Hey Matthew, once again, your gracious spirit and rightful handling of the Scripture really serve as a great guide for my thinking on this issue. I'm so glad I subscribed. Blessings, brother.
Does your church have a special way to celebrate Easter and Christmas? If so, can you please point me to the biblical basis for the regulative forms of special worship on those non-sabbath days? Thank you. 🙏
Fellow PCA pastor here. I appreciate your channel brother, your heart, and clarity. I agree that the reformed tradition is leary of this, I don’t think this is a strong argument, biblically. What seems to be at heart of it is more a concern for praxis than solid ground for prohibition. For instance you admit that repenting in dust and ashes is a biblical theme, but then move to talk about fasting in private. It’s not evident why repenting in ashes cannot be practiced still. And Matt 6 also talks about praying and giving to the needy in secret, but it’s not a prohibition against public prayer or taking up a deacons offering. I think what we would both be concerned with is spectacle for its own sake and also required traditions, etc. that is dangerous ground. However, having people repent in ashes and encouraging (not requiring) a season of fasting, do not seem outside the regulative principle (or else a lot of other things are that are standard practice in PCA churches).
Images is also a biblical theme. God commanded His Holy temple to be adorned with images. Would you argue based on what you wrote above that this could also fit your opinion of the regulative principle?
@@StAnthonyPaduaRadTrad The temple was adorned with golden statues of cherubim representing God's majesty, as well as patterns of plants inlaid in gold and bronze... not a bunch of paintings or statues of famous dudes.
The kind of repentance in ashes depicted in the OT is worlds apart from the modern practice. The Biblical examples were the result of crisis-either corporate or of the heart-and were the outer display of true repentance and/or desperation. The head was covered in ashes; it was the outward overflow of a heart humbling itself. Marking a neat little cross on the forehead after some time of self-reflection and confession because of a calendar date is very different. I am sure there are people who take the call to confession and repentance seriously on Ash Wednesday, but are they so distraught over their sin in that moment that they would lament and lower themselves in the dust before God over it? Because that is the OT example. I agree, there is no reason this cannot still be practiced, but I do not think the Ash Wednesday of our times comes anywhere near to doing so. For many people, it is merely a nice religious ritual that they participate in and assent to with their minds, but it does not really touch their hearts or produce any deep repentance or humility, and if that is the case, what is the point?
Good morning pastor. This is a wonderful explanation why we should not participate in these practices. While I am not Presbyterian I love watching your channel and listening to your expository teaching/preaching.
Is it prescribed that you celabrate Easter or Christmas? Or worship on Sunday? The regulative principle is a new idea for me. Hard to understand as a Confessional Lutheran. Help me understand! Tradition doesn't mean "not-biblical" ...and we take the task of not adding to or distracting from the gospel pretty seriously. We certianly teach people to fast in secret.... and trust me we don't talk only about repentance during lent lol. I do agree that it's dumb/backwards to give up swearing for Lent. Also, for my part, as someone who partiicipates in a church with a rich two sacramental system; we are *very* clear that ashes, or any other kind of symbolism is different from one of the Sacraments. I'm sure their are things I dont' understand about the regulative principle, but right now I don't buy it at all. Thanks for the vid, trying to understand this perspective.
I have respect for Presbyterians, but it does seem ironic that the “regulative principle of worship”; a doctrine intended “to conduct public services of worship using certain distinct elements affirmatively found in scripture, and conversely, that God prohibits any and all other practices in public worship.”; isn’t actually found in scripture at all. Doesn’t this mean that, by definition, “the regulative principle” is ironically a man-made tradition?
@@christopherponsford8385 The regulative principle of worship is eminently biblical. You are very ignorant to not understand the biblical basis for RPW. Deuteronomy 12:32 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Why don't you actually do some research and inform yourself before making such a patently absurd claim?
@@innovationhq8230 first off sir, your anger does not make you appear at all a disciple of Christ. Secondly, RPW is not biblical and you posting Deuteronomy proves you are the one lacking in understanding. Do you obey all of God’s laws? All 613? You live under the Law? Are you then Jewish? What of the NT? “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 LSB
@innovationhq8230 How does "let no-one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or by Sabbath day." Fit into this?
@@jacobklug1691 If someone wanted to celebrate a God ordained OT festival day abrogated under the new covenant they were free to do so if they did not impose it on the church. Gentile Christians were not to judge Jewish believers who had grown up their whole lives keeping those days and food laws if they continued to keep them and the Jewish believers were not to Judge the gentile believers who did not observe those abrogated aspects of the old covenant.
I appreciate your videos and appreciate this one. I go to a Lutheran Church (though I am not Lutheran and am more Reformed in my theology) and had ash Wednesday yesterday. In this church, 1) it is totally optional as a devotion, and 2) it isnt done on the Lord's Day. So, the same way praying everyday from 0700-0800, or praying a Psalm every morning, or setting aside family worship at 730PM every night, or whatever else you do that isn't commanded in scripture, remembering your sin and God's mercy on a Wednesday once a year is not something to think is bad. I myself, am not fasting for lent, or doing anything different really. So, I dont think me attending a service on a Wednesday and hearing a message about God's mercy is a bad thing. But again, I appreciate your video and definitely, if taken in a more commanded way, or a way that takes away from the means of grace, it is not to be done. God bless.
I am enjoying your channel and perspective on things. As I move my children to the LCMS the draw is 1) liturgical worship w lots of Scripture spoken and sung, 2) Sacramental view , and 3) the Church year which includes celebration of Ash Wednesday, Lent, Advent, etc. We are leaving Methodist for LCMS and I missed the many ways we celebrated the Church year as observed in the Episcopal church. I've also been non-denominational earlier on and appreciate discussion of your journey here.
It's sad to see many Christians not partaking in the ancient historical Christian Lent. I am Baptist and always find Lent very helpful and spiritually enriching.
Mate - Presbys still have half a foot in Catholicism, so only some of the holidays are permitted 😂😂 Love my Presby brothers, but there is no such thing as Semper Reformanda (they've got stuck with Calvin, even though they cast a blind eye to some of his more suspect views), otherwise they would be Sovereign Grace Baptists that hold to Progressive Covenantalism 😁😁
Also Jesus assumes ashes are a an established religious practice - Matthew 11:21 ESV ““Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Many Presbyterians nowadays do observe Lent in some way in preparation for Easter. If we use the 40 days to think more about Christ's death and resurrection, I can't see an issue with it. If we go around flaunting our holiness with ash on our heads, I think that's against Christ's teaching in Matthew 6.
@@innovationhq8230 Agreed. Presbyterian doesn't mean much today as there is a broad swath from conservative to liberal. The PCUSA celebrates just about everything because they've given themselves over to culture
Hi Pastor Everhard. I grew up Catholic and my whole family is Catholic. Actually, they're Italian and Roman Catholic so the their faith is strongly tied in with their nationality and family in a similar way with Orthodox Jewish believers. The key problem with celebration of holy days is when they call them "days of obligation" and it being a sin not to observe them. A Christ loving and Bible loving Christian is "obligated" to tell them they are wrong and leading people astray. Timothy was circumcised but he never taught anyone that it was a sin not to be circumcised or it was necessary for salvation.
The reason I converted to Catholicism is based on some of the things this gentleman said. The disorganization of most of these churchs are truly worried some. He quoted Leviticus, then says we shouldn’t follow “man made” traditions. Jesus gave up food for 40 days why shouldn’t we ? I’m glad I converted many of these things Catholics do is just a physical expression of their faith. If the earliest churchs still around to this day follow these traditions why shouldn’t we ? How can a church or person show up 1500 years after Christianity is established and tell Catholics or orthodox that they been wrong for 1500 years lol 🤷🏽♂️
Though I am not a Presbyterian, in fact I am a traditionalist Anglican with a very different perspective on these issues, I appreciate the content of this channel because it is learned, clearly thought out, calm, reflective and respectful of other traditions. It is good to be challenged; to make oneself think through and sense check personal practices and especially to examination their compatibility with Scripture, even though we often come to different conclusions.
As a confessional Baptist I really appreciate this video because I always thought that this was a purely Catholic thing . This was eye opening and instructive.
It seems that over the past decade there's been a real push to get evangelicals in on activities like this which have been mainly Catholic and mainline Protestant things. Just because you see Evangelicals doing it doesn't mean it's in line with Evangelical identity.
I come from an Evangelical Lutheran and Methodist background. Both were , not the denominations, but the congregations were very conservative and surprisingly liturgical. I appreciate your perspective. I would generally agree with the importance of keeping things simple abd Bible based. I would against of the holy days at least those not commemorating Bible events. However perhaps due to my background , ive always felt some value in at least following the Christian calendar. I wont say celebrate holy days per se. Im talking about a palm Sunday, good friday , Pentecost sunday etc. There may not be a not be a Biblical basis but it certainly has been useful fir me. This systematic following of special days combined with a a few good good has greatly blessed my congregations. Im sort of in a unique position. Im from a very liturgical background most of which ive shed. Due to alot of extreme liberalism in area ive cut denominational ties and pastor an independent church that that has been gradually mouded under my influence what could be best described as reformed Baptist.
