Prufrock
Arbitrary Moderation
PLEASE NOTE -- This thread is not in any way for debating psalmody/hymnody. Any posts attempting to do so will be deleted.
The following questions are mostly directed toward Presbyterian pastors, though the first question will be open to non-ministers/elders. I promise there is no hidden agenda or motive in these questions, and answers will not be turned back around against you in any way: this is simply an inquiry for those willing to take the time to provide answers. I promise you will not be engaged or challenged based upon responses here.
1.) If your church is not Exclusive-psalmody, do you still make use of the psalter in public worship? If so, roughly how much of what you sing is from the Psalter? Is there by intention at least one/some psalms at every service, or does it vary?
...
Questions 2-5 are for ministers and elders:
2.) Tthough you do not maintain that the Psalms are *exclusively* commanded, do you believe/teach/practice that they are nevertheless *commanded*? Thus, if you at least occasionally or regularly use the Psalter in worship, is it because it is a divinely commanded ordinance, or simply because it is prudent and wise to include these songs?
3.) Are any Psalms regarding which the singing would be at least imprudent for the Church today?
4.) If your church regularly uses the Psalter, do you make a point to include all the Psalms over time with roughly the same frequency?
5.) If a member of your congregation had issues of conscience with the singing of hymns, and privately made known his scruples (i.e., he is not causing controversy or rift in the congregation or among the elders, nor trying to convince others of his position), is it acceptable for him, after consultation, to non-ostentatiously refrain from singing hymns? Or would this be considered inappropriate?
6.) Finally, if for whatever reason a majority of the session or congregation was convinced of exclusive psalmody, or at least leaned in that direction, though you as the teaching elder did not maintain such a persuasion, would this alter the way in which worship was done?
Again, please note that I am mainly interested in Presbyterian ministers' answers to these questions, though if other ministers wish to answer, please feel more than free! I thank in advance any willing to take time to provide answers to these questions.
The following questions are mostly directed toward Presbyterian pastors, though the first question will be open to non-ministers/elders. I promise there is no hidden agenda or motive in these questions, and answers will not be turned back around against you in any way: this is simply an inquiry for those willing to take the time to provide answers. I promise you will not be engaged or challenged based upon responses here.
1.) If your church is not Exclusive-psalmody, do you still make use of the psalter in public worship? If so, roughly how much of what you sing is from the Psalter? Is there by intention at least one/some psalms at every service, or does it vary?
...
Questions 2-5 are for ministers and elders:
2.) Tthough you do not maintain that the Psalms are *exclusively* commanded, do you believe/teach/practice that they are nevertheless *commanded*? Thus, if you at least occasionally or regularly use the Psalter in worship, is it because it is a divinely commanded ordinance, or simply because it is prudent and wise to include these songs?
3.) Are any Psalms regarding which the singing would be at least imprudent for the Church today?
4.) If your church regularly uses the Psalter, do you make a point to include all the Psalms over time with roughly the same frequency?
5.) If a member of your congregation had issues of conscience with the singing of hymns, and privately made known his scruples (i.e., he is not causing controversy or rift in the congregation or among the elders, nor trying to convince others of his position), is it acceptable for him, after consultation, to non-ostentatiously refrain from singing hymns? Or would this be considered inappropriate?
6.) Finally, if for whatever reason a majority of the session or congregation was convinced of exclusive psalmody, or at least leaned in that direction, though you as the teaching elder did not maintain such a persuasion, would this alter the way in which worship was done?
Again, please note that I am mainly interested in Presbyterian ministers' answers to these questions, though if other ministers wish to answer, please feel more than free! I thank in advance any willing to take time to provide answers to these questions.