Show Notes:
At the end of this series on Liberty of Conscience, we'll bring the principles into concrete situations.
Once upon a time . . .
If a pastor's wife was truly stumbled, what would that mean?
- weak in biblical knowledge
- weak in conviction
- weak in conscience
- weak in will, moved to imitate
In reality, it was a case of "taking offense." Mere disagreement. A case of legalism.
In using biblical terms in unbiblical ways, it was manipulation.
If you don't break off your relationship, you'll be expelled from the school.
Confrontation by a woman in authority over men.
Lies and false teaching can be believed by anyone, regardless of intelligence and education.
The point: what was done and said was unbiblical.
What about institutions, like schools, that are not churches?
Don't they have the right to their own policies?
Policies can still be sinful.
A "Bible college" is supposed to be a Christian institution.
We are not required to be enrolled in a Christian school.
The abuse of spiritual authority is not the same as a church.
When a school forbids marriage, with the threat of consequences, that is sinful.
It might be within their rules, but it's not right.
The hard question is whether you have allowed people to rule your conscience.
The Bible college was under church authority, and the church acted the same way. The school reflected the local church.
Bible schools are supposed to teach what is in line with God's Word.
Giving a woman authority to forbid marriage between grown adults was in line with the culture.
What authority would these people have to tell you whom to marry?
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and rules through his Word.
For someone to take the place of God and forbid what God calls good is sin, automatically.
That concludes our series on Liberty of Conscience.
BUT, there's always more discussion to be had on this issue.
We are open to questions about specific issues that are adiaphora.
Comment your questions and suggestions!
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
At the end of this series on Liberty of Conscience, we'll bring the principles into concrete situations.
Once upon a time . . .
If a pastor's wife was truly stumbled, what would that mean?
- weak in biblical knowledge
- weak in conviction
- weak in conscience
- weak in will, moved to imitate
In reality, it was a case of "taking offense." Mere disagreement. A case of legalism.
In using biblical terms in unbiblical ways, it was manipulation.
If you don't break off your relationship, you'll be expelled from the school.
Confrontation by a woman in authority over men.
Lies and false teaching can be believed by anyone, regardless of intelligence and education.
The point: what was done and said was unbiblical.
What about institutions, like schools, that are not churches?
Don't they have the right to their own policies?
Policies can still be sinful.
A "Bible college" is supposed to be a Christian institution.
We are not required to be enrolled in a Christian school.
The abuse of spiritual authority is not the same as a church.
When a school forbids marriage, with the threat of consequences, that is sinful.
It might be within their rules, but it's not right.
The hard question is whether you have allowed people to rule your conscience.
The Bible college was under church authority, and the church acted the same way. The school reflected the local church.
Bible schools are supposed to teach what is in line with God's Word.
Giving a woman authority to forbid marriage between grown adults was in line with the culture.
What authority would these people have to tell you whom to marry?
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and rules through his Word.
For someone to take the place of God and forbid what God calls good is sin, automatically.
That concludes our series on Liberty of Conscience.
BUT, there's always more discussion to be had on this issue.
We are open to questions about specific issues that are adiaphora.
Comment your questions and suggestions!
Please FOLLOW this channel and LIKE / SHARE / REPOST
COMMENT / DISCUSS
Show Notes:
A popular teaching: "It's the devil who makes you keep looking back to and dwelling on your past."
But in the Old Testament, you see God often reminding his people of their past.
Philippians 3:12–14
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Many people are not counseled well with God's Word, so false gets mixed with true.
It's always good to remind people what God has done for them.
If the "forget your past" was the true understanding, then Paul would have contradicted himself in his own letters! Philippians 3:4–6
You don't ignore the past. But you don't live there either.
Distinguish.
"If I bring it up it will jinx me, or be bad luck."
Negative confession."
It's therapeutic thinking, not Christian thinking.
Be thankful for what God has done for us.
Also a misunderstanding of figurative language: God "forgets" our sins. Does it mean he lost knowledge? No.
Throughout the OT, God reminds his people of his mighty acts in their past. And he will also remind them of their sins, their discipline, and his deliverance of them.
And God commands his people to teach this history to their children! "You must *not* forget!"
Examples: Ebenezer, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc.
This is one way the Christian faith has been "psychologized."
Many pastors are anti-theology, so the people don't get the teaching they need.
You can't be dismissive of all mental issues, like "it's all in your head." The brain is an organ, and God made us physical.
How do we counsel someone who doesn't understand/realize that this is a physical brain issue? Because they are afraid of the mental health profession.
