Regulative principle of worship
Encyclopedia
The regulative principle of worship is a teaching shared by some Calvinists
and Anabaptist
s 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 prohibited. The term "regulative principle" is less frequently broadened to apply to other areas such as church government (Thornwell, 1841-2), but in this sense it becomes synonymous with the principle of sola scriptura
.
The regulative principle is often contrasted with the normative principle of worship
which teaches that whatever is not prohibited in Scripture is permitted in worship, as long as it is agreeable to the peace and unity of the Church. In short, there must be agreement with the general practice of the Church and no prohibition in Scripture for whatever is done in worship.
The normative principle of worship is the generally accepted approach to worship practiced by Lutherans, Anglicans, Evangelicals
, and Methodists. The regulative principle of worship is generally practiced by the conservative Reformed churches
, Restoration Movement
, and in other conservative Protestant denominations
, and it finds expression in confessional documents such as the Westminster Confession of Faith
(see Chapter 21), the Heidelberg Catechism
, the Belgic Confession
, and the London Baptist Confession of Faith.
of God from other views, is that only those elements that are instituted or appointed by command or example or which can be deduced by good and necessary consequence
from Scripture are permissible in worship, and that whatever is not commanded or cannot be deduced by good and necessary consequence from Scripture is prohibited. Its strictest interpreters understand this to mean that God institutes in the scriptures precisely what he requires for worship in the church and that everything else is prohibited. As the regulative principle is reflected in Calvin's own thought, it is driven by his evident antipathy toward the Roman Catholic Church and her worship, and it associates musical instruments with icon
s, which he considered violations of the Ten Commandments
' prohibition of graven images. On this basis, many early Calvinists also eschewed musical instrument
s and advocated exclusive psalmody
in worship, though Calvin himself allowed other scriptural songs as well as psalms, and this practice typified Presbyterian worship
and the worship of other Reformed churches for some time.
Those who oppose instruments in worship, such as John Murray
and G. I. Williamson
, argue first that there is no example of the use of musical instruments for worship in the New Testament and second that the Old Testament
uses of instruments in worship were specifically tied to the ceremonial laws of the Temple in Jerusalem
, which they take to be abrogated for the church. Since the 1800s, however, most of the Reformed churches have modified their understanding of the regulative principle and make use of musical instruments, believing that Calvin and his early followers went beyond the biblical requirements of the Decalogue and that such things are circumstances of worship requiring biblically rooted wisdom, rather than an explicit command. Despite the protestations of those few who hold to a strict view of the regulative principle, the vast majority of modern Calvinist churches make use of hymn
s and musical instruments, and many also employ contemporary worship music styles and worship bands.
The regulative principle was historically taken to prohibit the use of dance in worship. In 1996 reformed theologian John Frame
broke the consensus and argued that the regulative principle does permit dancing, a view that was criticised by more conservative scholars.
While music is the central issue in worship debates, other matters have been contentious as well, including doxologies
, benediction
s, corporate confession
of sin
, prayer
and the readings of creed
s or portions of scripture. The presence of any one of these, their order and priority have ranged over various denominations.
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
and Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s on how the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
orders public worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
. The substance of the doctrine regarding worship is that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
institutes in the Scriptures everything he requires for worship in the Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
and that everything else is prohibited. The term "regulative principle" is less frequently broadened to apply to other areas such as church government (Thornwell, 1841-2), but in this sense it becomes synonymous with the principle of sola scriptura
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
.
The regulative principle is often contrasted with the normative principle of worship
Normative principle of worship
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...
which teaches that whatever is not prohibited in Scripture is permitted in worship, as long as it is agreeable to the peace and unity of the Church. In short, there must be agreement with the general practice of the Church and no prohibition in Scripture for whatever is done in worship.
The normative principle of worship is the generally accepted approach to worship practiced by Lutherans, Anglicans, Evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, and Methodists. The regulative principle of worship is generally practiced by the conservative Reformed churches
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
, Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
, and in other conservative Protestant denominations
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
, and it finds expression in confessional documents such as 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...
(see Chapter 21), 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 of Faith.
Interpretations
The regulative principle regarding worship, which distinguishes one Calvinist approach to the public worshipChristian 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;...
of God from other views, is that only those elements that are instituted or appointed by command 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 are permissible in worship, and that whatever is not commanded or cannot be deduced by good and necessary consequence from Scripture is prohibited. Its strictest interpreters understand this to mean that God institutes in the scriptures precisely what he requires for worship in the church and that everything else is prohibited. As the regulative principle is reflected in Calvin's own thought, it is driven by his evident antipathy toward the Roman Catholic Church and her worship, and it associates musical instruments with icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s, which he considered violations of the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
' prohibition of graven images. On this basis, many early Calvinists also eschewed musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s and advocated exclusive psalmody
Exclusive psalmody
Exclusive psalmody is the particular worship practice of several small Protestant denominations worldwide which use a metrical version of the Book of Psalms from the Bible as the only manual of songs that may be sung in their services...
in worship, though Calvin himself allowed other scriptural songs as well as psalms, and this practice typified Presbyterian worship
Presbyterian worship
Presbyterian worship documents worship practices in Presbyterian churches; in this case, the practises of the many churches descended from the Scottish Presbyterian church at the time of the Reformation.-Theology of Worship:...
and the worship of other Reformed churches for some time.
Those who oppose instruments in worship, such as John Murray
John Murray (theologian)
John Murray was a Scottish-born Calvinist theologian who taught at Princeton Seminary and then left to help found Westminster Theological Seminary, where he taught for many years.-Life:...
and G. I. Williamson
G. I. Williamson
G.I. Williamson is a Reformed theologian, pastor, and author. Williamson is retired after fifty years in Christian ministry. After serving in the army and working as a dance hall musician, Williamson converted to Christianity at age 21. He attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan for one year...
, argue first that there is no example of the use of musical instruments for worship in the New Testament and second that the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
uses of instruments in worship were specifically tied to the ceremonial laws of the Temple in Jerusalem
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
, which they take to be abrogated for the church. Since the 1800s, however, most of the Reformed churches have modified their understanding of the regulative principle and make use of musical instruments, believing that Calvin and his early followers went beyond the biblical requirements of the Decalogue and that such things are circumstances of worship requiring biblically rooted wisdom, rather than an explicit command. Despite the protestations of those few who hold to a strict view of the regulative principle, the vast majority of modern Calvinist churches make use of hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and musical instruments, and many also employ contemporary worship music styles and worship bands.
The regulative principle was historically taken to prohibit the use of dance in worship. In 1996 reformed theologian John Frame
John Frame
John M. Frame is an American philosopher and Calvinist theologian especially noted for his work in epistemology and presuppositional apologetics, systematic theology, and ethics...
broke the consensus and argued that the regulative principle does permit dancing, a view that was criticised by more conservative scholars.
While music is the central issue in worship debates, other matters have been contentious as well, including doxologies
Doxology
A doxology is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns...
, benediction
Benediction
A benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service.-Judaism:...
s, corporate confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
of sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
, prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
and the readings of creed
Creed
A creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
s or portions of scripture. The presence of any one of these, their order and priority have ranged over various denominations.