The Regulative Principle, Part 3

Having recounted my introduction to the “regulative principle” and voiced some personal concerns about the direction of contemporary worship styles (Part 1), and having looked into the specific formulation and background of the principle (Part 2), I hope to conclude today (Part 3) with some general comments on application. 

The “devil is in the details,” so to speak.  There are unending discussions and disagreements regarding the application of the regulative principle among Presbyterian and Reformed scholars and churchmen – and it seems obvious to most there will never be complete unanimity among them on specifics.  For example, at one end of the spectrum there are some who are very puritanical and take this principle to exclude the use of musical instruments altogether and exclude singing anything but the words of the Psalms themselves, etc.  At the other end, there are some like Reformed theologian John Frame who has argued for fairly liberal reformulations of the regulative principle allowing even for both contemporary music and drama in worship.  And you will naturally find mediating variations in between.

In spite of disagreements regarding detailed application, the general principle that our worship should be defined by God via Sola Scriptura is certainly advisable — and surely involves some limits on the devices and imaginations of men regarding innovations in worship. 

In my estimation, those who adhere to the “regulative principle of worship” are honorable in their desire to hold fast to the commandments of God and to avoid falling into sinful practices.  However, the New Testament does seem to offer a freedom to believers in the way we relate to God, albeit within boundaries.  The NT makes it clear we are to worship “in spirit and in truth,” (Jn. 4:24).  It is clear our worship should show due reverence (Heb. 12:28-29) and be done in an orderly fashion (1 Cor. 14:26-33).  Yet, these principles certainly allow some variation in specific application.  It is up to us to seek God’s revealed will in the Scriptures as we consider those potential variations.

I find myself in general agreement with the regulative principle of worship. There is certainly a warrant for carefully examining everything in the light of Scripture; and when it comes to worship, I certainly would want it to be as God wants it to be. I should be very careful about innovations in worship and seriously question my own judgment and motives in such matters.

I remain unhappy with much of what I see in contemporary worship trends, in style and underlying theology, and will likely deal more with this in the future.  For now, I will conclude with a quote from W. Robert Godfrey, in which he comments on Entertainment, Evangelism, and Worship as follows:

“The call for entertainment in worship in our time is often cast in a particularly seductive form. Entertainment is often sold in the name of evangelism. We are told that we must make worship interesting and exciting for the unconverted so that they will come to church and be converted. At first glance that argument is very appealing. We all want to see many brought to faith in Christ. Who wants to be against evangelism? But we must remember: entertainment is not evangelism, and evangelism is not worship. People are evangelized, not by a juggler, but by the presentation of the Gospel. And while evangelism may occur in worship as the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, the purpose and focus of worship is that those who believe in Christ should gather and meet with God.

“In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 the apostle Paul comments on the presence of an unbeliever in a worship service. He does not call for the church to entertain the unbeliever or make him feel comfortable. Rather, in the clear and understandable articulation of the truth, the unbeliever should be convinced that he is a sinner. “So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” Faithful worship, where the primary purpose is the meeting of God with his people through his Word, may well have the secondary result that unbelievers will come to faith. But worship must not be constructed for the unbeliever. Rather, it is for God and the church.

“The whole service in the church, then, must not be shaped for either entertainment or evangelism. Instead, it must serve to unite the people of God for their meeting with God.”  (from Pleasing God in our Worship)

I will simply end with a final exortation from Scripture:

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:28-29)