I appreciate the respectful tone given in the video. That's something missing from a lot of evangelicals when the criticize Lent. But I have to point out that the core of your argument seems to be that because some people abuse the tradition of Lent, then we should avoid it completely. That's the same argument many Baptists use regarding alcohol. They say that because alcohol can be abused, it must be avoided all together. I'm a Confessional Lutheran who observes Lent and doesn't see a church season as a sacrament at all. We had our ash Wednesday service yesterday and it was very humbling. It was not a prideful thing in any way. We weren't earning God's forgiveness by repenting. Confessing my sinfulness alongside my entire church family and putting ashes on my head as I repent (which is a tradition that goes back to the old testament) is not bragging to others that I'm fasting. In fact, our gospel reading in the service was the very passage from the sermon on the mount that you mentioned. Also, you're right that we don't need an annual season of fasting because we should be doing it on our own, but how many people do you know who regularly fast from anything? I know for myself, lent is an annual reminder to practice more discipline and spend more time in prayer and scripture reading. That's why traditions like these were developed because they help people stay focused on what's important and on what they should be doing. It's not something we do out of necessity but something we do because it's good and valuable in our Christian walk.
I would add (Anglican here, ACNA) that embodiment is central to liturgical Christianity. It is well and good to discuss and think about that fact that "we are dust, and to dust we shall return;" quite another to act it out by having a cross of ashes placed on our heads right before confessing before God and each other just how bloody sinful and needy we are. Tradition under the authority of Scripture keeps this embodiment from going wild. Evangelicalism, like the Reformed tradition, lacks built-in embodiment. People tend to need embodiment, so evangelical churches fill in the gap with creativity: results vary. And I agree that this video is largely attacking the bugs, rather than the features, of Lent. Other than that, we can't fault a faithful Presbyterian for being a Presbyterian consistently.
I have learned about the church calender and ash Wednesday. I would like to part take of it without the Catholic Church inputs. I love the rituals and meaning behind it.
Thank you for clarifying the Presbyterian stance on Lent and Ash Wednesday. I did not know that Lent was practiced just by the Roman Catholics, and not many other denominations.
I am non-denominational. I believe God works through every type of church because He is sovereign. In every church there is a remnant. Anyway, i use Lent as an opportunity to contemplate the sacrifice Jesus did for me and the anticipation leading up to Easter is valuable to me. I try to break a bad habit in this time too, just to become more holy and ask God for His grace to help me do it. Basically, i have adopted Lent as a practice for my life that helps me focus on Jesus, in addition to tge Lord's Day, of course throughout the year. Honour God ALWAYS! Thank you for discussing this though, Pastor Matt. Either way, it makes people reflect and so adds more conviction to their religion.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 ESV
Jesus several times quoted Psalm 118:22-23 to refer to his resurrection. With his exposition in mind, and knowing when he rose, now read verse 24: "This is the day that the Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it."
I have seen many PCA churches celebrate advent (accompanied with advent wreath), as well as Christmas 🎄. What are your thoughts of this? Are you part of the PCA? Edit: disregard the last question. I saw in your about that you are a PCA pastor
PCA is so lose subscription. I wonder if anybody in the PCA even believes that the church is to be countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrates which is the teaching of the Westminster Larger Catechism. WLC Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition? A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy Kingdom come,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrates; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for ever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.
I’m not a catholic and I’m a Protestant Baptist but I went with my family who are catholic to Ash Wednesday but I didn’t partake in taking the tradition like putting the ash mark on your face. Sometimes I regret refusing to do it
Have you read the Commination service in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer? Anglicanism and even Lutherans have only brought back the marking of ashes within the last 200 years . Even the 1928 BCP Ash Wednesday service does not contain anything pertaining to actual marking people with ashes. That wouldn't come until 1979. Not as much familiar with Lutheran history but I know it was more reformed in thought earlier on.
Stuipid question I am not really religious just curious so maybe someone can help me out if "You call yourselfs Sabbatarian" wouldn't that say that you belive in S(h)abbat and would (most likely/rather) concider the Saturday as 7th day of the week....like Jews like Jesus did?
Thanks for explaining this all. Growing up in the Baptist, then Pentecostal church. And now finding my place in a Biblically sound Calvary Chapel Church... I never heard of Lent, or Ash Wednesday until a few years back. And I was wondering why we don't celebrate it. But, never looked into it. And I've heard of some Christians recently who now practice Lent.
Hello Matthew, I know this video is a year old, but I would ask you to read Hebrews 12:14, it talks about making your heart right within a certain season. And I do agree that you should always be striving for sanctification, no matter what day it is, there is indeed scripture where it’s emphasized that you have “seasons of relinquishment and realignment” (NIVUK), which sounds to me like a season like lent, getting your heart ready for Easter, just as zecharaiah the priest took a Nazarite vow in order to prepare his heart for the coming of the Lord (gospel of Luke). I do believe that lent is biblical, though not specifically stated to be before Easter.
1689 LBC. I hold to the Regulative Principle. Do whatever you want is evangelical and Dispensational. Throw out OT principles. I taught on this and was very clear on Cain/Abel, strange fire of Nadab and Abihu and Saul. Anglican, liturgical European styles.
I'd love to have more clarity on this. I'm at a PCA church, and have heard disagreement within my own church on whether or not we follow the church calendar. It's in the Book of Common Worship, not that that's binding, but I definitely find it helpful to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Marking different seasons such as Lent, Pentecost, or advent seem like they could be helpful too. I don't want to add sacramental rituals. But doesn't it assist our devotional life at times? Or maybe our storytelling?
Because we dwell in the realm of humanity but in God’s kingdom, men and women will put their mark in our religion and always interpret the scriptures. It’s human. And traditions and rituals have their value in sharing those things with your community in Christ, just as He, Jesus Christ, did with the apostles.
@@michaelmannucci8585 That comment isn't helpful. There are conservative Presbyterian churches that recognize Lent and Ash Wednesday. I don't think this is a gospel issue, but rather it seems to be an interpretation of the regulative principle, and there is room for congregations to respectfully reach different conclusions.
@@wesleyfletcher7654 A Presbyterian church recognizing Lent is not really conservative because they aren't even conserving the Westminster Standards which are against human innovation in worship.
Would it not be permissible to state that the church calendar has to do with elements and circumstances as opposed to the essential aspects of worship? With these seasons in play, the word is still preached, prayed and sung. How is this different to a pastor deciding to do a series on the family, CRT etc?
IOW, remove the nonsense like actual ash on your forehead and all you have is seasons to celebrate certain events of the life of Christ. Calendars are inevitable. Either your pastor(s) bring forward a calendar for the year or we allow christian history to help us with a calendar and identify ourselves with the church catholic (small c).
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16, 17
Does your church celebrate other days connected to the liturgical calendar? I find it hypocritical when Lent is called a papist tradition and is forbidden by the RPW yet Christmas and Easter get a pass. I have more respect for those who either hold to the entirety of the liturgical calendar or those who eschew all man made “holy days.” Seeing people say “I’m giving up papist traditions for Lent” followed by “Happy Easter!” has always bothered me.
@@innovationhq8230 Right, that’s the group I was referring to when I mentioned those who eschew all man made “holy days.” I don’t know if I fall into that group, but I do respect their consistency over those who oppose Lent yet celebrate Christmas and Easter.
@@poshhawk104 You don't have to. It's not commanded or prescribed, but it's also not contrary to scripture. Jesus celebrated extrabiblical holidays, so it's not sin to celebrate other holidays. Don't call it pagan though, those arguments are very tik-tok like 😂
Thank you for so much solid content! Just one thought about the idea of not showing off that you are fasting/pious. Isn't that point only for a culture where religiosity is highly regarded? In this modern culture where religion, especially Christianity is disdained, it would seem very difficult to go against that principle. One would think almost the opposite applies. Unless, of course, one is showing off inside a church among Christian brothers & sisters. Any thoughts?
Jesus Undermines the Regulative Principal of worship. I’ve been researching this topic, I find the Presbyterian theology of worship very intriguing but also very problematic. I don’t mean this in any offensive way. One example used to support the RPW is the story of nadab and abihu in who did not not follow the instructions of scripture. However when we look at Jesus, we find him celebrating two mandated feast days by the Jewish Temple (Purim from the book of Esther (John 5:1*- not explicit but most scholars agree due to timing)) and (Hanukkah from the book of Maccabees (John 10:22)) Both of these were not prescribed by the Torah and therefore violate the RPW The only explanation would be that these feasts were able to be authoritatively prescribed by later generations of priests who held a leadership role in the Jewish religion, similar to Christian Bishops who prescribe feats days. Jesus does say that the leaders while being hypocritical still possess binding authority (Matthew 23:2-4) This gets into the whole debate about scripture alone and following traditions and magisteriums ( I agree that your reformed position (RPW) is the most consistent with scripture alone , but alas not consistent with what scripture says itself.
"Both of these were not prescribed by the Torah and therefore violate the RPW The only explanation would be that these feasts were able to be authoritatively prescribed by later generations of priests who held a leadership role in the Jewish religion, similar to Christian Bishops who prescribe feats days." Not necessarily. We know that in ancient Israel prophets received direct revelation from God. There were also methods such as the Urim and Thummim which priests could use to determine the will of God. For those of us who believe that direct, special revelation from God ended with the closing of the canon of scripture and the end of the apostolic age, there are no prophets (in that sense) or special revelations today.
It's a totally unwarranted leap to say that John 10:22-23 means Jesus was observing Hanukkah. John 10:22-23 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Jesus being at a location while something is being observed does not mean he was observing it. It makes lots of sense for Jesus to go teach were a lot of people would be it does not mean he was participating. Because the Bible clearly teaches RPW we can know that Jesus was not keeping man-made religious holydays because then that would mean Jesus sinned which is blasphemous and heretical. Jesus and his disciples would not even wash their hands according to the tradition of the Pharisees because it was a human tradition not instituted by God. Matthew 15:2-11 Jesus rebukes RPW violators! Matthew 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
As a religious Jew, I'm curious about something: Why is Leviticus 10 authoritative for talking about how to serve God, but the list of festivals in Leviticus 23 is not?
