"But such is the corrupt nature of man, that there is scarce any thing whereabout men have been more apt to contend with God from the foundation of the world. That their will and wisdom may have a share (some at least) in the ordering of his worship, is that which of all things they seem to desire. Wherefore, to obviate their pride and folly, to his asserting of his own prerogative in this matter, he subjoins severe interdictions against all or any man's interposing therein, so as to take away any thing by him commanded, or to add any thing to what is by him appointed. This also the testimonies recited fully express. The prohibition is plain, "Thou shalt not add to what I have commanded.'" - John Owen, Concerning Liturgies and Their Imposition (emphases added).
Liturgical Antinomianism by Brian Schwertley (8 free MP3s)A series of sermons about how Roman Catholic idolatry enters Protestantism. This whole MP3 series contains very important messages about how Satan is corrupting the worship of God in our day, using men (like James Jordan, John Frame, Doug Wilson, Steve Schlissel, Jeffrey Meyers, Vern Poythress, et al.) who claim some connections to the Reformed faith, but who, in reality, teach principles of worship much closer to Rome and the Papacy than to the Reformation and the best Reformers. To find out why John Calvin would have excommunicated both John Frame and James Jordan, given the idolatrous nature of their beliefs and public teaching regarding worship, please see http://www.swrb.com/newslett/a ctualNLs/frameexc.htm. The free article, "A Warning Against the False and Dangerous Views of James Jordan Concerning Worship," is at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/a ctualNLs/blastjj.htm and will also expose more about the heresy and idolatry noted throughout Brian Schwertley's "must hear" MP3 series entitled "Liturgical Antinomianism." This series also contains many clues as to how Papal superstition (Roman Catholicism) and will worship (idolatry) is introduced into Protestant Churches. Sermon four is a much needed study refuting the nonsense, idolatry and heresy of James Jordan. More refuting James Jordan the can be found at http://www.swrb.com/newslett /freebook/refworsh.htm (search for "Jordan"). The following quote, from Kevin Reed's, The Canterbury Tales, is apropos.
In a Lutheran/Anglican posture, Mr. Jordan is asserting that the church has been granted broad discretionary power to establish means of worship. This is similar to the Anabaptist notions, which allow the 'moving of the Spirit' to govern the present activities of the church, without any direct appeal to the law of God. In both cases, the church has the power to worship God according to the devices of men. However, the Anabaptist opts for subjectivism (due to an emphasis on individualism); the other opts for traditionalism (with an emphasis on the corporate consensus). Yet, the law of God rejects both a subjective appeal (Deut. 12:8), and an appeal to the consensus (Deut. 12:30-31). Rather, the biblical admonition directs men to the scriptural pattern of worship (Deut. 12:32).
In sermon eight Brian Schwertley conclusively demonstrates how Jordan's views on worship are seriously flawed and how his writings "often show more charity toward Papists, than toward the Reformed faith" (p. 28, Canterbury Tales by Kevin Reed).
"For God is not worshiped of us, but when it is his will to accept our worship: and it is not his will to accept our worship, but when it is according to his will." - William Perkins (Puritan), A Golden Chain, or the Description of Theology
B. Leviticus 10:1-3: 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, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified'". Carefully note that the nature of the sin committed by Nadab and Abihu was that they offered profane fire before the Lord "which He had not commanded them."God did not say they offered profane fire "which was forbidden them." The fact that He had not commanded the use of the strange fire meant it was forbidden (God's silence in the matter meant an express prohibition of all profane fire). According to Leviticus 16:12 it would appear that the coals for the incense offering were to come from the fire on the altar of burnt offering. The priest then brought the coals from the altar of burnt offering into the Tabernacle, and on the altar of incense he spread the coals out mixing the coals and the incense which then filled the Holy Place. Apparently in a rather spontaneous act of worship (with perhaps "good intentions" cf. Lev. 9:22-24) they took fire from another source to praise God. God had just consumed the burnt offering by a miraculous display of fire, and all the people were in an enthusiastic state of shouting and falling on their faces before the Most High God. Leviticus 10:1 immediately follows with "Then." It may be that in all of the excitement, Nadab and Abihu, quite overcome by the demonstration of God's awesome power took fire from the quickest and nearest source available to them and immediately went into the Tabernacle to offer incense to the Lord God. They took liberties in worship which God had not given them, and they were slain. They added to the worship of God an act that was not specifically authorized by God. They brought their own man-made worship into the house of God, and His anger burned against them. - Greg Price, FOUNDATION FOR REFORMATION: THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP (Free Online Book)
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