They don't have pastors with discernment.
For a heart problem, you would go to a heart doctor. Why not for the brain?
Ask your network of people, thinking that someone may have a brain-issue, are there any Christian specialists?
We're distinguishing this from dealing with your past.
We're not talking about ignoring, just not dwelling.
But if it's a physical organ problem, be honest about your situation.
You cannot separate the two, because you are a union of body and soul.
Many know this intuitively. Everyone needs to distinguish and recognize both/and. Your physical condition affects your emotional and spiritual state.
Learn to appropriately think about your past.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
A popular teaching: "It's the devil who makes you keep looking back to and dwelling on your past."
But in the Old Testament, you see God often reminding his people of their past.
Philippians 3:12–14
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Many people are not counseled well with God's Word, so false gets mixed with true.
It's always good to remind people what God has done for them.
If the "forget your past" was the true understanding, then Paul would have contradicted himself in his own letters! Philippians 3:4–6
You don't ignore the past. But you don't live there either.
Distinguish.
"If I bring it up it will jinx me, or be bad luck."
Negative confession."
It's therapeutic thinking, not Christian thinking.
Be thankful for what God has done for us.
Also a misunderstanding of figurative language: God "forgets" our sins. Does it mean he lost knowledge? No.
Throughout the OT, God reminds his people of his mighty acts in their past. And he will also remind them of their sins, their discipline, and his deliverance of them.
And God commands his people to teach this history to their children! "You must *not* forget!"
Examples: Ebenezer, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc.
This is one way the Christian faith has been "psychologized."
Many pastors are anti-theology, so the people don't get the teaching they need.
You can't be dismissive of all mental issues, like "it's all in your head." The brain is an organ, and God made us physical.
How do we counsel someone who doesn't understand/realize that this is a physical brain issue? Because they are afraid of the mental health profession.
They don't have pastors with discernment.
For a heart problem, you would go to a heart doctor. Why not for the brain?
Ask your network of people, thinking that someone may have a brain-issue, are there any Christian specialists?
We're distinguishing this from dealing with your past.
We're not talking about ignoring, just not dwelling.
But if it's a physical organ problem, be honest about your situation.
You cannot separate the two, because you are a union of body and soul.
Many know this intuitively. Everyone needs to distinguish and recognize both/and. Your physical condition affects your emotional and spiritual state.
Learn to appropriately think about your past.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
Show Notes:
Appropriately remembering the past, and how to use it correctly.
As the Bible teaches: be honest.
Everyone has a past, behavior they are rightly ashamed of.
Don't pretend it didn't happen.
But not everyone needs to know. It would simply be inappropriate to share that information.
What might be inappropriate to share with everyone?
Example: a Christian man posting that he won't be doing ministry any longer because of a "moral failure." That's all.
Further information is none of your business.
Right to know and need to know.
The Bible does not require a play-by-play confession.
The personal relationship is a factor.
Example: future spouse, and past behavior resulted in having a disease.
Being honest does not mean every detail. But at times, it will be necessary.
Honesty does not mean telling every person.
James 5:16, Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
It doesn't mean not saying anything, ever. Nor does it mean full-disclosure.
What about employing other experiences, dealing with difficult experiences, without obsessing over it?
An unhealthy thinking and meditating on past bad experiences, in a way that affects you presently.
It begins with the Gospel.
The character of God, being all-knowing, sovereign, allows things to happen.
Trust in God, without the answer to "why?"
We categorize.
Deal with it one category at a time. "God knows."
Start with the characteristics of God. He's all-powerful. He's all knowing.
Interpreting your past experience according to the truth of Scripture, rather than interpreting God by your experience.
When something comes back to you, pray. Confess to him, and trust him for his power.
Believe God's grace is sufficient.
Remember God's purpose is our sanctification, our good, and his glory.
Do you "thank God" for that bad experience?
The Bible says "give thanks in" all circumstances. Not *for,* but in.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Evil is not good, and good is not evil—though evil is *used* for good.
Evil does not become good.
Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Even if you don't understand, trust that God will take care of you.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
Appropriately remembering the past, and how to use it correctly.
As the Bible teaches: be honest.
Everyone has a past, behavior they are rightly ashamed of.
Don't pretend it didn't happen.
But not everyone needs to know. It would simply be inappropriate to share that information.
What might be inappropriate to share with everyone?
Example: a Christian man posting that he won't be doing ministry any longer because of a "moral failure." That's all.
Further information is none of your business.
Right to know and need to know.