The Regulative Principle of Worship is perhaps the main reason I left Presbyterianism and ended up becoming Lutheran. I do not think it is how Christ’s church has looked at worship throughout the ages; and I do not think it is how Scripture and Christ himself approach worship and tradition. I of course still love my Presbyterian brothers and sisters, though some of them believe I am now living in sin for participating in the Lutheran Divine Service. And I still like Dr. Everhard’s channel.
Pastor, what of those closest to time of Jesus and how they worshipped as they were the closest to knowing how Paul, Peter and rest of the early Church worshipped.
Did the early church fathers teach the invented doctrine of Universal Objective Justification? Where do the Lutheran Confessions teach UOJ? I would like to know where the church fathers teach UOJ which is justification without faith.
You can speak on why you don't do something without trying to make a case for why those that do are wrong. Just because you haven't bothered to understand the why, doesn't mean you're right. Are you prepared to judge The Master's servants?
It is a good thing to pronounce judgment on those you observe these man invented practices since they are wicked idolatry! Idolatry is a sin like Homosexuality is a sin. I don't need to try to understand why some people like a disgusting perversion to condemn it, the same applies for people and their wicked Lent idolatry.
I am now a member of a Reformed Church, and we don't use the church calendar. I was raised as a Methodist, and we had some of the church calendar. I miss Palm Sunday and I miss the pastor talking about the history of the church and why certain days were an important part of church history. Nevertheless, I agree with your essential point -- this can quickly go too far astray. However, one time I participated in a "remember your baptism and be thankful" liturgy and many people who participated said they were edified.
May I ask why you left Wesleyan arminian emphasis and how could you remember your baptism when you were an infant most likely? I reject my own Roman catholic church infant baptism when I became a Protestant..
The thing that always makes me laugh is the Calvinist taking the term reformed. They would technically be reformed reformed. 🤦🏼♂️ the reformation happened and that Church, the evangelical Catholic still exists.
A priest once explained to me that the point of giving something up for Lent is that Lent is ideally supposed to be a trial period for giving it up entirely. That if you make it through Lent without doing something then you should keep going.
In Louisiana Ash Wednesday marks the end of Mardi Gras which is basically a set aside time of all manner of sin. The idea is you sin on purpose as much as you can to get it out of your system and then mourn your sin on Ash Wednesday. The whole state basically shuts down so the people can sin without worry.
That's a shame that Mardi Gras has been co-opted in that way. My "fat Tuesday" was getting a large cheeseburger on Tuesday before a meatless, fasting Ash Wednesday (and Fridays in Lent). I don't think too many religious people attend Mardi Gras.
Personally, I don't partake in Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Lent. However, I wouldn't make a big deal about people or churches taking part in it. The problem with this "regulative principle" of worship is that it adds unnecessary restrictions and treads dangerously close to legalism. Thanksgiving and Christmas are not technically prescribed in the Bible, but many Christians celebrate it anyway. I agree that outward expressions of spirituality can send the wrong message. The sign of the cross, wearing cross necklaces and having ashes on your forehead, can seem a little weird. I don't do those things myself, and I regularly attend a Lutheran church. But I wouldn't make this a moral issue with other Christians.
As a member of the PC(USA) I would like to disagree with this, even though other Reformed traditions may follow a stricter version of the regulative principle (Congregational or Reformed Baptist), traditional Presbyterianism after the 18th century (such as Church of Scotland and PCUSA) actually brought back the liturgical calendar, probably due to the fact that some of them went in full communion with the Lutherans or Anglicans, so most Reformed congregations, at least in more Catholicized areas, do strongly encourage the celebration of Lent, just not keeping it as strict as the actual Roman Catholics or other traditional Protestants in that sense.
yes it does. breathing is implied in the 6th commandment, you shall not kill. the positive commandment is: you shall preserve life. breathing is implied in that.
@@innovationhq8230 every negative command (thou shall not) has a positive command (thou shall). You shall not kill : you shall preserve life You shall not commit adultery : you shall be faithful to your spouse Etc. Etc.
@@sdubs Is there one for putting clothes on? Combing hair? Brushing teeth?Etc? I’m sure there’s something the scripture doesn’t say but we do it anyway… or does the scripture cover it all somehow… with a bit of our own spin to it?
Do you and your family celebrate birthdays and anniversaries?? I NEVER heard what/why your denomination doesn't have any memorial celebrations. You sound like a Jehovah's Witness.......a REALLY fun group!!
I should know this but here’s the question. If the Jews do not believe Christ is the Messiah, why do they not offer sacrifices now? How do they think their sin are atoned for?
Great timing. My 14 yr old asking me this, this week. We don’t celebrate it in our Bible Church. A story: I remember getting a promotion to a new manager in South Texas (heavily Catholic). I started new job on 3/1. I go in to sit down with one of the supervisors for our first 1x1 meeting. I sit down with her but immediately realize she has some mascara on her forehead. So I politely said, “you have some make-up on your forehead” …. Lol, she said, “you idiot, it’s Ash Wednesday!” … oops, we’re not in Kansas (or North Texas) anymore.
As a Catholic, I apologize on behalf of that person. It was not kind. And it would have been a good opportunity to share with you what it is and why we do it.
11:40 to say fasting is supposed to be private is hypocritical. To announce that you fast privately isn’t private at all. Reminds us of the holy man who was fasting and his host offered him food and he graciously accepted and ate and kept to his fast
You must know that fasting, private and communal, is called for in the New Testament. It's just a matter of the Church arranging the communal practice, in the same way that your denomination has to arrange things without an explicit chapter and verse telling you every detail. You mentioned retreats. Do you organize and participate in those? What is the explicit chapter and verse instruction for those? Are you in danger of inventing strange fire practices displeasing to God?
Matt, thank you for this video. I am part of a church in the CREC (Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches) which is a reformed Presbyterian denomination where the church calendar is accepted and practiced. So there are conservative reformed circles (as opposed to the PCUSA) where these things are done as well.
A "Presbyterian" who keeps the church calendar is involved in serious declension. It is contrary to the Westminster standards which outlines the biblical position on worship. Westminster Directory for the Publick Worship of God THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath. Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued. It is a violation of the second commandment. The church calendar is an invention of man without scriptural warrant. The Catechism goes at great length to negate all the excuses people make for the idolatry of the church calendar. Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 109. What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counselling, commanding, using, and anywise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; tolerating a false religion; the making any representation of God, of all, or of any of the three Persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of them, or service belonging to them; all superstitious devices, corrupting the worship of God, adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever; simony; sacrilege; all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed. WLC says it's a duty of the second commandant to oppose false worship which includes the church calendar because it is a violation of the regulative principle of worship. If you don't detest the church calendar according to the Westminster standards you are not keeping the duties required in the 2nd commandment. Q. 108. What are the duties required in the second commandment? A. The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath instituted in his Word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him: as also the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship; and, according to each one’s place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry. The church calendar is a form of worship not instituted by God himself, it is according to the imaginations and devices of men. It's not acceptable worship. It is idolatry. WCF chapter 21 Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited to his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.b John Knox helped draft the The First Book of Discipline 1560 which has this to say about all the papist holydays loved by those in the CREC. By the contrary doctrine, we understand whatsoever men, by laws, councils, or constitutions have imposed upon the consciences of men, without the expressed commandment of God’s word: such as be vows of chastity, forswearing of marriage, binding of men and women to several and disguised apparels, to the superstitious observation of fasting days, difference of meat for conscience sake, prayer for the dead; and keeping of holy days of certain saints commanded by man, such as be all those that the Papists have invented, as the feasts (as they term them) of apostles, martyrs, virgins, of Christmas, Circumcision, Epiphany, Purification, and other fond feasts of our lady. Which things, because in God’s scriptures they neither have commandment nor assurance, we judge them utterly to be abolished from this realm; affirming further, that the obstinate maintainers and teachers of such abominations ought not to escape the punishment of the civil magistrate. So the position of John Knox and the historic Presbyterian church of Scotland if applied today would result in the state going after all the corrupt CREC ministers who are obstinate maintainers of abominations like Xmas etc. Xmas used to be outlawed in Scotland, England and early America. The CREC is not a truly Reformed Presbyterian denomination. It's anti-reformed.
@@innovationhq8230 At the end of the book of Esther, we see that Mordecai and the Jews establish the celebration of Purim without any indication that they were commanded by God to do so. So, based on that text, I think the case could definitely be made that the Church is authorized to institute festivals in order to memorialize the saving acts of God.
@@michaelburdge2567 Purim was a civil day it was not a religious holyday. “It appears, that the days of Purim were only appointed to be days of civil mirth and gladness, such as are in use with us, when we set out bonfires, and other tokens of civil joy for some memorable benefit which the Kingdom or Commonwealth hath received. For they are not called the holy days of Purim, but simply the days of Purim, a day of feasting and of sending portions one to another (Esther 9:19-22), no word of any worship of God on those days.” George Gillespie, Dispute Against English Popish Ceremonies, p. 245. You are rejecting the Westminster Standards so just be honest and don't try to call yourself a Reformed Presbyterian.
I assumed Ash Wednesday / Lent were Catholic practices. As it explicitly says in the Bible, when you fast, you are not supposed to go around looking gloomy and showing off. You're supposed to wash your face and look "normal" and not parade your righteousness around that way. When I first got saved and went to a Bible teaching church, we didn't do anything Lent related. It's only now in recent years that evangelical / non-Catholic churches are even using the term "Lent" again. I can't say I'm strongly for or against it. I just don't quite understand it. I would actually appreciate a time of concentrated prayer and confession of sin and increased times of gathering for worship. Once a week is not nearly enough, especially for those of us who are alone and can't fathom what "family worship" even is. I don't see anything biblically wrong with gathering together in this way. It's when it's made to be something you HAVE to do that it becomes an issue. As to worship, the worship in the OT was highly specific and regulated as to what could and could not be done. I don't see that same level of specificity in the NT. As long as the Word is properly preached, there is respectful and biblically based worship (no anti-biblical songs), the Lord's Supper is observed, and people are baptized when they get saved, those are the main things I can think of that are explicitly in the NT as far as worship services.
