Liberty of Conscience, part 1 (Mark 7:1-13) Introduction Three principles of worship: (1) The Catholic principle (2) The Lutheran (or normative) principle (3) The Reformed (or regulative) principle
See 39 Articles, art. 20 & 34.
Exposition 'Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it' (Deut 12:32).
1. Do not add (v. 1-7) Paul warns against 'the commandments and doctrines of men... These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion [literally will-worship, KJV] ... but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh' (Col 2:20-21)
2. Do not take away (v. 8-13) When you start adding, eventually, you start taking away.
NT Regulation Only? See Lev 10:1-5, 'Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them...'
Conclusion The primary questions, then, are (1) how is God to be worshipped, and (2) who has the right to decide?
George Gillespie writes to his Scottish brethren, 'It is God's right to order the institutions of worship in His church exclusive of any innovations man might impose, through conceit, ignorance, or good intention.'
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