Normative principle of worship
Encyclopedia
The normative principle of worship is a Christian
theological
principle that teaches that worship in the Church
can include those elements that are not prohibited by Scripture. The most common traditions using this are Anglican and Lutheran.
The opposing view is the regulative principle of worship
which teaches that with regard to worship "whatever is commanded in Scripture by command, precept or example, or which can be deduced by good and necessary consequence
from Scripture is required, and that whatever is not commanded or cannot be deduced by good and necessary consequence from the Scripture is prohibited". This is most often seen in many Presbyterian
and Reformed churches.
A supposedly new principle has been recently introduced into this discussion that seeks to strike a balance between the regulative and normative principles. Sometimes referred to as the "informed principle of worship", it teaches that what is commanded in Scripture regarding worship is required, what is prohibited in Scripture regarding worship is forbidden, what is not prohibited in Scripture regarding worship is permissible, but only if validly
deduced from a proper application of Scripture using good and necessary consequence.
However, the attempt to promote the "informed principle of worship" is self-evidently mistaken for a very simple reason: the Regulative Principle of Worship already teaches and insists on the regulative and morally binding role of good and necessary consequence. One of the most explicit assertions of this authoritative and morally binding use of good and necessary consequence is readily found in probably the most famous of Protestant Confessions of faith, the Westminster Confession of Faith
(1646), Chapter 1, sec. 6, as well as in many others, including the Heidelberg Catechism
, the Belgic Confession
, and the London Baptist Confession (1677/1689).
Therefore, any worship practice or worship element, which is not prohibited in Scripture, but which can be validly deduced by using good and necessary consequence from the Scripure is already covered and authorised under the regulative principle of worship.
This shows that the only really 'new' thing about the principle recently introduced as "informed principle" is its label, which perhaps arose due to a misunderstanding of what the Regulative Principle of Worship already teaches.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
principle that teaches that worship in the Church
Christian worship
In Christianity, worship is adoration and contemplation of God.-Overview:Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns, with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, particularly the Psalter;...
can include those elements that are not prohibited by Scripture. The most common traditions using this are Anglican and Lutheran.
The opposing view is the regulative principle of worship
Regulative principle of worship
The regulative principle of worship is a teaching shared by some Calvinists and Anabaptists on how the Bible orders public worship. The substance of the doctrine regarding worship is that God institutes in the Scriptures everything he requires for worship in the Church and that everything else is...
which teaches that with regard to worship "whatever is commanded in Scripture by command, precept or example, or which can be deduced by good and necessary consequence
Good and necessary consequence
The phrase good and necessary consequence was used more commonly several centuries ago to express the idea which we would place today under the general heading of logic; that is, to reason validly by logical deduction or better, deductive reasoning....
from Scripture is required, and that whatever is not commanded or cannot be deduced by good and necessary consequence from the Scripture is prohibited". This is most often seen in many Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
and Reformed churches.
A supposedly new principle has been recently introduced into this discussion that seeks to strike a balance between the regulative and normative principles. Sometimes referred to as the "informed principle of worship", it teaches that what is commanded in Scripture regarding worship is required, what is prohibited in Scripture regarding worship is forbidden, what is not prohibited in Scripture regarding worship is permissible, but only if validly
Validity
In logic, argument is valid if and only if its conclusion is entailed by its premises, a formula is valid if and only if it is true under every interpretation, and an argument form is valid if and only if every argument of that logical form is valid....
deduced from a proper application of Scripture using good and necessary consequence.
However, the attempt to promote the "informed principle of worship" is self-evidently mistaken for a very simple reason: the Regulative Principle of Worship already teaches and insists on the regulative and morally binding role of good and necessary consequence. One of the most explicit assertions of this authoritative and morally binding use of good and necessary consequence is readily found in probably the most famous of Protestant Confessions of faith, the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
(1646), Chapter 1, sec. 6, as well as in many others, including the Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
, the Belgic Confession
Belgic Confession
The Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity...
, and the London Baptist Confession (1677/1689).
Therefore, any worship practice or worship element, which is not prohibited in Scripture, but which can be validly deduced by using good and necessary consequence from the Scripure is already covered and authorised under the regulative principle of worship.
This shows that the only really 'new' thing about the principle recently introduced as "informed principle" is its label, which perhaps arose due to a misunderstanding of what the Regulative Principle of Worship already teaches.