Your concern about it being a Catholic only practice seems to be common in the USA. Despite this, most Christians throughout the world through all of history have observed Lent (Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, even Oriental Orthodox - - See the Coptics in Egypt). As far back as a Didache (70 to 100 AD) it was written about. Concerning your first point - - Just an fyi, the ashes is really just for the service. Many people wipe them off. Ashes in and of itself would not violate Matthew 6:16. St. John Chrysostom said, “I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin” (Homily 20 on Matthew). I think the early church father had the right idea of it.
@@rafal2959 When I used to work downtown and take the train, I would always see people with ashes on their forehead. I'd see it in the office, as well. It was absolutely for showing off. (Sometimes I would forget the date/time of year and I would be wondering why so many people were walking around with dirty faces. And then I would remember it was Ash Wednesday.)
Amen! Whoo, down South we have to deal with Mardi Gras. Directly connected to getting all that sin out right before you give up ONE particular sin for [ONLY] the 40 days of Lent. I can't stand it, wickedness heavy in the air. Their main sacrament is spirits! Alcohol. Why not just give that particular sin up permanently? Or better yet, give up a whole stack of sins permanently! Just sayin...
I like the Jonathan Edwards T-shirt.... it is interesting that you used the "strange fire" passage as a critique against Ash Wednesday. Alternatively, I have heard defenders of Ash Wednesday use the same passage about "strange fire" to defend their view, as Ash Wednesday reminds us to come to the Lord in humility in facing our own mortality, recognizing that we come from the dust, thus persuading us not resort to "strange fire" as others might be want to do.
I found the argument strange because ash wednesday and lent, though man made tradition, do not explicitly go against scripture. This is the first year I am partaking of Lent and its honestly given me such a positive push to serve him more closely. I have not given up anything I intend on taking back after lent.
God knows His own: they are the ekklesia that worship Abba Father Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit. The ekklesia can be found in every denominational gathering and non-denominational gathering. Not one denomination has exclusive rights to call themselves the one true ekklesia of God.
If you're worried about man-made traditions of worship replacing the forms of worship Jesus ordained, consider this. There's no record of Jesus singing metrical hymns from a hymnal like we often do today. Jesus would have sung the Psalms, as he did in the synagogue and at the Last Supper. Aren't the hymns in our hymnals man-made innovations that should be avoided, since there's no Scriptural record of Jesus incorporating them into his worship customs?
Why is this Pastor, supposedly reformed, indirectly claiming that Roman Catholicism is part of Christianity when it teaches a different gospel and cursed the core of the gospel itself at the council of Trent. Don’t believe me, look it up as they published their positions as Trent was held over sporadically over 17 years after the reformation and they anathematized what the Bible teaches about salvation regarding the relationship between faith and works.
Hah! I don't selibrate Oden Wed. You know, that Viking god. With ashes nor Any Kings day either. I celebrate every day every moment every second. T seporat the days from God would be sacrilegious to me. Aragence is blissful as they say.
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are typically made by burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations. These ashes symbolize repentance, mortality, and the need for spiritual renewal. During Ash Wednesday services, a priest or minister applies the ashes in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of worshipers while saying the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or a similar phrase, reminding believers of their mortality and the need for repentance and spiritual reflection during the Lenten season.
@@innovationhq8230 Spurgeon had mixed feelings on Christmas. Sometimes he kept it. Sometimes he didn't. All in all, holy days keep the faith alive. Remind us all the things we tend to forget.
Why would you purposefully deny yourself and your fellow Presbyterians the opportunity to walk in the life of Christ observing the commemorations of his life and those of his Saints to become like him by grace? Teh Christian life should be one of addition, where you add more and more things to your spirtiual life, not subtract under some false guise of being humble, because you're not. YOu have instead elevated your own beliefs over that of the Church and you have become content with doing far less than even the bare minimum. That doesn't allow you to grow in your faith or in Christ. And Christ came down to save us because he didn't want us to be mere mediocrities
How can you come on here and say he's become content with doing "less than the bare minimum"?! 😂 Neither of us know Matthew personally (I think!) so that kind of statement is just absurd. Also, if Ash Wednesday or Lent was so critical to the Christian life then I'd expect to see Christ himself mention it, or any of the new testament writers. You are free to observe it if you want, and others are free to not observe. It's really that simple.
“THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath. Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued.” - Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God (Appendix)
The Old Testament Church was more blessed with opportunities for rest and worship than your Presbyterian church provides for its people, as you do not recognize Christmas, for example, as a day of rest. My guess is that you actually do take vacations and secular public holidays, so are not consistent in keeping strictly to only Sunday rest. Ash Wednesday is not actually a rest day, so you cannot object to it on those grounds. It is actually a very Scriptural practice to have fast days called for by the Church, and to use ashes as an expression of penitence and humility. If you are honest, you must admit that you do not have explicit instructions in the Bible for many of your practices, such as specific weekdays designated for evening prayer meetings, the timing of communion seasons, the precise ordering of worship services, number of psalms to be sung, number of prayers to be said, at what point in the service the sermon will be preached, who should distribute the elements of communion etc etc. These are things which you give your clergy/elders responsibility for deciding on. Likewise, the Catholic (in the broad sense of the historic tradition) Church has been responsible before God for organizing and ordering the gatherings for worship.
@@innovationhq8230 Much Presbyterian practice is man-made. By refusing to fast, you are going against New Testament teaching. There is no Scriptural instruction for the dates on which you have your communion season. You should be honest that you give to your ministers and elders the responsibility for deciding to do things which are not explicit instructions from the Bible, but are in line with its principles. That is what is done by bishops in the Catholic tradition. As the subject that prompted this video was Ash Wednesday, you must make a case for why you reject the practice of fasting which is commanded in the Bible, and why you have contempt for the Biblical practice of repenting in dust and ashes.
@@anselman3156 The reformed tradition is not against religious fasting. The church is allowed freedom in the circumstances of worship not the elements.
@@innovationhq8230 Therefore, I think you should not have objection to the church authorities in the Catholic tradition calling for days or seasons of fasting..
@@anselman3156 When something is made obligatory and consciences are bound to something without scriptural warrant that's a major problem. The church officers in the service of papal antichrist are illegitimate so there calling for anything should have the same amount of credence as what some imam says for those of the true religion.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart-
These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Hey Matthew, once again, your gracious spirit and rightful handling of the Scripture really serve as a great guide for my thinking on this issue. I'm so glad I subscribed. Blessings, brother.
What I like about you is that I feel I can trust you and open my spirit up to your teaching. I can see and appreciate your heart. Thank you, Matthew.
Does your church have a special way to celebrate Easter and Christmas? If so, can you please point me to the biblical basis for the regulative forms of special worship on those non-sabbath days? Thank you. 🙏
Fellow PCA pastor here. I appreciate your channel brother, your heart, and clarity. I agree that the reformed tradition is leary of this, I don’t think this is a strong argument, biblically. What seems to be at heart of it is more a concern for praxis than solid ground for prohibition. For instance you admit that repenting in dust and ashes is a biblical theme, but then move to talk about fasting in private. It’s not evident why repenting in ashes cannot be practiced still. And Matt 6 also talks about praying and giving to the needy in secret, but it’s not a prohibition against public prayer or taking up a deacons offering. I think what we would both be concerned with is spectacle for its own sake and also required traditions, etc. that is dangerous ground. However, having people repent in ashes and encouraging (not requiring) a season of fasting, do not seem outside the regulative principle (or else a lot of other things are that are standard practice in PCA churches).
This ⬆️
Images is also a biblical theme. God commanded His Holy temple to be adorned with images. Would you argue based on what you wrote above that this could also fit your opinion of the regulative principle?
Eloquently put, sir.
@@StAnthonyPaduaRadTrad The temple was adorned with golden statues of cherubim representing God's majesty, as well as patterns of plants inlaid in gold and bronze... not a bunch of paintings or statues of famous dudes.
The kind of repentance in ashes depicted in the OT is worlds apart from the modern practice. The Biblical examples were the result of crisis-either corporate or of the heart-and were the outer display of true repentance and/or desperation. The head was covered in ashes; it was the outward overflow of a heart humbling itself. Marking a neat little cross on the forehead after some time of self-reflection and confession because of a calendar date is very different. I am sure there are people who take the call to confession and repentance seriously on Ash Wednesday, but are they so distraught over their sin in that moment that they would lament and lower themselves in the dust before God over it? Because that is the OT example. I agree, there is no reason this cannot still be practiced, but I do not think the Ash Wednesday of our times comes anywhere near to doing so. For many people, it is merely a nice religious ritual that they participate in and assent to with their minds, but it does not really touch their hearts or produce any deep repentance or humility, and if that is the case, what is the point?
Good morning pastor. This is a wonderful explanation why we should not participate in these practices. While I am not Presbyterian I love watching your channel and listening to your expository teaching/preaching.
Is it prescribed that you celabrate Easter or Christmas? Or worship on Sunday? The regulative principle is a new idea for me. Hard to understand as a Confessional Lutheran. Help me understand! Tradition doesn't mean "not-biblical" ...and we take the task of not adding to or distracting from the gospel pretty seriously.
We certianly teach people to fast in secret.... and trust me we don't talk only about repentance during lent lol. I do agree that it's dumb/backwards to give up swearing for Lent.
