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The Doctrine of RPW

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Reformed

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I mean, do the churches that affirm the RPW ever flip flop the order of the components? Do communion first and sing all the psalms at the end? That's what I meant with my comment. While I can easily accept your statement that it's the components that drive the process, setting an order seems to be part and parcel.

I understand the need to avoid strange fire, though. I just wonder if the RPW is another version of us putting a hedge around the law.

Rob, RPW-practicing churches to have different practices on the order of worship. And you are right, like anything else, the RPW can lead to legalism. Anything can lead to legalism if done in ignorance or wrong motives. That said, the question to answer is whether God instructs us, by way of His word, how to worship? If He does, what does that mean for us?

By the way, I believe the New Testament provides more clarity on worship than the Old Testament.

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Yeshua1

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Salty, yes, sir. I have heard of the Regulative Principle of Worship or the "RPW". I think every Reformed Christian has heard of the term. The RPW states that men are to worship God in the manner prescribed in scripture and, therefore, cannot worship God in any other manner.
Kind of putting blinders on God, isn't it though? As Jesus stated that the Father delights and receives worship that is from the heart? Worshipping God in Spirit and in truth, seems to have the truth side covered, but?
 

rlvaughn

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So therefore, I think that the encouragement of patriotism is a Christian ideal as Christians are ultimately patriots in New Jerusalem...
I do not really disagree with much of what you write there, but definitely that it supports your conclusion that it means churches should put up/display the flag of the country in which they are located.
 
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Martin Marprelate

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Does the bible teach compulsion or freedom? I think it teaches freedom is better. Legalism is kin to works like worship, yet another my way or the highway dictate.
I think that if you care to read Exodus 25:40 (cf. Hebrews 8:5); Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Chronicles 13:7-10 (cf. 15:2); Mark 7:6-9 and John 4:23, you will find the answer to your question. It is not a question of worshipping in spirit being different to worshipping in truth because the Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17) and guides us into truth (John 16:13).
God has specified the way in which He is to be worshipped and it is not for us to second-guess Him.
 

rlvaughn

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The Regulative Principle of Worship is not man putting blinders on God, but God putting a bit on man's heart. God knows and looks upon our hearts, but we do not know our hearts. God should be worshipped by the imaginations and inventions of men, but according to the word of God contained in the scriptures.
 

church mouse guy

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I do not really disagree with much of what you write there, but definitely that it supports your conclusion that it means churches should put up/display the flag of the country in which they are located.

I do not understand your position. Are you saying that it is wrong to have an American flag in a church? What about the UN flag since Pope Francis says that we should obey the UN? Should the church have flowers on the altar table? Should a Christian flag be allowed in the sanctuary since it speaks of a kingdom that apparently has borders since it is exclusive?
 

rlvaughn

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I do not understand your position. Are you saying that it is wrong to have an American flag in a church? What about the UN flag since Pope Francis says that we should obey the UN? Should the church have flowers on the altar table? Should a Christian flag be allowed in the sanctuary since it speaks of a kingdom that apparently has borders since it is exclusive?
I am saying no flag of any country. The flag of any country (or the UN for the matter) speaks of an allegiance we have that is not related to the purpose of our gathering as a church. Jesus's kingdom is not of this world, and his house is a house of prayer for all people.

(And I definitely do not have any allegiance to anything Pope Francis says, even if he happens to get something right now and then.)
 

Ziggy

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You will not find the national flag displayed in churches in Germany. They learned that lesson after being forced to do so under Hitler.
 

Marooncat79

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A lost Iraqi goes into a Church and sees Old Glory. Instead of focus on a Christian Worship Service and hearing the Gospel, the flag becomes a henderence by them associating Jesus w America.

Thats a bad look for any Church
 

church mouse guy

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I am saying no flag of any country. The flag of any country (or the UN for the matter) speaks of an allegiance we have that is not related to the purpose of our gathering as a church. Jesus's kingdom is not of this world, and his house is a house of prayer for all people.

(And I definitely do not have any allegiance to anything Pope Francis says, even if he happens to get something right now and then.)

Can we put flags back in when WW III starts? I am not sure that we should have flowers in church either because the florist will send a bill for them. I guess that you are saying no Christian flag either because that represents Heaven and leaves out the Lake of Fire? There are some Jews in New York who say that Israel is the cause of the violent attacks against Jews in New York City--it was reported by Canadian Rebel News. When I was a boy, churches did not have air conditioning and Pope Francis calls for the abolition of air conditioning outside of the Vatican itself. You are probably too young to remember when the local undertakers provided the cardboard fans for the sanctuary.

A lost Iraqi goes into a Church and sees Old Glory. Instead of focus on a Christian Worship Service and hearing the Gospel, the flag becomes a henderence by them associating Jesus w America.

Thats a bad look for any Church

He sounds as if he is just in Lizton for the welfare check. If you visit the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield, let me know what flag that Muslim Brotherhood US Headquarters is flying--I am guessing death and terror to all Americans is their flag.
 

rlvaughn

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Can we put flags back in when WW III starts?
I expect that will be the least of concerns at such a time as that.
...I guess that you are saying no Christian flag either...
Right. I am saying, "why do we need any flags in church?" What biblical purpose does it serve?
You are probably too young to remember when the local undertakers provided the cardboard fans for the sanctuary.
Nope, not too young for that. We did not have air conditioning in the church I grew up until sometime in the 1970s, I think. I believe we got that shortly before we moved the plumbing indoors, if you know what I mean.
 

church mouse guy

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I expect that will be the least of concerns at such a time as that. Right. I am saying, "why do we need any flags in church?" What biblical purpose does it serve? Nope, not too young for that. We did not have air conditioning in the church I grew up until sometime in the 1970s, I think. I believe we got that shortly before we moved the plumbing indoors, if you know what I mean.

Probably the Rev. Jeremiah Wright represents current thinking on the USA?
 

rlvaughn

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I have no idea what you mean by that? I'm sure his thinking reflects the thinking of a certain element of people in the USA.
 

Reformed

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Right. I am saying, "why do we need any flags in church?" What biblical purpose does it serve?

I agree completely. I served and was proud to do so. I consider myself to be patriotic and love this nation. But as a Christian, I am a member of a higher kingdom, an eternal kingdom. When it comes to worship I believe all devotion and honor belong to God and God alone.
 
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