Idolatry In Worship, Antichrist's Holy Days and the Sign of the Cross (Free Reformation MP3s, Videos, Books, Etc.)

• JOHN KNOX, ON THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP, WRITES: "The matter is not of so small importance, as some suppose. The question is, whether God or man ought to be obeyed in matters of religion? In mouth, all do confess that only God is worthy of sovereignty. But after many -- by the instigation of the devil, and by the presumptuous arrogance of carnal wisdom and worldly policy -- have defaced God's holy ordinance, men fear not to follow what laws and common consent (mother of all mischief) have established and commanded. But thus continually I can do nothing but hold, and affirm all things polluted, yea, execrable and accursed, which God by his Word has not sanctified in his religion. God grant you his Holy Spirit rightly to judge." - John Knox, Works VI:14, cited in John Knox, True and False Worship

Why Most Worship Is Actually Idolatry, Which God Hates, According To the Bible (the Second Commandment Or The Regulative Principle Of Worship, RPW) By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, et al. (Free)

The Excerpt (Reformation Quotation) Below Is From the Book Biblical Worship (A Free Online Book), by Kevin Reed, Chapter Four: Disputed Aspects of Worship: Ecclesiastical Holy Days (Christmas, Michaelmas, Easter, Etc.), The Sign of the Cross, Biblical Hymnody (& Exclusive Psalmody) and Instrumental Music In Public Worship

It is appropriate for us to offer a few comments on the placement of crosses in edifices of worship. When we speak of the cross, or crosses, we are referring to the visible symbol called a cross, not the sufferings of the Saviour. When the apostle Paul exclaimed, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. 6:14), he uttered a precious truth. But the apostle's expression is obviously a synecdoche, by which he exalts the saving work of Christ. Paul's statement has no reference to visible symbols, known among us as crosses.

The direct adoration or worship of crosses is plainly forbidden by the scriptures, in the first and second commandments, which prohibit worshipping anyone or anything besides the Lord. Historically, Protestants condemned the adoration of crosses; for example, the Scottish Confession of 1580 specifically lists the "worshipping of images, relics and crosses," among the deplorable practices of "the Roman Antichrist." (This condemnation was extended to the superstitious gesture of "crossing," which is also employed within Romish rites and ceremonies.)

Most Protestants still acknowledge that the direct worship of crosses is sinful. But a dispute results when many professing Protestants defend the use of the cross as a symbol.

Now, what is a symbol? It is a visible representation of something. If they say that the cross is a symbol of deity, then they again violate the second commandment, which prohibits making or using representations of the Lord (Cf. Deut. 4:15-16; Acts 17:29). Of course, most Protestants would not claim that the cross is a representation of God. Therefore, cross-keepers must explain it as a symbol of something else; so they shift the argument to say that a cross is a symbol of redemption, or of the work of Christ.

In this situation, the cross now becomes a man-made rival to the sacraments. As we have noted, baptism and the Lord's Supper serve as visible signs and seals of Christ's redemptive work; the sacraments are a visible word to testify of redemption. "For as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink of this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26).

Cross-keepers implicitly impugn the wisdom of Christ by supplementing the sacraments with the cross as an accessory sign. It is an inescapable implication, that the cross, employed as a symbol or as an aid to devotion, partakes of a sacramental characteristic as a sign.

Some will claim that the posting of a cross in a home, or on a church building, is an incidental thing, much as the arrangement of chairs, carpet, and wallpaper. But such incidental elements of decor do not possess the symbolic character of the cross. Cross-keepers must contend with the undeniable fact that the placement of a cross within an edifice of worship is not a merely indifferent aspect of architectural design. The only incidentals in a place of worship are those "circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed. "[10. Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:6.]

One must also consider the evil associations of the cross. The cross, as a symbol or gesture, is not found in the scriptures. For centuries, the cross has been,­ and continues to be, a prominent implement of Popish worship and superstition. No sane man can deny these facts. Since the cross has no biblical warrant for its use, why should it have any place among those who worship "in spirit and in truth"? (John 4:23-24). The people of God have been commanded to purge from their midst the implements of corrupt worship used by false religions (Deut. 12:2-3, 30-31).

