1689 London Baptist Confession. “Of the Holy Scriptures.” 1.6
“The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.
“Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.”
The 1689 London Baptist Confession (chapter 22) gives examples of elements of worship: prayer (22.3), the reading, preaching, hearing, and singing of the word (22.5), and the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper (22.5). Some elements may be regular (that is, each time or most every time a congregation meets, or at stated times) and some may be occasional (for example, as with baptism performed when the occasion demands).
A circumstance of worship is something that comes along side of and is incidental to engaging in an element of worship. Prayer is an element of worship. Whether a congregation meets for prayer at 10 a.m., 10 p.m., or some time in between the two is a circumstance of worship; it neither adds anything to nor takes anything away from the moral and biblical nature of prayer itself. Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is an element or worship. Whether the songs are in a Christian’s memory, a hymn book, or stored and presented in some other way is a circumstance. That neither adds anything to nor takes anything away from the moral and biblical nature of the singing itself.
The circumstances of worship may be called the how of worship. These practices of worship are fixed by a congregation, and reflect the ways to worship God within the paramenters of morally and biblically performing the scriptural elements of worship. For example, a congregation may determine it is better for all to sing from the same hymn book rather than everyone singing from their various memories. The London Confession (1.6) says “there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.” 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40
Affirmed elements set forth in Scripture – such as preaching, praying, baptizing, giving, communing – are the natural, moral, and biblical elements of worship. The elements, the things which God commands, are all that should bind and compel the conscience of any worshipper. The circumstances which men introduce cannot and should not bind the conscience of any worshipper. However, they may help promote decent and orderly worship in the congregation. May we who know this remember this. May those who do not know this learn this.
May the Lord bless our understanding.
Note: The Second London Baptist Confession is not our church confession of faith. However, it is probably both the clearest and most accessible Baptist confession of faith in regard to the Regulative Principle. Our church position statement is: “The sufficiency of Scripture for all matters of faith and practice insists that our congregational gatherings be restricted to those elements that Scripture requires – praying, thanksgiving, praising, singing, Scripture reading, preaching/teaching, giving, observing the ordinances, ordination and sending, testimonies, greetings, reporting the Lord’s work, decision-making, and church discipline. Any element must be understood from a command, approved example, or necessary implication of Scripture.”
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