Pilgrim
Although I now believe that the Regulative Principle of Worship is biblical, I can tell you that it took me years to come to that conclusion. During those years, I have come to believe that it is not a black and white issue. Meaning that I can understand how someone might not agree with me about the issue. What is important to me is not whether someone holds the proper biblical understanding of this issue. It is whether or not they are Reforming to what Scripture says based on the light that God shows them in the Word of God.
I have been a believer now for about 30 years and out of those 30 years, only about 10-12 years of that in the Reformed faith.
In those 10-12 years many doctrines such as the Regulative Principle were introduced to me through sites such as 'The Highway'. Many of these doctrines, despite my wanting to understand them so I could decide whether they are biblical or not, actually took a lot longer that I would have liked to embrace. I still have many issues I am working through.
And, are you saying that you are also ambivalent to the use of coarse language and the other blasphemous displays made by some of these men, e.g., wearing a "Jesus t-shirt", etc.? Have you not thought of these things over the past 10 years of so and been able to come to a decision based upon YOUR study of God's infallible Word? Or, do you consider everything "neutral" and a matter of "personal taste"?
About the use of course language, I think it speaks for itself. Even when I wasn't a Christian I knew it was wrong and when a supposed Christian does it, it certainly doesn't help matters, especially when non-Christians see the way they act.
The Jesus t-shirt thing, at one time I would have looked at this issue a lot different than I do now. Before, I looked at it as someone who wants to share their faith with others. I didn't even know that it was a controversial matter in Christian circles.
Now, I can honestly say that although I believe it breaks a commandment (sorry I can't remember which one at the moment). But I know some very knowledgeable Reformed Christians that do not see this issue the same way.
It is not that they don't want to submit to what Scripture says on the issue; it is that they actually don't believe it is breaking the commandment.
So are they sinning? Maybe, but if that is the case then anyone who believes and acts on misinformed beliefs, based on their understanding of Scripture will inevitably sin. Which I am afraid everyone of is guilty of.
This is not to say that I believe things are "neutral" and a matter of "personal taste". It is that some things are not as black and white as others things.
Kind of like the Paedo vs. Credo issue.
You may feel that the Paedo vs. Credo issue isn't a very good example for me to use. But, I know from seeing debates on this issue that many Reformed Christians on both sides of the issue, are very passionate about this matter. I am sure many of them would put the issue as more important than whether or it is ok to wear a Jesus t-shirt.
Something I have been guilty of over the years since becoming convinced of the truth of Reformed theology; is being uncharitable. In my zeal for the truth and sharing that truth, I often forgot just how long it took me to understand these truths. I somehow unrealistically expected others to embrace these truths when I told them about it.
Yes, it is true that many of these people probably will never embrace them for many reasons. But, some of them it isn’t because they are not open to the truth, it could be that they just might be where I was years ago.
Pilgrim, I knew from experience that you would disagree with my post and to be quite frank I probably should not have posted it at all. Not necessarily because I am wrong, but because when it comes to knowledge of these matters I can’t hold a candle to you.
So, my main reason for posting this is as I stated before in my initial post and to let you know where I stand at the moment.
Tom