Moreover, even if the cross had possessed a noble origin, the superstition now linked with it would argue for its abolition. Consider the example of Hezekiah in reference to the brazen serpent. The brazen serpent was originally constructed at God's command, yet it was destroyed when it became a snare to the people of God (2 Kings 18:4). How much more quickly, then, should we discard a man-made symbol which continues to be an ensign of the Roman Antichrist?

In summary, there is no scriptural warrant to designate the cross as a symbol (or gesture) to adorn the assemblies of God's people. Until cross-keepers can produce such a warrant, the use of crosses stands condemned on this basis alone, since the regulative principle of worship forbids all human additions to God's appointed rites and symbols in worship. Further, the superstition fostered by crosses demands that they be purged from among the people of God. (Read more at https://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/BibW_ch4.htm)

Free MP3 & Video: True & False Worship: The Cross and The Mass, by Richard Bennett (Former Roman Catholic Priest)

• "The Puritan Hard Drive has been such a superb blessing to me personally & for ministry! The immense heritage of Puritan and Biblical pastors, leaders, and teachers is given to us in a single source on the Puritan Hard Drive. Right here at your fingertips are the works of such men as John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Bunyan, John Owen, Matthew Poole, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, J. C. Ryle, and on and on until you reach the great Biblical scholars of the present century. More than standing on the shoulders of these illustrious men, you have their thoughts in written and audio format." - Richard Bennett (former Roman Catholic priest, now a Reformed Baptist minister, conference speaker, Banner of Truth author, etc.), Berean Beacon

Calvinism, or the Sovereignty of God, in Worship (Free Online Books Against Arminianism In Worship)

• John Calvin: "God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, "I have not commanded them," whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions, than that they are not commanded by God: for when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the Papists, all those fictitious modes of worship, in which they absurdly exercise themselves, would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophet's words then are very important, when he says, that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind; as though he had said, that men assume too much wisdom, when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew." - John Calvin on the Puritan Hard Drive

The Canterbury Tales by Kevin Reed (Refutes James Jordan and others who reject the regulative principle of worship.)

• "For God is not worshiped of us, but when it is his will to accept our worship: and it is not his will to accept our worship, but when it is according to his will." - William Perkins (Puritan), on the Puritan Hard Drive

FREE MP3: Biblical Worship: The Regulative Principle of Worship in History, by Dr. Reg Barrow

• "There has not been a more valuable extra-biblical resource and tool than the Puritan Hard Drive. "It holds some of the most priceless Reformed works of God-centered and Christ-glorifying truth that were ever penned. Most students, ministers and scholars of the Bible would never personally acquire even half the literal number of books on the Puritan Hard Drive, much less the extreme caliber of its contents. In God's providence modern day Christians have been chosen to be the recipients of both a theological and practical blessing. May we not squander it." - Dr. Matthew McMahon, Pastor, Author, Theologian, Seminary Professor, A Puritan's Mind Web Site, etc."

The Two Babylons or the Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife (1916) by Alexander Hislop

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In 1899, the General Assembly of the PCUS was overtured to give a "pronounced and explicit deliverance" against the recognition of "Christmas and Easter as religious days." Even at this late date, the answer came back in a solid manner: "There is no warrant in Scripture for the observance of Christmas and Easter as holydays, rather the contrary (see Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:16-21), and such observance is contrary to the principles of the Reformed faith, conducive to will-worship, and not in harmony with the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." - Kevin Reed, Christmas: An Historical Survey Regarding Its Origins and Opposition to It (Free Online Book at https://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/Xmas_ch2.htm).

