On the subject of "fire-breathing types," In the course of researching a post on 9Marks I came across an amusing article entitled "Regulative Jazz" which was essentially an invective against the use of incense, and liturgical fingerpainting. Whereas I am not in an immediate hury to challenge their view of the latter, I did find the use of the Regulative Principle to prohibit incense as unbiblical terribly amusing, if not exactly novel.
I am entirely convined that Orthodox worship as well as the traditional pre-1969 Roman Rite liturgy fits within the strictures on worship Calvinists would like to impose, although Imalso believe we are not in any sense bound by the regulative principle as a whole owing to Matthew 16:18 and 2 Thessalonians 2:15. However, 2:15 would seem to preclude liturgical fingerprinting to no small extent.
I'll be blunt, sir, I thought your entire post was intended to be hyperbole but I googled the article anyway to have a better understanding of what you mean. Imagine my surprise to discover you were being quite literal in what you said up there.
It does amuse me that we're getting down to brass tacks somewhat here in that Protestants (or at least that Protestant) is recommending the Regulative Principle to frame worship services. This is where the Churches of Christ claim to derive their liturgy.
I've got a broad view of the word "liturgy". Everybody has one... even if they claim they don't. This includes the Churches of Christ.
Anyway the Churches of Christ claim in all things they won't do something unless it's expressly found somewhere in Sacred Scripture. This philosophy has led them to a capella hymns (among other interesting things) during their services. To close the door on the matter, they've played "The One True Church" card to discourage dissent and/or departure from their members. A clever strategy (though unsuccessful in my case; I expatriated when I was 18).
My point in mentioning them is that this is an interesting line of logic on Leeman's part since it seems to be limited only to incense. If there's a clear mandate in Sacred Scripture to pass around an offering plate, I'm blanking on it right now. But I'm guessing Leeman remembers to do that every Sunday. I don't know but I'm also guessing his "worship team" uses instrumentation even though Scripture is similarly silent about that.
In fact, the only thing he seems interested in regulating is use of incense. Apparently everything else is fine and dandy.
Not to draw this thing out further but it's really interesting to me that what he's striving for is really a sort of standardization for churchgoing experience. His beef, clearly, is that different congregations have introduced various and sundry innovations which individual members/visitors might personally find noxious and they are without a specific biblical mandate. This, he says, is a negative thing.
However that can never be a problem for you or me because our Churches use specific Rites with specific instructions* to ensure a basic level of conformity. Leeman isn't outright saying it but he wants what we have and since there's no regulatory body that all Protestants (denominational or non) in all places are obligated to obey so his (and the Regulatory Principle's) only real appeal to authority can be made to the Bible.
* Yes, Novus Ordo is notoriously flexible in this respect. It's too long to get into here but suffice it to say I don't believe the latitude many priests believe themselves to have with Novus Ordo is actually permitted when you get to nitty-gritty.
Anyway, it's a sort of interesting line of thinking when you realize that it points to the sort of authority already inherent in our Churches. I find this fascinating.
Sorry to blabber so much but I'm getting a little punchy here.