Also, for my part, as someone who partiicipates in a church with a rich two sacramental system; we are *very* clear that ashes, or any other kind of symbolism is different from one of the Sacraments.
I'm sure their are things I dont' understand about the regulative principle, but right now I don't buy it at all. Thanks for the vid, trying to understand this perspective.
I have respect for Presbyterians, but it does seem ironic that the “regulative principle of worship”; a doctrine intended “to conduct public services of worship using certain distinct elements affirmatively found in scripture, and conversely, that God prohibits any and all other practices in public worship.”; isn’t actually found in scripture at all. Doesn’t this mean that, by definition, “the regulative principle” is ironically a man-made tradition?
@@christopherponsford8385 The regulative principle of worship is eminently biblical.
You are very ignorant to not understand the biblical basis for RPW.
Deuteronomy 12:32
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
Why don't you actually do some research and inform yourself before making such a patently absurd claim?
@@innovationhq8230 first off sir, your anger does not make you appear at all a disciple of Christ. Secondly, RPW is not biblical and you posting Deuteronomy proves you are the one lacking in understanding. Do you obey all of God’s laws? All 613? You live under the Law? Are you then Jewish? What of the NT?
“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15 LSB
@innovationhq8230 How does "let no-one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or by Sabbath day." Fit into this?
@@jacobklug1691 If someone wanted to celebrate a God ordained OT festival day abrogated under the new covenant they were free to do so if they did not impose it on the church. Gentile Christians were not to judge Jewish believers who had grown up their whole lives keeping those days and food laws if they continued to keep them and the Jewish believers were not to Judge the gentile believers who did not observe those abrogated aspects of the old covenant.
Alright not to be difficult but could you not apply this to Christmas as well.
Of course. You must. Xmas is an abomination.
I appreciate your videos and appreciate this one. I go to a Lutheran Church (though I am not Lutheran and am more Reformed in my theology) and had ash Wednesday yesterday. In this church, 1) it is totally optional as a devotion, and 2) it isnt done on the Lord's Day. So, the same way praying everyday from 0700-0800, or praying a Psalm every morning, or setting aside family worship at 730PM every night, or whatever else you do that isn't commanded in scripture, remembering your sin and God's mercy on a Wednesday once a year is not something to think is bad. I myself, am not fasting for lent, or doing anything different really. So, I dont think me attending a service on a Wednesday and hearing a message about God's mercy is a bad thing. But again, I appreciate your video and definitely, if taken in a more commanded way, or a way that takes away from the means of grace, it is not to be done. God bless.
I am enjoying your channel and perspective on things. As I move my children to the LCMS the draw is 1) liturgical worship w lots of Scripture spoken and sung, 2) Sacramental view , and 3) the Church year which includes celebration of Ash Wednesday, Lent, Advent, etc. We are leaving Methodist for LCMS and I missed the many ways we celebrated the Church year as observed in the Episcopal church. I've also been non-denominational earlier on and appreciate discussion of your journey here.
I really appreciated this. As a Baptist I had zero idea why we don’t celebrate other than it is a Catholic and Anglican holiday.
The Lutherans I knew did it, too. The PCUSA church observes these church calendar holidays, but I've never been to one.
I attend a Wesleyan church and we don't practice ash Wednesday or observe lent..
We also don't baptize infants .
@@rauldelarosa2768 I grew up in a Wesleyan (Methodist) Church, and they actually did it.
@@seraphmcgregor927 many of them are actually paedo Baptist.
My particular church isn't.
And the Orthodox observe it.
It's sad to see many Christians not partaking in the ancient historical Christian Lent. I am Baptist and always find Lent very helpful and spiritually enriching.
Then you should come visit the LCMS church. 🤗
@@BibleLovingLutheran wrong continent
@@myselfpoker88 oh, gotcha. Go to a confessional Lutheran
@@BibleLovingLutheran we don't have them here.
Orthodoxy
This has been extremely insightful Matt. Thanks so much for making this video!
Does you church celebrate Easter or Christmas? ... all of those arguments fit perfectly against those man-made holydays, too
Mate - Presbys still have half a foot in Catholicism, so only some of the holidays are permitted 😂😂
Love my Presby brothers, but there is no such thing as Semper Reformanda (they've got stuck with Calvin, even though they cast a blind eye to some of his more suspect views), otherwise they would be Sovereign Grace Baptists that hold to Progressive Covenantalism 😁😁
Also Jesus assumes ashes are a an established religious practice -
Matthew 11:21 ESV
““Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Many Presbyterians nowadays do observe Lent in some way in preparation for Easter. If we use the 40 days to think more about Christ's death and resurrection, I can't see an issue with it. If we go around flaunting our holiness with ash on our heads, I think that's against Christ's teaching in Matthew 6.
Shows how bad the declensions and apostasy in modern Presbyterian churches has been.
@@innovationhq8230 Agreed. Presbyterian doesn't mean much today as there is a broad swath from conservative to liberal. The PCUSA celebrates just about everything because they've given themselves over to culture
Thank you for the video.
Hi Pastor Everhard. I grew up Catholic and my whole family is Catholic. Actually, they're Italian and Roman Catholic so the their faith is strongly tied in with their nationality and family in a similar way with Orthodox Jewish believers. The key problem with celebration of holy days is when they call them "days of obligation" and it being a sin not to observe them. A Christ loving and Bible loving Christian is "obligated" to tell them they are wrong and leading people astray. Timothy was circumcised but he never taught anyone that it was a sin not to be circumcised or it was necessary for salvation.
The reason I converted to Catholicism is based on some of the things this gentleman said. The disorganization of most of these churchs are truly worried some. He quoted Leviticus, then says we shouldn’t follow “man made” traditions. Jesus gave up food for 40 days why shouldn’t we ? I’m glad I converted many of these things Catholics do is just a physical expression of their faith. If the earliest churchs still around to this day follow these traditions why shouldn’t we ? How can a church or person show up 1500 years after Christianity is established and tell Catholics or orthodox that they been wrong for 1500 years lol 🤷🏽♂️
Know the truth, and the truth should set you free and belive in the true Jesus and God
Matthew, is there a Reformed Presbyterian Church near Baltimore MD
Though I am not a Presbyterian, in fact I am a traditionalist Anglican with a very different perspective on these issues, I appreciate the content of this channel because it is learned, clearly thought out, calm, reflective and respectful of other traditions. It is good to be challenged; to make oneself think through and sense check personal practices and especially to examination their compatibility with Scripture, even though we often come to different conclusions.
As a confessional Baptist I really appreciate this video because I always thought that this was a purely Catholic thing . This was eye opening and instructive.
Another 1689 boy here i agree with you and love this guys content
It seems that over the past decade there's been a real push to get evangelicals in on activities like this which have been mainly Catholic and mainline Protestant things. Just because you see Evangelicals doing it doesn't mean it's in line with Evangelical identity.
@@TyrekeCorrea mainline Protestant? That’s completely false.
Thanks!
Whoah!!! thanks man, are you serious? That's very kind. Unexpected but kind.
Really interesting. I was raised Catholic so had not heard many of the things you brought up. Glad I clicked on your video.
Definitely learned a lot from this video. Thank you 🙏🏿 love learning about the Presbyterian church.
You explained this very well. Thank you.
I come from an Evangelical Lutheran and Methodist background. Both were , not the denominations, but the congregations were very conservative and surprisingly liturgical. I appreciate your perspective. I would generally agree with the importance of keeping things simple abd Bible based. I would against of the holy days at least those not commemorating Bible events. However perhaps due to my background , ive always felt some value in at least following the Christian calendar. I wont say celebrate holy days per se. Im talking about a palm Sunday, good friday , Pentecost sunday etc. There may not be a not be a Biblical basis but it certainly has been useful fir me. This systematic following of special days combined with a a few good good has greatly blessed my congregations. Im sort of in a unique position. Im from a very liturgical background most of which ive shed. Due to alot of extreme liberalism in area ive cut denominational ties and pastor an independent church that that has been gradually mouded under my influence what could be best described as reformed Baptist.
I appreciate the video, too many people really don’t read the Bible every day. They do so only when it’s convenient for them.
I appreciate the respectful tone given in the video. That's something missing from a lot of evangelicals when the criticize Lent. But I have to point out that the core of your argument seems to be that because some people abuse the tradition of Lent, then we should avoid it completely. That's the same argument many Baptists use regarding alcohol. They say that because alcohol can be abused, it must be avoided all together. I'm a Confessional Lutheran who observes Lent and doesn't see a church season as a sacrament at all. We had our ash Wednesday service yesterday and it was very humbling. It was not a prideful thing in any way. We weren't earning God's forgiveness by repenting. Confessing my sinfulness alongside my entire church family and putting ashes on my head as I repent (which is a tradition that goes back to the old testament) is not bragging to others that I'm fasting. In fact, our gospel reading in the service was the very passage from the sermon on the mount that you mentioned.
Also, you're right that we don't need an annual season of fasting because we should be doing it on our own, but how many people do you know who regularly fast from anything? I know for myself, lent is an annual reminder to practice more discipline and spend more time in prayer and scripture reading. That's why traditions like these were developed because they help people stay focused on what's important and on what they should be doing. It's not something we do out of necessity but something we do because it's good and valuable in our Christian walk.
I would add (Anglican here, ACNA) that embodiment is central to liturgical Christianity. It is well and good to discuss and think about that fact that "we are dust, and to dust we shall return;" quite another to act it out by having a cross of ashes placed on our heads right before confessing before God and each other just how bloody sinful and needy we are. Tradition under the authority of Scripture keeps this embodiment from going wild. Evangelicalism, like the Reformed tradition, lacks built-in embodiment. People tend to need embodiment, so evangelical churches fill in the gap with creativity: results vary.