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Christmas, Easter, Lent, and The Cross - Pagan, Roman Catholic, Antichrist Holy Days (Holidays) In The Church, Family, and Society by Ergatees (Free Reformed MP3)

• "The Regulative Principle of Worship declares that God alone is sovereign in worship." - Greg Price

Christmas Is A Roman Catholic Missions Strategy

• "There has not been a more valuable extra-biblical resource & tool than the Puritan Hard Drive." - Dr. McMahon, A Puritan's Mind

The History of the Service of Song: Real Reformation, Faithful Worship And Praising The Lord Jesus Christ Through Songs by Dr. Steven Dilday

• The Bible teaches that only God can lawfully institute holy days and that all man-made holy days, like Easter and Christmas, are sinful -- and God says he hates them (especially as they lead to Antichrist rather than Christ and are, ultimately, a denial of the Gospel and Christ's work). - Against Backsliding Modern Denominations, Nations & Individuals, & Separation (Free Reformation Resources)

The Regulative Principle of Worship in the Old Testament (The Second Commandment In Covenanter, Puritan and Reformation Worship) by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series)

• The Regulative Principle of Worship is God's ordained law for worship... You see there is no neutrality in the way in which we approach God in worship. Either we approach the living God according to His revealed Word (i.e. the Regulative Principle of Worship), or we approach Him according to our revealed word. Someone's word is going to expressly guide us in worship. The only question is, whose word will guide us? God's or man's? - Greg Price, Foundation For Reformation: The Regulative Principle Of Worship, free online at https://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm.

What Is Biblical Worship? - Defending Historic Reformation, Puritan & Covenanter (Biblical) Worship, First & Second Commandments by William J. Mencarow

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The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) in the New Testament, by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series)

• "For God is not worshiped of us, but when it is his will to accept our worship: and it is not his will to accept our worship, but when it is according to his will." - William Perkins (Puritan), on the Puritan Hard Drive

The Nature and Beauty of Gospel Worship, A New and More Glorious Way of Worship, by John Owen (Free MP3)

• JOHN CALVIN: "Some one will therefore ask me what counsel I would like to give to a believer who thus dwells in some Egypt or Babylon where he may not worship God purely, but is forced by the common practice to accommodate himself to bad things. The first advice would be to leave [i.e. relocate - GB] if he could... If someone has no way to depart, I would counsel him to consider whether it would be possible for him to abstain from all idolatry in order to preserve himself pure and spotless toward God in both body and soul. Then let him worship God in private (at home - ed.), praying him to restore his poor church to its right estate. - John Calvin, Come Out From Among Them, The Anti-Nicodemite Writings of John Calvin, Protestant Heritage Press, "A Short Treatise," pp. 93-94, emphases added. Calvin quote (above) cited in Appendix G in The Covenanted Reformation Defended by Greg Barrow

James Jordan, Federal Vision Heretics, Like Doug Wilson, Attack Classic Reformation Teaching/Worship

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A Warning Against the False and Dangerous Views of James Jordan Concerning Worship: A Book Review of Kevin Reed's Canterbury Tales, by Dr. Reg Barrow

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• "There has not been a more valuable extra-biblical resource and tool than the Puritan Hard Drive. "It holds some of the most priceless Reformed works of God-centered and Christ-glorifying truth that were ever penned. Most students, ministers and scholars of the Bible would never personally acquire even half the literal number of books on the Puritan Hard Drive, much less the extreme caliber of its contents. In God's providence modern day Christians have been chosen to be the recipients of both a theological and practical blessing. May we not squander it." - Dr. Matthew McMahon, Pastor, Author, Theologian, Seminary Professor, A Puritan's Mind Web Site, etc."

• Full Puritan Hard Drive Review By Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

• "The Regulative Principle of Worship declares that God alone is sovereign in worship. The Regulative Principle of Worship simply applies the principles of Calvinism (i.e. God's sovereign Lordship) to worship, whereas the view that what God doesn't forbid in worship is permitted is applying the principles of Arminianism (i.e. man's sovereign lordship) to worship. Just as fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in salvation (e.g. "I can cooperate with God in salvation", or "I have a natural freedom to choose Christ"), so fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in worship ("I can cooperate with God in worship by adding what I desire so long as God doesn't specifically forbid it"). But just as God condemns a man-centered salvation, so God condemns a man-centered worship (Col. 2:23 specifically condemns all will-worship, i.e. all worship instituted by man)." - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, p. 10, free online or on the Puritan Hard Drive

Arminianism In Worship Is Idolatry & Will Worship, & Leads To the Papal Antichrist, by Greg Price (Free MP3 and PDF)