The Bible does not require a play-by-play confession.
The personal relationship is a factor.
Example: future spouse, and past behavior resulted in having a disease.
Being honest does not mean every detail. But at times, it will be necessary.
Honesty does not mean telling every person.
James 5:16, Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
It doesn't mean not saying anything, ever. Nor does it mean full-disclosure.
What about employing other experiences, dealing with difficult experiences, without obsessing over it?
An unhealthy thinking and meditating on past bad experiences, in a way that affects you presently.
It begins with the Gospel.
The character of God, being all-knowing, sovereign, allows things to happen.
Trust in God, without the answer to "why?"
We categorize.
Deal with it one category at a time. "God knows."
Start with the characteristics of God. He's all-powerful. He's all knowing.
Interpreting your past experience according to the truth of Scripture, rather than interpreting God by your experience.
When something comes back to you, pray. Confess to him, and trust him for his power.
Believe God's grace is sufficient.
Remember God's purpose is our sanctification, our good, and his glory.
Do you "thank God" for that bad experience?
The Bible says "give thanks in" all circumstances. Not *for,* but in.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Evil is not good, and good is not evil—though evil is *used* for good.
Evil does not become good.
Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Even if you don't understand, trust that God will take care of you.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
Show Notes:
How to use our past appropriately with other people.
You have to deal with it first.
If you haven't dealt with it biblically, but have become bitter, that will come out when you speak with other people.
Not gossiping, not slandering.
Not everyone needs to learn the hard way. We share our experiences so other people don't have to go through the same experiences.
It's like seeing a trap in the way, and saying "look out."
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NET)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
It's not our experience that is primary, but the comfort of God.
"Show me your scars" garbage.
No one should have to earn the right to be heard. "Pay your dues," "earn your stripes," suffer first before you can talk to me, all that may just be spite.
Some people say you're not worthy to talk to me if you haven't experienced this, or younger.
Rather, we should put our experience in proper place.
It's God's comfort, not our comfort primarily. It's God's comfort we bring.
You cannot minimize a child's hurt just because it's nothing for you. You cannot be selective with suffering.
We are not entitled to know the multiplicity of reasons for our suffering. We need to accept the fact that we aren't going to know.
But in 2 Corinthians 1, we are told one of the purposes: so you can comfort others.
Give people God, give them Scripture.
It hurts when we have to watch other people, because we remember our past.
We have to equip people, so they learn how to protect themselves.
What experiences do we share so that people will not get hurt?
Example: 2 young people want to get married. The pastor's wife believes that they need to hear from God prophetically, before they may get married. So the pastor preaches that you "need a verse," instead of rebuking this unbiblical thinking.
By sharing what we've learned and how we've dealt with it, we can give them a heads' up. *When* it happens to them.
It's emotional. Emotions make thinking harder. Think through it before you suffer through it.
Counsel is different from "do this, do that." You are free to ignore wise advice.
There are many layers that makes the situation very complicated. That's why you take them one at a time.
Making personal experience normative—your individual experience the standard for other people—will ALWAYS lead to abuse.
If a pastor in a church is doing that, it's a personality cult.
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How to use our past appropriately with other people.
You have to deal with it first.
If you haven't dealt with it biblically, but have become bitter, that will come out when you speak with other people.
Not gossiping, not slandering.
Not everyone needs to learn the hard way. We share our experiences so other people don't have to go through the same experiences.
It's like seeing a trap in the way, and saying "look out."
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NET)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
It's not our experience that is primary, but the comfort of God.
"Show me your scars" garbage.
No one should have to earn the right to be heard. "Pay your dues," "earn your stripes," suffer first before you can talk to me, all that may just be spite.
Some people say you're not worthy to talk to me if you haven't experienced this, or younger.
Rather, we should put our experience in proper place.
It's God's comfort, not our comfort primarily. It's God's comfort we bring.
You cannot minimize a child's hurt just because it's nothing for you. You cannot be selective with suffering.
We are not entitled to know the multiplicity of reasons for our suffering. We need to accept the fact that we aren't going to know.
But in 2 Corinthians 1, we are told one of the purposes: so you can comfort others.
Give people God, give them Scripture.
It hurts when we have to watch other people, because we remember our past.
We have to equip people, so they learn how to protect themselves.
What experiences do we share so that people will not get hurt?
Example: 2 young people want to get married. The pastor's wife believes that they need to hear from God prophetically, before they may get married. So the pastor preaches that you "need a verse," instead of rebuking this unbiblical thinking.