And I agree that this video is largely attacking the bugs, rather than the features, of Lent.
Other than that, we can't fault a faithful Presbyterian for being a Presbyterian consistently.
I have learned about the church calender and ash Wednesday. I would like to part take of it without the Catholic Church inputs.
I love the rituals and meaning behind it.
I love this answer. I grew up catholic and im totally against anything that even resembles catholism
Thank you, Pastor Everhard.
Thank you for clarifying the Presbyterian stance on Lent and Ash Wednesday. I did not know that Lent was practiced just by the Roman Catholics, and not many other denominations.
I am non-denominational. I believe God works through every type of church because He is sovereign. In every church there is a remnant. Anyway, i use Lent as an opportunity to contemplate the sacrifice Jesus did for me and the anticipation leading up to Easter is valuable to me. I try to break a bad habit in this time too, just to become more holy and ask God for His grace to help me do it. Basically, i have adopted Lent as a practice for my life that helps me focus on Jesus, in addition to tge Lord's Day, of course throughout the year. Honour God ALWAYS! Thank you for discussing this though, Pastor Matt. Either way, it makes people reflect and so adds more conviction to their religion.
Non-denominational is a denomination in and of itself. 😂 you have a core set of beliefs. Can you share with me those core beliefs?
@@BibleLovingLutheran I lean toward Baptist and Presbyterian
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14 ESV
Do you apply this principle to Christmas?
Are you being consistent by not applying this principle to Christmas?
Historically Presbyterian did not celebrate Christmas.
What Scripture do you have to support keeping the Lord's Day (Sunday)? Most "Christians" would quote Acts 20:7 and 1 Co 16:2 which are easily refuted.
Jesus several times quoted Psalm 118:22-23 to refer to his resurrection.
With his exposition in mind, and knowing when he rose, now read verse 24:
"This is the day that the Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it."
I have seen many PCA churches celebrate advent (accompanied with advent wreath), as well as Christmas 🎄. What are your thoughts of this? Are you part of the PCA?
Edit: disregard the last question. I saw in your about that you are a PCA pastor
PCA is so lose subscription. I wonder if anybody in the PCA even believes that the church is to be countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrates which is the teaching of the Westminster Larger Catechism.
WLC
Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy Kingdom come,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrates; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for ever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.
Thanks
I’m not a catholic and I’m a Protestant Baptist but I went with my family who are catholic to Ash Wednesday but I didn’t partake in taking the tradition like putting the ash mark on your face. Sometimes I regret refusing to do it
Don’t be afraid to do it. It is more about shaping our hearts and minds toward God.
@@Apriluserokay I will do it tomorrow on how to make ashes at home for Ash Wednesday
@@jonjonboi3701
A little late for Ash Wednesday, but it certainly marks the season of lent and our realization they we are but dust
Have you read the Commination service in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer? Anglicanism and even Lutherans have only brought back the marking of ashes within the last 200 years . Even the 1928 BCP Ash Wednesday service does not contain anything pertaining to actual marking people with ashes. That wouldn't come until 1979.
Not as much familiar with Lutheran history but I know it was more reformed in thought earlier on.
Thankfully we have moved away from more reformed thought.
Stuipid question I am not really religious just curious so maybe someone can help me out if "You call yourselfs Sabbatarian" wouldn't that say that you belive in S(h)abbat and would (most likely/rather) concider the Saturday as 7th day of the week....like Jews like Jesus did?
Do you celebrate Holy Week? Starting on plam Sunday?
Thanks for explaining this all. Growing up in the Baptist, then Pentecostal church. And now finding my place in a Biblically sound Calvary Chapel Church... I never heard of Lent, or Ash Wednesday until a few years back. And I was wondering why we don't celebrate it. But, never looked into it. And I've heard of some Christians recently who now practice Lent.
Hello Matthew, I know this video is a year old, but I would ask you to read Hebrews 12:14, it talks about making your heart right within a certain season. And I do agree that you should always be striving for sanctification, no matter what day it is, there is indeed scripture where it’s emphasized that you have “seasons of relinquishment and realignment” (NIVUK), which sounds to me like a season like lent, getting your heart ready for Easter, just as zecharaiah the priest took a Nazarite vow in order to prepare his heart for the coming of the Lord (gospel of Luke). I do believe that lent is biblical, though not specifically stated to be before Easter.
1689 LBC. I hold to the Regulative Principle.
Do whatever you want is evangelical and Dispensational. Throw out OT principles. I taught on this and was very clear on Cain/Abel, strange fire of Nadab and Abihu and Saul.
Anglican, liturgical European styles.
I agree with you 100%🙏
I'd love to have more clarity on this. I'm at a PCA church, and have heard disagreement within my own church on whether or not we follow the church calendar. It's in the Book of Common Worship, not that that's binding, but I definitely find it helpful to celebrate Christmas or Easter.
Marking different seasons such as Lent, Pentecost, or advent seem like they could be helpful too. I don't want to add sacramental rituals. But doesn't it assist our devotional life at times? Or maybe our storytelling?
Man made holydays are contrary to the Westminster Standards.
@@innovationhq8230
And yet the Christian Sabbath is a man-made holy day and they celebrate that…
@@ManOfPrayer False.
It would be helpful to explain how Presbyterians of today are different from our forefathers from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries re "holy days".
Because we dwell in the realm of humanity but in God’s kingdom, men and women will put their mark in our religion and always interpret the scriptures. It’s human. And traditions and rituals have their value in sharing those things with your community in Christ, just as He, Jesus Christ, did with the apostles.
That's weird. The presbyterian church by me celebrated Ash Wednesday and Lent. It's in the Book of Worship. Most Methodist do too.
I am guessing that the flag behind you in your profile pic might indicate what kind of "Presbyterian" church it is.
@@michaelmannucci8585 That comment isn't helpful. There are conservative Presbyterian churches that recognize Lent and Ash Wednesday. I don't think this is a gospel issue, but rather it seems to be an interpretation of the regulative principle, and there is room for congregations to respectfully reach different conclusions.
@@wesleyfletcher7654 I disagree that is isn't helpful! God bless!
@@wesleyfletcher7654 A Presbyterian church recognizing Lent is not really conservative because they aren't even conserving the Westminster Standards which are against human innovation in worship.
Would it not be permissible to state that the church calendar has to do with elements and circumstances as opposed to the essential aspects of worship? With these seasons in play, the word is still preached, prayed and sung. How is this different to a pastor deciding to do a series on the family, CRT etc?
IOW, remove the nonsense like actual ash on your forehead and all you have is seasons to celebrate certain events of the life of Christ. Calendars are inevitable. Either your pastor(s) bring forward a calendar for the year or we allow christian history to help us with a calendar and identify ourselves with the church catholic (small c).
Because it's supporting a monument of idolatry.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16, 17
Does your church celebrate other days connected to the liturgical calendar? I find it hypocritical when Lent is called a papist tradition and is forbidden by the RPW yet Christmas and Easter get a pass. I have more respect for those who either hold to the entirety of the liturgical calendar or those who eschew all man made “holy days.” Seeing people say “I’m giving up papist traditions for Lent” followed by “Happy Easter!” has always bothered me.
The strict truly confessional Presbyterian bodies today oppose Christmas and all man-made religious holydays.
@@innovationhq8230 Right, that’s the group I was referring to when I mentioned those who eschew all man made “holy days.” I don’t know if I fall into that group, but I do respect their consistency over those who oppose Lent yet celebrate Christmas and Easter.
Is it okay to celebrate Jewish holidays such as Passover or Purim?
Should we celebrate Christmas????
Passover yeah. And we do. That's what "Easter" or Resurrection Sunday is.
@@poshhawk104 You don't have to. It's not commanded or prescribed, but it's also not contrary to scripture. Jesus celebrated extrabiblical holidays, so it's not sin to celebrate other holidays. Don't call it pagan though, those arguments are very tik-tok like 😂
@@poshhawk104 Certainly not! it's idolatry.
NO, they are Abrogated in Christ, all who Celebrate them are under the Curse of the Law!
1John1:9 , Romans 14:23
Thank you for so much solid content! Just one thought about the idea of not showing off that you are fasting/pious. Isn't that point only for a culture where religiosity is highly regarded? In this modern culture where religion, especially Christianity is disdained, it would seem very difficult to go against that principle. One would think almost the opposite applies. Unless, of course, one is showing off inside a church among Christian brothers & sisters. Any thoughts?
Some Presbyterians do practice it, my PCA Church does Lent and Ash Wednesday.
If your worship is regulative, then your hymnody would only be the Psalter. Is that right?
Jesus Undermines the Regulative Principal of worship.
I’ve been researching this topic, I find the Presbyterian theology of worship very intriguing but also very problematic. I don’t mean this in any offensive way.
One example used to support the RPW is the story of nadab and abihu in who did not not follow the instructions of scripture.
However when we look at Jesus, we find him celebrating two mandated feast days by the Jewish Temple (Purim from the book of Esther (John 5:1*- not explicit but most scholars agree due to timing)) and (Hanukkah from the book of Maccabees (John 10:22))
Both of these were not prescribed by the Torah and therefore violate the RPW
The only explanation would be that these feasts were able to be authoritatively prescribed by later generations of priests who held a leadership role in the Jewish religion, similar to Christian Bishops who prescribe feats days.
Jesus does say that the leaders while being hypocritical still possess binding authority (Matthew 23:2-4)
This gets into the whole debate about scripture alone and following traditions and magisteriums ( I agree that your reformed position (RPW) is the most consistent with scripture alone , but alas not consistent with what scripture says itself.
"Both of these were not prescribed by the Torah and therefore violate the RPW
The only explanation would be that these feasts were able to be authoritatively prescribed by later generations of priests who held a leadership role in the Jewish religion, similar to Christian Bishops who prescribe feats days."
