Nielsen’s Nook

Dr. Craig Higgins, Pastor of Trinity Church in Rye, New York wrote an article in the Journal of Biblical Counseling, “Spiritual Formation and the Lord’s Supper: Remembering, Receiving, Sharing,” which I mentioned yesterday when I shared a Robert Bruce quote from the article. I have put together a reflection on the article that largely agrees with it, focusing on elements of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) and its Shorter Catechism (SC). The goal here is not in any way to project that this is the only way to read the WCF or SC but it is a way that I find is both plausible and has historical precedent.[1]

WCF 21.5. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear, the sound preaching and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence, singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: beside religious oaths, vows, solemn fastings, and thanksgivings upon special occasions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.[2] (emphasis added)

I read this section of the WCF chapter entitled “Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day” and see that there is a list given of liturgical elements that are at the very least assumed to be part of “ordinary religious worship.” I take “ordinary religious worship” to mean at least Sunday Worship but conceivably more often. [3] The list is essentially 1) Word preached to obedient hearts, 2) singing, and 3) sacraments.

Section 5 comes in the context of 21.1) Worship must be scriptural, 21.2) Triune, and 21.3-4) lawfully prayerful. So, the implication from my reading of the WCF seems to be clear. If we lack the preaching of the word in our corporate worship is that not un-ordinary? If we did quarterly sermons, would that not be un-ordinary? The same with singing. Interestingly, prayer seems to be assumed as the atmosphere but not listed out as one of these “parts of the ordinary religious worship of God.”

My point about the Eucharist in light of the WCF is furthered when we take in to consideration the list that follows the phrase “are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God.” There we see things that appear most obvious to be the sorts of things that would be appropriate in Corporate Worship but unnecessary. Hence, even the explicit “upon special occasions” and “several times and seasons” is given.

In elucidating the vital role that Word, Sacraments and Prayer play in the spiritual health of a believer, the Shorter Catechism Questions 85 - 96 answer the question “What does God require of us to escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin?” Answer: Faith, Repentance and the diligent use of all the outward means where by Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption. (Dr. Higgins points this out in his article). Those outward means are of course defined as the Word, Sacraments and Prayer - all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation (Q88). The sacraments are those sensible signs which Christ has blessed and in which the Spirit works to give us Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant (Q92).

Dr. Higgins also made mention of Q92 in the paper. Frankly, the language of representing and sealing can obfuscate the matter (at least to contemporary ears). Either Christ is given or he is not. Certainly he is represented; we would expect that if Christ is given in something instrumentally or otherwise. Whatever the case, we have established it is Christ who is given and in giving himself in the Eucharist we are “made partakers of his body and blood” to our “spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.”

Scripture teaches at least this about the Eucharist and it is, after all, our confessional document returning us to the tradition of our fathers which is the milieu in which we both interpret scripture and execute its practice. We submit ourselves to scripture in the context of tradition that we may not be impaled upon the pike of private interpretation, dislocated from the Church that has handed down to us the faith that we hold dear.

That being said, let me ask a question that is intended to provoke discussion, but not wrath or divisiveness. Does any minister or church body have the prerogative to withhold the very means of grace given to us by Christ from His sheep at any point of Ordinary Religious Worship especially when our own Presbyterian tradition has said that the Eucharist is part of the “ordinary religious worship of God?”

[1] I am writing to a Presbyterian audience, but I hope that any Christian would be able to engage this article.

[2] Thanks to Matt Bradley for pointing these distinctions of the WCF out to me.

[3] In other words, it would be quite un-ordinary if churches decided to meet only monthly to engage in corporate worship.