Heidelcast 11b: Reforming Worship, Confession, And Marriage

by Heidelcast on March 10, 2013 | 2 Comments

Rummaging around the old hard drive I found a lost episode of the Heidelcast from December 2009. Sam wrote to ask about whether and how to approach his church about reforming their worship service. He also asked about the degree to which . . . Continue reading →

Of Musical Instruments, Worship, Choirs, Levites, And Blood

by Heidelblog on March 30, 2013 | 7 Comments

The use of instruments in worship was admittedly part of the Temple service. It had no place in the Tabernacle before David’s day, beyond the use of two silver trumpets made by Moses, in the hands of the priests. There is not . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 14: Reforming Worship and the Basis for Marriage

by Heidelcast on March 30, 2013

The Heidelcast answers mail from Sam about how to pursue the reformation of worship in a congregation and about how much doctrinal agreement is necessary for a marriage.

Could Instruments Be Idols?

by R. Scott Clark on May 2, 2013 | 104 Comments

Friday, in the Medieval-Reformation course I gave a lecture on Calvin’s doctrine of worship during which a student asked about instruments. I replied that Calvin (and most of the Reformed) would have viewed the introduction of instruments into the service the same . . . Continue reading →

On Elements and Circumstances

An HB Classic

by R. Scott Clark on May 3, 2013 | 24 Comments

The Reformed confessions distinguish between the elements of worship and the circumstances of worship. In Westminster Confession 21 we say, “…the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he . . . Continue reading →

New Reformed Congregation in the Dallas Metro

by R. Scott Clark on May 9, 2013 | 8 Comments

Via Exclusive Psalmody comes the announcement that the RPCNA is planting a new congregation in the Dallas metro. The RPs are an American Presbyterian denomination with roots in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition. Sometimes known as “Covenanters” because of their connections to the . . . Continue reading →

Directory For The Publick Worship Of God

by R. Scott Clark on May 14, 2013

The Directory FOR The Publick Worship of God CHARLES I. Parl. 3. Sess. 5. An ACT of the PARLIAMENT of the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND, approving and establishing the DIRECTORY for Publick Worship. AT EDINBURGH, February 6, 1645. THE Estates of Parliament now . . . Continue reading →

In Case You’ve Never Heard

by R. Scott Clark on June 12, 2013 | 12 Comments

One of the reasons why people resist the call to return to historic Reformed (and catholic) worship practices, e.g., singing God’s Word without musical instruments is because it is completely unfamiliar and thus seems implausible or entirely theoretical. It isn’t. Thanks to . . . Continue reading →

We Neglected The Reformers On Worship

by Heidelblog on August 4, 2013 | 2 Comments

Although I had been raised in Methodist and Presbyterian churches and attended Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, was ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, served pastorates in that church and in the PCA, I nevertheless found myself at different times in my . . . Continue reading →

You Mean That There’s More Than "Shine, Jesus Shine"?

by R. Scott Clark on August 16, 2013 | 21 Comments

Do you realize that, for people of a certain age, let’s say those born since 1980, “Shine, Jesus Shine” (published in 1987) is now a “traditional hymn”? It’s about as “traditional” for those generations as revival songs from the early 20th century . . . Continue reading →

Does The Bible Command It?

by Heidelblog on September 26, 2013 | 7 Comments

In other words, when we are considering the content and conduct of our worship, the biggest question is not “Does the Bible forbid it?” but “Does the Bible command it?” That makes things much simpler because any list of what God forbids . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 41: Reformation Worship Conference

by Heidelcast on September 26, 2013

David Hall and the good folks at Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Powder Springs, GA are hosting the fifth annual Reformation Worship Conference next month (Oct 17-20, 2013). David joined me by phone this afternoon to talk about the conference and about . . . Continue reading →

Tyndale’s Application of the Regulative Principle

by Heidelblog on October 9, 2013 | 3 Comments

Mark well how many parsonages or vicarages are there in the realm, which at the least have a plow-land a-piece. Then note the lands of bishops, abbots, priors, nuns, knights of St John’s, cathedral churches, colleges, chauntries, and free-chapels. For though the . . . Continue reading →

John Rainolds On The Jewishness Of Roman Masses And Instruments

by Heidelblog on October 15, 2013 | 2 Comments

I have showed, how. And if you see it not: the veil may be the cause, which is very likely to be laid on your heart in reading of the new testament, as it was on the heart of others, in reading . . . Continue reading →

Renewed And Improved: Gillespie Against The Normative Principle Of Worship

by R. Scott Clark on October 15, 2013 | 4 Comments

When I first came into contact with the Reformed faith about 33 years ago, there were two things that Reformed folk had to believe: divine sovereignty and the inerrancy of Scripture. It’s not that we actively disbelieved the other elements of the . . . Continue reading →

Resources On the Doctrine of Sanctification And The Third Use Of The Law

by R. Scott Clark on November 18, 2013 | 2 Comments

Apparently, there is only one way to speak about sanctification and it is no longer sufficient to uphold and teach the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Westminster Standards (Reformed confessions) on justification, sanctification, and the third use of the law. . . . Continue reading →

Available Now: Gillespie Against English Popish Ceremonies

by R. Scott Clark on December 11, 2013 | 10 Comments

“Gillespie’s famous book is a vitally important work in the history of the Scottish Reformation, but it is much more than simply that. It has abiding and profound value for all who are committed to knowing, applying, and following the Word of . . . Continue reading →

Calvin On Instruments In The New Covenant: Restoring Shadows

by R. Scott Clark on December 30, 2013 | 3 Comments

It is evident that the Psalmist here expresses the vehement and ardent affection which the faithful ought to have in praising God, when he enjoins musical instruments to be employed for this purpose. He would have nothing omitted by believers which tends . . . Continue reading →

The Effects Of Reformation In Geneva

by R. Scott Clark on February 25, 2014

Daily religious life changed in significant ways in the first years following Geneva’s Reformation. The city churches—which the French reformers called temples—were reduced in number of rom seven to three, and the outlying parishes consolidated. A company of around fifteen Protestant pastors . . . Continue reading →

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