; they’re floating paper bags carried upwards by hot air from candles inside them. Self-contained units ascending powered by hot air. Metaphor?
You mean it would be OK if you just sang it without writing it down?
“Writing Your Own Psalm” is what is wrong….
Don’t you have a problem with Prayer stations?
I wouldn’t like to be sitting under one of those candles. Mind you, if I did, I might have the advantage, in that it might give me an ever so slight taste of where this kind of thing REALLY leads.
If you write your own psalms, can you still be considered an exclusive psalmist?
You might have to have a modern day apostle authenticate them.
Hey, if Reformed Worship magazine can make “Reformed” mean anything they want, then It should be no problem to make “psalm” mean any music you want. 🙂
Jesse–I think it’s a little like writing your own Gospel or prophecy. And I read Rev. 22:18 and tremble!
There is no regulative principle. Each of the “resources” listed on the cover are from an extra-biblical perspective. It seems like an attempt to put modern evangelical worship into reformed garb.
The candles are upside down.
Inspired by the mag’s cover, Heidelblog should sponsor a Psalm-writing contest. Dr. Clark will personally lead the congregation in the first performance. A box of Lenten candles, scent optional, will be included in the winner’s “swag bag.”
It provides no guidance on doing the gospel?
Revolting.
Makes me think of a (supposed) Presbyterian church I checked out a couple months back and they were singing “My Hero” by the rock band, Foo Fighters.
Did this issue come out on April Fool’s day? If you turn to the last page it says, “Fooled ya! This has nothing to do with worship!”
Check the date.
I know. I was being facetious. lol. I was hoping the magazine was being facetious too!
Serious offenses… Those putting out this magazine need to go to “Reformed” school!
This brings up a whole new way of looking at exclusive psalmody…
Would be more challenging if it was “What is right with this picture?”
🙂
Misspelled word: It should be “Deformed” worship, not “Reformed.” 😛
Oh I know, I know! Some silly goose put the word “Reformed” above the W in “Worship.”