• "It is like the treasures that were taken out of Solomon's temple. It is packed with such knowledge, understanding and so much wisdom I can fully understand how our Puritan forefathers walked in such fear of the Lord that they sought His and only His will to be done in their lives. I was struggling with life in general and felt that I was slipping so far away from God that I just could not see the way back, when I started looking into the Puritan Hard Drive. I was short on finances but willing to part with a treasured Matthew Henry 5 volumes in order to pay for the Puritan Hard Drive. Well only just after a month of continuously looking into the Puritans (on the Puritan Hard Drive - ed.), reading some and listening to the audio I feel that the Lord in His good kindness and His abounding mercy has once again assured me of His wonderful gracious Love towards His own. I've got other Christian teaching material but nothing compares to what the Lord has done using Still Waters Revival Books to bring these books together and putting them all in one small compact 21st century device. It is TRULY amazing. I am the very least of all true Christians and what the Puritan Hard Drive has done for my spiritual revival is so wonderfully great, I wholeheartedly recommend getting this Puritan Hard Drive at whatever cost." - Paul Blyth, Plymouth, England (UK)

57 Free MP3s: Puritan Worship Series by John Owen, John Flavel, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Knox, Samuel Rutherford, George Gillespie, Greg Price, John Girardeau, Dr. Steven Dilday, David Steele, Greg Barrow, John McNaugher, W.J. Mencarow, Dr. Reg Barrow and Others.

More Free Reformation Resources Follow the Loan Offer Below

• "All human inventions which are set up to corrupt the simple purity of the Word of God, and to undo the worship which he demands and approves, are true sacrileges, in which the Christian man cannot participate without blaspheming God, and trampling his honour underfoot." - John Calvin

Foundation For Reformation: The Regulative Principle Of Worship - Greg L. Price (Free Online Book)

• "By all which, you see where the idolatry of worship lies. The instituting of any, though the smallest part of worship, in and by our own authority, without scripture-warrant, makes it idolatrous, as well as if we worshipped an idol" (Ex: 20:5). - The Works of John Flavel, Vol. 4, p. 527 (on the Puritan Hard Drive).

Why Most Worship Is Actually Idolatry, Which God Hates, According To the Bible (the Second Commandment Or The Regulative Principle Of Worship, RPW), By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, et al.

• "We must hold it as a first principle, that as often as any form is assigned to God, his glory is corrupted by an impious lie." - John Calvin (Institutes 1.11.1)

PURITAN WORSHIP: PICTURES OF CHRIST, THE SECOND COMMANDMENT (REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP) AND IDOLATRY

• "Calvin's argument is that there is no such thing as an 'innocent' religious image. Their acceptance alone is an act of idolatry, so that as soon as images appear, religion is corrupted and adulterated." - Carlos Eire, War Against the Idols: The Reformation of Worship from Erasmus to Calvin, p. 226 (cf. Institutes, 2.8.17).

God's Will Vs. Man's Will In Worship, Romanism and Arminianism In Worship Are Heresy (The Plausibility Of Will Worship To Worldly Wisdom, Colossians 2:23, the Regulative Principle Of Worship [RPW], Etc.) By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, et al.

• The Protestant Reformation was a conflict over many critical issues. Of all the issues contested between Romanists and Reformers, no issue was more crucial than the question of true worship. John Knox displayed a preeminent concern for worship. Throughout his ministry, the Reformer proclaimed the scriptural law of worship: all forms of worship (and all religious ceremonies) must possess clear scriptural warrant, if they are to be admitted as valid means of worship. This concept has subsequently been called the regulative principle of worship, because it regulates our approach to God in worship.- Kevin Reed, Preface to True and False Worship, by John Knox

The Westminster Larger (Q&A 107-110) and Shorter (Q&A 49-52) Catechisms On the Second Commandment (Reformed Worship, the Regulative Principle of Worship, Etc.), by Pastor Jim Dodson (Free MP3s). These four messages make up some of the best teaching you will ever hear on the second commandment, Puritan and Reformed worship, and the regulative principle of worship.