Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

184 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THELord's Supper. The water, the bread, and the cup have important symbolimeaning, and are to be explained in conjunction with their use.New Testament believers met to worship wherever it was convenient:an upper room, by a river,in a house, in a lecture haU, etc. The exerciseof the worship of God no longer required a special place, or symbolic aids,for Christ now had perfectly revealed the Father (John 1:14,18; Hebrews1:1-3; Colossians 1:15,19; 2:17).There were, however, accommodating factors which were taken intoconsideration in the various places chosen for worship, such as: "furnishings"(in the upper room, Luke 22:12); an undisturbed beautiful setting(outside the city by the river, Acts 16:13); "an upstairs room with manylamps" (in a house, Acts 20:8). The furnishings, beautiful setting, the roomand the lamps were not essential to the worship of God, nor were theyincorporated into it. Instead, these things simply accommodated theworship and created an environment suitable for and conducive to worship.Things which merely serve to accommodate the worship of believersare external to the worship itself, and therefore have no integral part in it.They may be either present or absent without vitally affecting the worship.These might include such things as pews, lighting, carpet, tables, pulpits,windows (stained glass or plain), paint, decorations, wall hangings,pictures, banners, plaques, flowers, books, clocks, fans, sound systems, airconditioners, etc. Some of these "furnishings" may involve religioussymbols or symbolism and yet remain external to the worship itself.There should be a word of caution here, as was noted in the report ofthe special judicial committee which reviewed this matter last year.Because it is characteristic of the sinful nature of man to worship "createdthings more than the Creator" (Romans 1:25), and to depend on the visiblerather than "seeing Him who is invisible" when focusing one's thoughtson God (2 Corinthians 4:11; Hebrews 11:17), any use of religioussymbolism in the decor of a place used for worship must be done with careand pmdence. It is the responsibility of the Session to exercise carefuloversight. History has shown that items having religious significance haveoften moved from being merely decor to becoming objects of idolatry.HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONSThe earliest use of Christian symbols apparently was in the catacombswhere the dead were buried and worship was conducted secredy. Theempty cross and other symbols were made by the end of the secondcentury. Problems soon appeared, such as making the sign of the cross asa superstitious custom. When persecution ended in the fourth century andlarge churches were built, they were adorned with many representations of