The latest edition of New Horizons magazine has several articles regarding the new Psalter project undertaken by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and our brothers and sisters in the faith in the United Reformed Churches in North America. There was one article in particular that aroused the ire of one of the most respected OPC elders in Western Pennsylvania. The article in question was described by him and several others as "brusque", "staccato" etc. My purpose here is not to grind axes and name names. My purpose here is to shed my perspective on the potential pitfalls of placing such inordinate emphasis on this ecumenist initiative... One predicated upon the misnomer of exclusive psalmody.
One of the main shortcomings cited about Calvinists is our tendency to throw down on each other over the nonessentials; as opposed to endeavoring a unified front against the greater enemies of our faith. . The latter is a lot more in sync with the Great Commission and, had we thus engaged in the mainstream
This is part of the danger inherent, to my view , of collaborative efforts such as these. Such endeavors implicitly raise the bar of toleration of doctrinal error. This new Psalter, by its very being , flags the implication that the doctrinal errors which fuel exclusive psalmody are not only tolerable , they are to be tolerated. Let's quickly itemize a few of the historical raspberries:
- The spiritual songs and hymns from other parts of the Bible are okay for use in the home, but are a no-no in church.. Talk about your latently papist assertions !! What's next- rosaries and scapulars?!
- That all of our forebears ( Covenanters, Puritans, Westminster divines) were exclusive psalmists.
- That Calvin, Theodore Beza and the divines in Geneva, Switzerland were exclusive psalmists.
- That exclusive psalmody is in accordance with the Westminster standards.
There is another danger that we would be derelict not to consider. Such an inordinate emphasis on a proposed new Psalter, or the OPC's collaboration with the URCNA could threaten to prioritize ecumenicity at the exclusion or expense of sound doctrine! In other words, are we doing this in the vein of a more sound/healthy/well-rounded liturgical experience? Or are we placating to the URCNA in the interest of ecumenical relations ?
If it ain't broke, why fix it?
The Trinity Hymnal and the Book of Psalms for Singing are splendid repositories for the expression of faith in song. The soundness of our worship has only been enhanced in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the glory given to God is unquestionable in either book. There are better ways to enhance discourse within NAPARC than to invest thousands of dollars in a new publication which tacitly raises the bar for toleration for anything rooted in doctrinal error! In this case, it's exclusive psalmody.
Were collaborative efforts in the ecumenical vein which tacitly approve toleration of theological error not the recipe which proved the hemlock for the Presbyterian faith in the mainline????
Precisely where did this idea get started that the interest of Federative unity should, under any circumstances, eclipse, the soundness of worship?
Should said unity ever be endeavored if there were the slightest risk of disunity or spiritual marginalization in one's own denomination? Whatever happened to "charity begins at home"?
As of about a year ago, my church in Pennsylvania became one of only five in the entire OPC to engage in exclusive psalmody after the call of worship. I've gone on record that capitulating to the exclusive psalmists in my church was a mistake. I maintain that strictly on Biblical, historical and catechetical grounds with no regard to who might find that personally objectionable! This is an issue that transcends personalities and cliques and I find manipulating the liturgical architecture in any degree simply to please a few persons offensive.
Where does it end?-I'm thinking of course of the slippery slope. The derisiveness that could be potentially wrought is not worth the effort. Obviously, the Apostle Paul did not mean that each one of us is responsible for memorizing a particular Psalm of David in I Corinthians 14:26!!!!!
The reason given for the acquiescence in question was to strike a "compromise". I'm sorry, but are we here to cater to ecclesiastical cabals or cliques or to glorify God in Christ?!?! It's really a zero-sum proposition..... The Bible commands us to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in corporate worship..........period. I need not elucidate on the latently papist aftertaste that leaves.
I'm aware of Martin Luther's assessment that the "Psalms of David is the Bible in miniature form". But he also said that "My conscience is captive to the word of God"...
What's wrong with what we have??? The Psalmodic deference is sufficient!!!
Christ and His atonement is self revelatory, from Genesis to Revelation. This is a position that my exclusive psalmist brothers gladly concur with me on and this is what most hold Luther meant when he referenced the Psalms of David. If the proponents of exclusive psalmody hold to the inerrancy of Scripture as implacably as they claim they do, and I would like to think they do........ How then do they endeavor the perichoresis between exclusive psalmody and the hymns and spiritual songs the Word of God commands us to sing?
The intent was not to revisit an argument addressed several times in Glencairn Presbyterian. However, I remain very passionate against certain "democratic" tendencies inherent in the Reformed tradition. Certainly, broader, more comprehensive discourse between those in our faith of the evangelical stripe is a lofty and noble goal- I take no issue whatsoever. My issue lies in the ghastly tendency to either manipulate the liturgical architecture or tacitly condone positions that to any degree- no matter how slight or peripheral- compromise the soteriological or liturgical integrity of the Kirk Militant.
The enemies of the faith gain momentum in the mainstream media by the day........
We ain't got time or resources for dumb stuff!!...........
Bottom line.
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