Not necessarily. We know that in ancient Israel prophets received direct revelation from God. There were also methods such as the Urim and Thummim which priests could use to determine the will of God.
For those of us who believe that direct, special revelation from God ended with the closing of the canon of scripture and the end of the apostolic age, there are no prophets (in that sense) or special revelations today.
It's a totally unwarranted leap to say that John 10:22-23 means Jesus was observing Hanukkah.
John 10:22-23
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Jesus being at a location while something is being observed does not mean he was observing it.
It makes lots of sense for Jesus to go teach were a lot of people would be it does not mean he was participating.
Because the Bible clearly teaches RPW we can know that Jesus was not keeping man-made religious holydays because then that would mean Jesus sinned which is blasphemous and heretical.
Jesus and his disciples would not even wash their hands according to the tradition of the Pharisees because it was a human tradition not instituted by God.
Matthew 15:2-11
Jesus rebukes RPW violators!
Matthew 15:9
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
As a religious Jew, I'm curious about something: Why is Leviticus 10 authoritative for talking about how to serve God, but the list of festivals in Leviticus 23 is not?
The Regulative Principle of Worship is perhaps the main reason I left Presbyterianism and ended up becoming Lutheran. I do not think it is how Christ’s church has looked at worship throughout the ages; and I do not think it is how Scripture and Christ himself approach worship and tradition. I of course still love my Presbyterian brothers and sisters, though some of them believe I am now living in sin for participating in the Lutheran Divine Service. And I still like Dr. Everhard’s channel.
Pastor, what of those closest to time of Jesus and how they worshipped as they were the closest to knowing how Paul, Peter and rest of the early Church worshipped.
Did the early church fathers teach the invented doctrine of Universal Objective Justification?
Where do the Lutheran Confessions teach UOJ?
I would like to know where the church fathers teach UOJ which is justification without faith.
@@innovationhq8230 we don’t teach that. Sola Fide.
You can speak on why you don't do something without trying to make a case for why those that do are wrong. Just because you haven't bothered to understand the why, doesn't mean you're right. Are you prepared to judge The Master's servants?
It is a good thing to pronounce judgment on those you observe these man invented practices since they are wicked idolatry!
Idolatry is a sin like Homosexuality is a sin.
I don't need to try to understand why some people like a disgusting perversion to condemn it, the same applies for people and their wicked Lent idolatry.
I am now a member of a Reformed Church, and we don't use the church calendar. I was raised as a Methodist, and we had some of the church calendar. I miss Palm Sunday and I miss the pastor talking about the history of the church and why certain days were an important part of church history. Nevertheless, I agree with your essential point -- this can quickly go too far astray. However, one time I participated in a "remember your baptism and be thankful" liturgy and many people who participated said they were edified.
May I ask why you left Wesleyan arminian emphasis and how could you remember your baptism when you were an infant most likely?
I reject my own Roman catholic church infant baptism when I became a Protestant..
The thing that always makes me laugh is the Calvinist taking the term reformed. They would technically be reformed reformed. 🤦🏼♂️ the reformation happened and that Church, the evangelical Catholic still exists.
I honor Shabbat the same Yeshua (Jesus) honor and as He said I didn’t come to abolish the law?
A priest once explained to me that the point of giving something up for Lent is that Lent is ideally supposed to be a trial period for giving it up entirely. That if you make it through Lent without doing something then you should keep going.
In Louisiana Ash Wednesday marks the end of Mardi Gras which is basically a set aside time of all manner of sin. The idea is you sin on purpose as much as you can to get it out of your system and then mourn your sin on Ash Wednesday. The whole state basically shuts down so the people can sin without worry.
The idea of Mardi Gras is very sad.
Sin is still Sin.
After your body dies, your SOUL goes on to either heaven or hell - FOREVER
That's not true mourning over sin.
Wow I didn't know that's what Mardi Gras was exactly.
That's a shame that Mardi Gras has been co-opted in that way. My "fat Tuesday" was getting a large cheeseburger on Tuesday before a meatless, fasting Ash Wednesday (and Fridays in Lent). I don't think too many religious people attend Mardi Gras.
Personally, I don't partake in Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Lent. However, I wouldn't make a big deal about people or churches taking part in it. The problem with this "regulative principle" of worship is that it adds unnecessary restrictions and treads dangerously close to legalism. Thanksgiving and Christmas are not technically prescribed in the Bible, but many Christians celebrate it anyway. I agree that outward expressions of spirituality can send the wrong message. The sign of the cross, wearing cross necklaces and having ashes on your forehead, can seem a little weird. I don't do those things myself, and I regularly attend a Lutheran church. But I wouldn't make this a moral issue with other Christians.
As a member of the PC(USA) I would like to disagree with this, even though other Reformed traditions may follow a stricter version of the regulative principle (Congregational or Reformed Baptist), traditional Presbyterianism after the 18th century (such as Church of Scotland and PCUSA) actually brought back the liturgical calendar, probably due to the fact that some of them went in full communion with the Lutherans or Anglicans, so most Reformed congregations, at least in more Catholicized areas, do strongly encourage the celebration of Lent, just not keeping it as strict as the actual Roman Catholics or other traditional Protestants in that sense.
The scripture doesn’t say you have to breathe either… do we stop breathing?
yes it does. breathing is implied in the 6th commandment, you shall not kill. the positive commandment is: you shall preserve life. breathing is implied in that.
@@sdubs Yes. Very good application of the 6th commandment.
@@innovationhq8230 every negative command (thou shall not) has a positive command (thou shall).
You shall not kill : you shall preserve life
You shall not commit adultery : you shall be faithful to your spouse
Etc. Etc.
@@sdubs Is there one for putting clothes on? Combing hair? Brushing teeth?Etc? I’m sure there’s something the scripture doesn’t say but we do it anyway… or does the scripture cover it all somehow… with a bit of our own spin to it?
Do you and your family celebrate birthdays and anniversaries?? I NEVER heard what/why your denomination doesn't have any memorial celebrations. You sound like a Jehovah's Witness.......a REALLY fun group!!
I should know this but here’s the question. If the Jews do not believe Christ is the Messiah, why do they not offer sacrifices now? How do they think their sin are atoned for?
Great timing. My 14 yr old asking me this, this week. We don’t celebrate it in our Bible Church.
A story: I remember getting a promotion to a new manager in South Texas (heavily Catholic). I started new job on 3/1. I go in to sit down with one of the supervisors for our first 1x1 meeting.
I sit down with her but immediately realize she has some mascara on her forehead. So I politely said, “you have some make-up on your forehead” …. Lol, she said, “you idiot, it’s Ash Wednesday!” … oops, we’re not in Kansas (or North Texas) anymore.
As a Catholic, I apologize on behalf of that person. It was not kind. And it would have been a good opportunity to share with you what it is and why we do it.
I don’t want to hear false witness, so I’m happy to be corrected, but I thought I remembered Pastor Matt celebrating Christmas.
Thanks, Pastor Matt!! Great teaching
Great teaching!!! God bless you.🙏
11:40 to say fasting is supposed to be private is hypocritical. To announce that you fast privately isn’t private at all.
Reminds us of the holy man who was fasting and his host offered him food and he graciously accepted and ate and kept to his fast
You must know that fasting, private and communal, is called for in the New Testament. It's just a matter of the Church arranging the communal practice, in the same way that your denomination has to arrange things without an explicit chapter and verse telling you every detail. You mentioned retreats. Do you organize and participate in those? What is the explicit chapter and verse instruction for those? Are you in danger of inventing strange fire practices displeasing to God?
Presbyterian -- If it's not commanded in scripture we don't do it. Lutheran -- If it's not forbidden by scripture we can do it.
Matt, thank you for this video. I am part of a church in the CREC (Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches) which is a reformed Presbyterian denomination where the church calendar is accepted and practiced.
So there are conservative reformed circles (as opposed to the PCUSA) where these things are done as well.
A "Presbyterian" who keeps the church calendar is involved in serious declension.
It is contrary to the Westminster standards which outlines the biblical position on worship.
Westminster Directory for the Publick Worship of God
THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath.
Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued.
It is a violation of the second commandment.
The church calendar is an invention of man without scriptural warrant.
The Catechism goes at great length to negate all the excuses people make for the idolatry of the church calendar.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q. 109. What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counselling, commanding, using, and anywise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; tolerating a false religion; the making any representation of God, of all, or of any of the three Persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of them, or service belonging to them; all superstitious devices, corrupting the worship of God, adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever; simony; sacrilege; all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed.
WLC says it's a duty of the second commandant to oppose false worship which includes the church calendar because it is a violation of the regulative principle of worship.
If you don't detest the church calendar according to the Westminster standards you are not keeping the duties required in the 2nd commandment.
Q. 108. What are the duties required in the second commandment?
A. The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath instituted in his Word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him: as also the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship; and, according to each one’s place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry.
The church calendar is a form of worship not instituted by God himself, it is according to
the imaginations and devices of men. It's not acceptable worship. It is idolatry.
WCF chapter 21 Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day
But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited to his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.b
John Knox helped draft the The First Book of Discipline 1560 which has this to say about all the papist holydays loved by those in the CREC.
By the contrary doctrine, we understand whatsoever men, by laws, councils, or constitutions have imposed upon the consciences of men, without the expressed commandment of God’s word: such as be vows of chastity, forswearing of marriage, binding of men and women to several and disguised apparels, to the superstitious observation of fasting days, difference of meat for conscience sake, prayer for the dead; and keeping of holy days of certain saints commanded by man, such as be all those that the Papists have invented, as the feasts (as they term them) of apostles, martyrs, virgins, of Christmas, Circumcision, Epiphany, Purification, and other fond feasts of our lady. Which things, because in God’s scriptures they neither have commandment nor assurance, we judge them utterly to be abolished from this realm; affirming further, that the obstinate maintainers and teachers of such abominations ought not to escape the punishment of the civil magistrate.
