Analysis Of Michael Farley's Article: Biblical Worship

1213 Words3 Pages

Michael Farley’s article, What is “Biblical” Worship?, describes what biblical worship is by providing evidence of the biblical theology of worship that is currently being used in the evangelical world. Farley presents three hermeneutical models, including the praxis-oriented regulative principle, the patristic-ecumenical model, and the biblical-typological approach to portray what biblical worship is, in accordance with scripture.
The praxis-oriented regulative principle is a hermeneutical approach to a biblical theology of worship defining the norm for Christian worship as the apostolic practice or corporate worship in the first-century church. According to this principle, liturgical practices are only biblical if they are explicitly commanded …show more content…

For example, Jesus shares the Gospel message with His disciples when He institutes the Lord’s Supper, as the Lord’s Supper is a celebration of the sacrifice Jesus made for His people on the cross. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been forgiven and given eternal life through Him. Rather than focusing on this central message, the praxis-oriented regulative principle focuses on several underlying commands that hold no validity, such as common bread may only be used in communion, not wafers, and that one must be sitting rather than kneeling when receiving communion³. These ideas are derived from the account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22, when the disciples shared the meal with Jesus, they reclined at the table and broke bread⁴. Though these ideas are found in scripture, it is not commanded that one must be sitting or eating common …show more content…

As the author provides an analysis of the praxis-oriented regulative principle, patristic-ecumenical model, and the biblical-typological approach, he considers the history of corporate worship. The author deems the biblical-typological approach to be the best method for assessing liturgical practices because it includes a study of the elements of worship used in both the Old and New Testament, rather than only the New Testament or theological generalities, as the first two methods. The author realizes the importance of considering the problem he seeks to answer, “What is biblical worship?”, in light of

Open Document