By sharing what we've learned and how we've dealt with it, we can give them a heads' up. *When* it happens to them.
It's emotional. Emotions make thinking harder. Think through it before you suffer through it.
Counsel is different from "do this, do that." You are free to ignore wise advice.
There are many layers that makes the situation very complicated. That's why you take them one at a time.
Making personal experience normative—your individual experience the standard for other people—will ALWAYS lead to abuse.
If a pastor in a church is doing that, it's a personality cult.
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Show Notes:
Abuse of power, in an unbiblical system of church government—one man with unchecked authority.
"God doesn't need you," and "no one is indispensable." That's unbiblical.
When you don't have a worldview that is Christian, your basis is that of the world and you talk the same way. Pastors speak like motivational speakers.
We use our experience to point to God, to trust in God. Their backgrounds will be different, but you have God's Word, and it's his power.
Teach people to depend on God in the midst of trouble.
Instead of taking your past and saying "be like me." Experience is not the foundation. We don't tell people to follow our pattern.
Scripture is enough, and is always the foundation.
Why talk about this? The motive is for help, teaching, warning, instruction, and comfort for those currently going through it.
"Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is."
—Howard Hendricks
We evaluate our experience through the Word of God. Then we use it to help other people.
If it's a common experience, we'll bring it up. How does God's Word apply to it?
Those who object to using the past cannot evaluate theirs in light of the Word. They don't teach and don't want others to.
"Leaving what is behind" is not positive thinking.
That's a misuse of Scripture.
Sentimentalism will backfire. You can only pretend for so long before you get a rude awakening.
Many evangelicals are not equipped to handle this biblically.
You have to be taught how to encourage and comfort others.
Interpret the past according to Scripture, and use it to help other believers.
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Abuse of power, in an unbiblical system of church government—one man with unchecked authority.
"God doesn't need you," and "no one is indispensable." That's unbiblical.
When you don't have a worldview that is Christian, your basis is that of the world and you talk the same way. Pastors speak like motivational speakers.
We use our experience to point to God, to trust in God. Their backgrounds will be different, but you have God's Word, and it's his power.
Teach people to depend on God in the midst of trouble.
Instead of taking your past and saying "be like me." Experience is not the foundation. We don't tell people to follow our pattern.
Scripture is enough, and is always the foundation.
Why talk about this? The motive is for help, teaching, warning, instruction, and comfort for those currently going through it.
"Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is."
—Howard Hendricks
We evaluate our experience through the Word of God. Then we use it to help other people.
If it's a common experience, we'll bring it up. How does God's Word apply to it?
Those who object to using the past cannot evaluate theirs in light of the Word. They don't teach and don't want others to.
"Leaving what is behind" is not positive thinking.
That's a misuse of Scripture.
Sentimentalism will backfire. You can only pretend for so long before you get a rude awakening.
Many evangelicals are not equipped to handle this biblically.
You have to be taught how to encourage and comfort others.
Interpret the past according to Scripture, and use it to help other believers.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
Show Notes:
It's the "ber" months: September, November, December. We are approaching Advent Season.
People become "holier" because of this season.
Though they don't attend church regularly the rest of the year.
What happens in the Roman Catholic context in December?
"Simbang Gabi." Church every day for 9 days. Everyone goes, out of superstition. Apparently, you get one wish granted if you finish all 9 days.
Papist church and practice is melded with the culture that you can't tell them apart. How much is the teaching of the church, and how much is just cultural custom? Is it actually religious devotion.
There's also the fun part: attending to see all your friends, then go somewhere after. It's a social activity.
Extra-biblical holy days, ecclesiastical holy days, inevitably puts down the Lord's Day.
People observe man-made holy days, but not the day God has made holy.
God says work, but a religious body has said worship.
Sunday is completely neglected by the majority. Their attitude is it is okay to skip Sunday worship, but not these special days.
When a special holiday lands on Sunday, that Sunday is considered more holy than the rest. Easter, for example. The focus is on the special day, rather than regular worship.
Protestants to this when they change the time of worship to a "sunrise service," making one Sunday unique.
This applies to church anniversaries.
When an additional calendar date is set by a church, it becomes a regular part of worship, as regular as the Lord's Day. That's adding to divine worship. When required, the conscience of people is bound.
Mark 7:6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7 But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commands of men.’
8 Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. . .
13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
When man adds a holy day, the Lord's Day will be left behind. The command of God is inevitably replaced by man's tradition.
It is vain worship.
The tradition of man and the command of God cannot co-exist.