So the position of John Knox and the historic Presbyterian church of Scotland if applied today would result in the state going after all the corrupt CREC ministers who are obstinate maintainers of abominations like Xmas etc.
Xmas used to be outlawed in Scotland, England and early America.
The CREC is not a truly Reformed Presbyterian denomination. It's anti-reformed.
@@innovationhq8230 At the end of the book of Esther, we see that Mordecai and the Jews establish the celebration of Purim without any indication that they were commanded by God to do so.
So, based on that text, I think the case could definitely be made that the Church is authorized to institute festivals in order to memorialize the saving acts of God.
@@michaelburdge2567 Purim was a civil day it was not a religious holyday.
“It appears, that the days of Purim were only appointed to be days of civil mirth and gladness, such as are in use with us, when we set out bonfires, and other tokens of civil joy for some memorable benefit which the Kingdom or Commonwealth hath received. For they are not called the holy days of Purim, but simply the days of Purim, a day of feasting and of sending portions one to another (Esther 9:19-22), no word of any worship of God on those days.”
George Gillespie, Dispute Against English Popish Ceremonies, p. 245.
You are rejecting the Westminster Standards so just be honest and don't try to call yourself a Reformed Presbyterian.
I assumed Ash Wednesday / Lent were Catholic practices. As it explicitly says in the Bible, when you fast, you are not supposed to go around looking gloomy and showing off. You're supposed to wash your face and look "normal" and not parade your righteousness around that way. When I first got saved and went to a Bible teaching church, we didn't do anything Lent related. It's only now in recent years that evangelical / non-Catholic churches are even using the term "Lent" again. I can't say I'm strongly for or against it. I just don't quite understand it. I would actually appreciate a time of concentrated prayer and confession of sin and increased times of gathering for worship. Once a week is not nearly enough, especially for those of us who are alone and can't fathom what "family worship" even is. I don't see anything biblically wrong with gathering together in this way. It's when it's made to be something you HAVE to do that it becomes an issue.
As to worship, the worship in the OT was highly specific and regulated as to what could and could not be done. I don't see that same level of specificity in the NT. As long as the Word is properly preached, there is respectful and biblically based worship (no anti-biblical songs), the Lord's Supper is observed, and people are baptized when they get saved, those are the main things I can think of that are explicitly in the NT as far as worship services.
Your concern about it being a Catholic only practice seems to be common in the USA. Despite this, most Christians throughout the world through all of history have observed Lent (Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, even Oriental Orthodox - - See the Coptics in Egypt). As far back as a Didache (70 to 100 AD) it was written about.
Concerning your first point - - Just an fyi, the ashes is really just for the service. Many people wipe them off. Ashes in and of itself would not violate Matthew 6:16.
St. John Chrysostom said, “I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin” (Homily 20 on Matthew). I think the early church father had the right idea of it.
@@rafal2959 When I used to work downtown and take the train, I would always see people with ashes on their forehead. I'd see it in the office, as well. It was absolutely for showing off. (Sometimes I would forget the date/time of year and I would be wondering why so many people were walking around with dirty faces. And then I would remember it was Ash Wednesday.)
@@Yesica1993 Or it could be witnessing. Your negative interpretation of their motivations is on you.
Amen! Whoo, down South we have to deal with Mardi Gras. Directly connected to getting all that sin out right before you give up ONE particular sin for [ONLY] the 40 days of Lent. I can't stand it, wickedness heavy in the air. Their main sacrament is spirits! Alcohol. Why not just give that particular sin up permanently? Or better yet, give up a whole stack of sins permanently! Just sayin...
I like the Jonathan Edwards T-shirt.... it is interesting that you used the "strange fire" passage as a critique against Ash Wednesday. Alternatively, I have heard defenders of Ash Wednesday use the same passage about "strange fire" to defend their view, as Ash Wednesday reminds us to come to the Lord in humility in facing our own mortality, recognizing that we come from the dust, thus persuading us not resort to "strange fire" as others might be want to do.
I found the argument strange because ash wednesday and lent, though man made tradition, do not explicitly go against scripture. This is the first year I am partaking of Lent and its honestly given me such a positive push to serve him more closely. I have not given up anything I intend on taking back after lent.
God knows His own: they are the ekklesia that worship Abba Father Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit. The ekklesia can be found in every denominational gathering and non-denominational gathering. Not one denomination has exclusive rights to call themselves the one true ekklesia of God.
If you're worried about man-made traditions of worship replacing the forms of worship Jesus ordained, consider this. There's no record of Jesus singing metrical hymns from a hymnal like we often do today. Jesus would have sung the Psalms, as he did in the synagogue and at the Last Supper. Aren't the hymns in our hymnals man-made innovations that should be avoided, since there's no Scriptural record of Jesus incorporating them into his worship customs?
What? I am Bangladeshi and I did not know there are Christians that don't observe lent
Very helpful. Thank you!
Why is this Pastor, supposedly reformed, indirectly claiming that Roman Catholicism is part of Christianity when it teaches a different gospel and cursed the core of the gospel itself at the council of Trent.
Don’t believe me, look it up as they published their positions as Trent was held over sporadically over 17 years after the reformation and they anathematized what the Bible teaches about salvation regarding the relationship between faith and works.
Circumcision Sunday? Nah, I'm stayin home. 😬
Most baptists practice it
Very gracious presentation!
Hah! I don't selibrate Oden Wed. You know, that Viking god. With ashes nor Any Kings day either. I celebrate every day every moment every second. T seporat the days from God would be sacrilegious to me. Aragence is blissful as they say.
Handled well Matthew.
What kind of a tradition, is putting ashes on your head anyhow...
What in the world does this do for anyone spiritually....
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are typically made by burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations. These ashes symbolize repentance, mortality, and the need for spiritual renewal. During Ash Wednesday services, a priest or minister applies the ashes in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of worshipers while saying the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or a similar phrase, reminding believers of their mortality and the need for repentance and spiritual reflection during the Lenten season.
@@tookie36where did you get this tradition from?
@@DjSostre7 from the billions of followers of Christ through the ages… as it is a beautiful thing participate in. Not an obligation for salvation
I think a lot of reformed Christians are hypocrites on this matter. They still all celebrate Christmas.
The truly reformed don't keep Xmas.
@@innovationhq8230 Spurgeon had mixed feelings on Christmas. Sometimes he kept it. Sometimes he didn't. All in all, holy days keep the faith alive. Remind us all the things we tend to forget.
Why would you purposefully deny yourself and your fellow Presbyterians the opportunity to walk in the life of Christ observing the commemorations of his life and those of his Saints to become like him by grace? Teh Christian life should be one of addition, where you add more and more things to your spirtiual life, not subtract under some false guise of being humble, because you're not. YOu have instead elevated your own beliefs over that of the Church and you have become content with doing far less than even the bare minimum. That doesn't allow you to grow in your faith or in Christ. And Christ came down to save us because he didn't want us to be mere mediocrities
How can you come on here and say he's become content with doing "less than the bare minimum"?! 😂 Neither of us know Matthew personally (I think!) so that kind of statement is just absurd. Also, if Ash Wednesday or Lent was so critical to the Christian life then I'd expect to see Christ himself mention it, or any of the new testament writers. You are free to observe it if you want, and others are free to not observe. It's really that simple.
“THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath. Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued.”
- Westminster Directory for the Public Worship of God (Appendix)
The Old Testament Church was more blessed with opportunities for rest and worship than your Presbyterian church provides for its people, as you do not recognize Christmas, for example, as a day of rest. My guess is that you actually do take vacations and secular public holidays, so are not consistent in keeping strictly to only Sunday rest. Ash Wednesday is not actually a rest day, so you cannot object to it on those grounds. It is actually a very Scriptural practice to have fast days called for by the Church, and to use ashes as an expression of penitence and humility. If you are honest, you must admit that you do not have explicit instructions in the Bible for many of your practices, such as specific weekdays designated for evening prayer meetings, the timing of communion seasons, the precise ordering of worship services, number of psalms to be sung, number of prayers to be said, at what point in the service the sermon will be preached, who should distribute the elements of communion etc etc. These are things which you give your clergy/elders responsibility for deciding on. Likewise, the Catholic (in the broad sense of the historic tradition) Church has been responsible before God for organizing and ordering the gatherings for worship.
Man-made holydays of obligation are not a blessing or restful. It's bondage to sinful wicked idolatry.
@@innovationhq8230 Much Presbyterian practice is man-made. By refusing to fast, you are going against New Testament teaching. There is no Scriptural instruction for the dates on which you have your communion season. You should be honest that you give to your ministers and elders the responsibility for deciding to do things which are not explicit instructions from the Bible, but are in line with its principles. That is what is done by bishops in the Catholic tradition. As the subject that prompted this video was Ash Wednesday, you must make a case for why you reject the practice of fasting which is commanded in the Bible, and why you have contempt for the Biblical practice of repenting in dust and ashes.
@@anselman3156 The reformed tradition is not against religious fasting.
The church is allowed freedom in the circumstances of worship not the elements.
@@innovationhq8230 Therefore, I think you should not have objection to the church authorities in the Catholic tradition calling for days or seasons of fasting..
@@anselman3156 When something is made obligatory and consciences are bound to something without scriptural warrant that's a major problem.
The church officers in the service of papal antichrist are illegitimate so there calling for anything should have the same amount of credence as what some imam says for those of the true religion.