Four biblical arguments for the Puritan regulative principle of the church and its worship must now be presented. Here is the first one. It is the prerogative of God alone to determine the terms on which sinners may approach him in worship.
Bannerman eloquently states this first argument.
The fundamental principle that lies at the basis of the whole argument is this, that in regard to the ordinance of public worship it is the province of God, and not the province of man, to determine both the terms and the manner of such worship… The path of approach to God was shut and barred in consequence of man’s sin: it was impossible for man himself to renew the intercourse which had been so solemnly closed by the judicial sentence which excluded him from the presence and favour of his God. Could that path ever again be opened up, and the communion of God with man and of man with God ever again be renewed? This was a question for God alone to determine. If it could, on what terms was the renewal of intercourse to take place, and in what manner was fellowship of the creature with his Creator again to be maintained? This, too, was a question no less than the former for God alone to resolve.1
But not only does God possess this prerogative, the Bible shows that He exercises it. Contrary to the many unjustifiable assertions of various commentators, God does not just object to Cain in Genesis 4:1-5, but to Cain and his offering. Similarly, he does not merely accept Abel, but Abel and his offering. Again in Exodus 20:4-6 God exercises His right to regulate the way in which worship is brought to him by forbidding the making of any image of Himself as a “help” to worship. Should God decree that He will be worshipped only by those wearing orange shirts and green ties, He would have the right to do so. What arrogance for man to think that he has any business in determining how God will be worshipped!
1 James Bannerman, The Church of Christ,.1: 340-41.
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
