January 2020 Ordained Servant

From the Editor. The way of worship is perhaps the most contested arena in the modern Western church. The pervasive presence of entertainment presents a powerful temptation to imitate this mode of public performance and fails to consult God’s Word for direction. Glen J. Clary, “Image of God and Images of God: The Second Commandment and Semi-realized Eschatology, Part 1,” lays a foundation for considering the nature of idolatry in the Bible and how to counteract its intrusion into the worship of the church by understanding and implementing the regulative principle of worship.

Darryl Hart reviews an important new book on the Puritans, Hot Protestants by Michael Winship, in his review article, “Presbyterianism’s Unusual Origins.” He emphasizes the importance of the book:

Winship’s book is essential reading for any Presbyterian curious about British antecedents to the rise and development of the church polity that American Presbyterians take for granted and that was implemented in America without any of the fanfare of civil war or regicide.

Charles Wingard’s review of J. Stephen Yuille’s A Labor of Love: Puritan Pastoral Priorities reminds us of the richness and contemporary relevance of the best Puritans. Puritan George Swinnock’s The Christian Man’s Calling offers sixteen pastoral priorities designed to encourage the discouraged pastor. In a cultural environment increasingly hostile to Christian faith, this book will be good medicine for pastors.

Michael Kearney reviews Ken Golden’s book on the Christian Sabbath, Entering God’s Rest. Golden addresses the matter of what activities are forbidden on the Sabbath. His mature and balanced wrestling with this matter should further the main focus of the book, which is keeping the day for worship of and fellowship with the living God.

I review Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans, compiled and edited by Robert Elmer. These prayers have been judiciously chosen from the best Puritans and a few latter day followers. Not only will this little volume assist Christians in their private devotions, but it will also help ministers of the Word in their preparation of prayers for the pulpit.

Finally, as a lover of winter in New England, I could not resist offering a poem “Ode to Snow.”

The cover for this issue is a photograph of a department store window in New York City taken by the editor. The “Theater of Dreams” theme of the department store reminded me of the idolatry all around us.

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

FROM THE ARCHIVES “REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP”

Subject Index

• “J. Gresham Machen and the Regulative Principle.” (D. G. Hart & John R. Muether) 6:1 (Jan. 1997): 2–3. [reprinted 15 (2006): 52–53]
• “The Regulative Principle of Worship: A Paper Presented at the 2001 International Conference of Reformed Churches” (G. I. Williamson) 10:4 (Oct. 2001): 67–78.

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God-glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders, and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high-quality editorials, articles, and book reviews, we will endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic, confessional Presbyterianism.