Prudently Reasonable Circumstances
Previously, we saw that the rule of our faith and practice is what is either expressly set down in Scripture or that which can be deduced from Scripture by good and necessary consequence. That is to say that we can and must derive principles for living and tenets for believing from (and only from) Scripture.
However, there are two important caveats to this. First, we must acknowledge that while Scripture says much that is plain or logically deducible, the ability to read and/or infer is not sufficient to bring one to a saving knowledge of God. One can search the Scriptures in vain (regardless of ones logical ability or reading level!) and never find Christ. Only the inward illumination of the Spirit can enable anyone to realize their need for Christ or to run to him in repentance and faith. This is not a throw away line: it is vitally important to recognize that the divines themselves recognized that what is necessary is "right reason" - reason guided by the Spirit, opening up sin-shut eyes and unstopping depravity-closed ears.
Second, this paragraph reminds us that while the principles of faith and practice are only to be such as is set forth or deduced from Scripture, the exact circumstances of how those principles are worked out in the lives of God's people is at times not expressly set forth or concretely deduced. The circumstances particularly related to church government and worship are such that they must be ordered by "the light of nature and Christian prudence." Recall from several weeks ago that "the light of nature" is Confession-speak for human reason. We might say that the circumstances of Scriptural principles are at times left to prudent reason.
For example: we are commanded in Scripture to meet together on the "Lord's Day" (Rev 1:10), to pray (I Tim 2:1), to read the Word (Col 4:16), to have the word expounded (Acts 5:42), to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Col 3:16). We are not told what time to meet. We are not told in what kind of building to meet. We are not told what color the carpet must be (as if Paul would have known what that was). We are not told how long the prayers are to be, or in what order we are to pray. We are not told which portions of Scripture must be taught on which particular Sunday. We are not told what particular "style" of preaching we must adhere to. We are not told which hymns, which psalms or which spiritual songs to sing. We are not told that they must (or must not) be sung to the accompaniment of a particular kind of instrument (Paul certainly would not have known what a piano is, and I am convinced he would have thought an organ is an instrument of torture).
There are some things in the life of the church that deal with the whole church: particularly its government and worship. In these instances, it is up to the leadership to make decisions about such things: the when and where, for instance, of worship. These decisions must be both prudent and reasonable. They do not, however, have to be identical with every other congregations - otherwise there would be a Scriptural mandate! The same Spirit who led the prophets and apostles in the writing of Scripture, who provides inward illumination such that we come to a saving knowledge of the truth also is the Spirit of Wisdom, who will guide the church even in these things.
A quick word about the process of such decisions. In all things, they are made by some level of common consent. The congregation either votes on something major (like the calling of a new pastor, the election of elders, the sale of a building) or they submit to those men (!) who they have previously consented to submit to. This is a sobering reminder that those men chosen to lead are chosen as men to be submitted to!
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