Stages:
1. Bible is higher than traditions.
2. Bible and tradition are equal.
3. Tradition replace the Bible.
That's what we see with these religious seasons, ecclesiastical holidays. The command of God has been invalidated by the traditions of a church.
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COMMENT / DISCUSS
It's the "ber" months: September, November, December. We are approaching Advent Season.
People become "holier" because of this season.
Though they don't attend church regularly the rest of the year.
What happens in the Roman Catholic context in December?
"Simbang Gabi." Church every day for 9 days. Everyone goes, out of superstition. Apparently, you get one wish granted if you finish all 9 days.
Papist church and practice is melded with the culture that you can't tell them apart. How much is the teaching of the church, and how much is just cultural custom? Is it actually religious devotion.
There's also the fun part: attending to see all your friends, then go somewhere after. It's a social activity.
Extra-biblical holy days, ecclesiastical holy days, inevitably puts down the Lord's Day.
People observe man-made holy days, but not the day God has made holy.
God says work, but a religious body has said worship.
Sunday is completely neglected by the majority. Their attitude is it is okay to skip Sunday worship, but not these special days.
When a special holiday lands on Sunday, that Sunday is considered more holy than the rest. Easter, for example. The focus is on the special day, rather than regular worship.
Protestants to this when they change the time of worship to a "sunrise service," making one Sunday unique.
This applies to church anniversaries.
When an additional calendar date is set by a church, it becomes a regular part of worship, as regular as the Lord's Day. That's adding to divine worship. When required, the conscience of people is bound.
Mark 7:6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7 But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commands of men.’
8 Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. . .
13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
When man adds a holy day, the Lord's Day will be left behind. The command of God is inevitably replaced by man's tradition.
It is vain worship.
The tradition of man and the command of God cannot co-exist.
Stages:
1. Bible is higher than traditions.
2. Bible and tradition are equal.
3. Tradition replace the Bible.
That's what we see with these religious seasons, ecclesiastical holidays. The command of God has been invalidated by the traditions of a church.
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Show Notes:
When days have been elevated and been made mandatory by church or custom.
In terms of God's Law, it is both sides of "sin."
Children's Catechism:
Q. 28. What is Sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.
Q. 29. What is meant by want of conformity?
A. Not being or doing what God requires.
Q. 30. What is meant by transgression?
A. Doing what God forbids.
Both sides apply to each commandment.
Transgression is often overlooked here: making more holy days. Inventing regular worship.
Sin of omission: neglecting the Lord's Day.
Sin of commission: adding days of worship.
This is not just the error of Rome.
Non-Roman Catholic religious people do it, too.
Easter or church anniversaries: additions or changes to the worship service, more people, the motive for the worship is the special day, not the Lord's Day.
And what has been added is regular part of worship.
More effort and preparation is given to special days, than the Lord's Day.
God does care about how we worship him.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Much of Protestantism is not Reformed because they hold to the Roman Catholic church calendar.
The Normative Principle of Worship: not doing what God forbids, but free to do what is not commanded.
The 2nd commandment requires doing only what God commands for worship, and nothing more.
Worship in every part is congregational. None of it is to be a performance.
Special holidays is adding to what God requires—a transgression of the Law of God.
The consequences will be what Jesus said: neglecting what God does command.
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When days have been elevated and been made mandatory by church or custom.
In terms of God's Law, it is both sides of "sin."
Children's Catechism:
Q. 28. What is Sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.
Q. 29. What is meant by want of conformity?
A. Not being or doing what God requires.
Q. 30. What is meant by transgression?
A. Doing what God forbids.
Both sides apply to each commandment.
Transgression is often overlooked here: making more holy days. Inventing regular worship.
Sin of omission: neglecting the Lord's Day.
Sin of commission: adding days of worship.
This is not just the error of Rome.
Non-Roman Catholic religious people do it, too.
Easter or church anniversaries: additions or changes to the worship service, more people, the motive for the worship is the special day, not the Lord's Day.
And what has been added is regular part of worship.
More effort and preparation is given to special days, than the Lord's Day.
God does care about how we worship him.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Much of Protestantism is not Reformed because they hold to the Roman Catholic church calendar.
The Normative Principle of Worship: not doing what God forbids, but free to do what is not commanded.
The 2nd commandment requires doing only what God commands for worship, and nothing more.
Worship in every part is congregational. None of it is to be a performance.
Special holidays is adding to what God requires—a transgression of the Law of God.
The consequences will be what Jesus said: neglecting what God does command.
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