Review Article The Westminster Assembly’s Unworkable And Unscriptural View Of Worship? -- By: T. David Gordon

Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003)
Article: Review Article The Westminster Assembly’s Unworkable And Unscriptural View Of Worship?
Author: T. David Gordon


Review Article
The Westminster Assembly’s Unworkable And Unscriptural View Of Worship?1

T. David Gordon

[T. David Gordon is Associate Professor of Religion and Greek at Grove City College, Grove City, Pa.]

I. Introduction

In light of the comparative dearth of historically and theologically informed studies of Reformed worship, one is inclined to welcome any contributions to the field that are both. R. J. Gore, Jr.’s Covenantal Worship: Reconsidering the Puritan Regulative Principle is both. This re-working of Gore’s 1988 Westminster Theological Seminary Ph.D. dissertation by the same name is concerned more with the sub-title than the title. Gore expends only 26 pages on what he denominates covenantal worship; the majority of the work (and of the dissertation) is devoted to the unproven and unprovable thesis that the Puritans embraced a different principle of worship than did Calvin.

The strongest aspect of the book is the clarity with which Gore describes both the differences between the worship practices of the English Puritans and those of Calvin, and the historical occasions of these differences due to the Puritan reaction to the (perceived or real) tyranny of the Anglican church. Also significant is Gore’s self-conscious challenge to put the synagogue question on the map of discussions of Reformed worship. Previous studies have sometimes argued for contrasting positions from the synagogue practices (and Jesus’ attendance thereunto), and Gore is right to challenge us to decide how or whether synagogue worship informs New Covenant Worship. The most refreshing aspect of the book is the candor with which Gore repudiates the teaching of the Westminster Assembly regarding worship: “All that has preceded has been helpful in determining that the regulative principle of worship, as formulated by the Puritans and as adopted by the divines at the Westminster Assembly, is unworkable. More importantly, it is simply not the teaching of Scripture” (p. 137). While I disagree entirely with both aspects of this sentiment, the boldness with which it is stated contrasts refreshingly with the prevaricating dodges one occasionally encounters among less-candid Presbyterians, who have no more regard for the regulative

principle of worship than Gore does, but who profess to agree with it. Bravo to Gore.

Certainly, the additional decade of reflection since submitting this as his doctoral dissertation, combined with the editorial requirements of appealing to an audience that might not elect to read such a study, have contributed to clear, uncluttered prose that is effortlessly read. Indeed, the ...

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