Initial Thoughts Regarding Worship and the Regulative Principle

The other day I was privileged to be informed of the possibility of joining a group of church leaders and laypersons in a local discussion seeking to better understand and incorporate what is known as "intergenerational worship" into the local churches. The purpose is to discover, biblically, which direction these churches should go, in an attempt to set themselves up for success in the near future. If I am able to be in the area when this group begins to meet in a month or so, I would gladly join them, as it is something that is most desperately needed in this area. As a rural area, the local churches tend to be either traditional and institutional or contemporary and evangelical. I have yet to see any emerging and missional churches in the area, mostly due to the population and demographics. Deciding that if I am to be able to join them, I began studying the thoughts that are surely to be raised. If I understand the initial propositions of the group, the study is the begin with the topic of "Singing Worship." Although, the discussion group is to be primarily discussing this aspect of Church Service Structure, I think it important to fully define the term "worship" since the element of "Singing Worship" is merely a facet of the whole. Understanding the definition of the whole will better provide clarity for the individual facets.


"15Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Heb. 13: 15-16) Indicating that worship involves both adoration and action, a starting point for our understanding of true worship must include the concession that said worship must include both, they may not be separated. Although terms such as "Worship Service", "Worship Time", etc. are prevalent, they are, I believe, misnomers, as they seem to indicate that true worship has a timeline, a time limit, a beginning and an end. Many may say, and ,indeed, have stated that worship is not just "something you do, but rather something you are." I believe many would agree that worship is a lifestyle, not simply the hour we gather together for "church." True Worship includes both the times when we gather as a corporate assembly (Heb. 10:24-25) but also when we as a body scatter for witnessing, or more commonly, scattering to live our own lives (1 Cor. 10:31). It is something that envelopes all our time, surrounding our entire life, not merely the times spent corporately gathered.

“We cannot imagine that the church gathers for worship on Sunday morning if by this we mean that we then engage in something that we have not been engaging in the rest of the week. New covenant worship terminology prescribes constant ‘worship’” - Dr. D.A. Carson (Worship by the Book 2002, 24).

Not only is worship then defined by existing throughout our entire day, but it's also placed under the terms that God has deemed acceptable to Him, positions that are allowed, aspects that are pleasing to Him. It is evidently important to God that we worship according to His words, both through proper external methods as well as having correct internal motivations. In Scripture we see God judging those who have sinfully brought detestable forms of external worship (Lev. 10:1-2; Ezek. 8-9) and those who have had impure hearts (Gen. 4; Isa. 1:11-17; Jer. 7:9-10; Mic. 6:6-8). We know that Cain's offering was unacceptable due not necessarily to improper methodology but rather due to the internal condition of his heart. As several are struck dead by God when coming forward sinfully, it would seem that the matter of true worship is indeed a priority.

Now there are several elements of worship that appear biblically prescribed for the corporate church gathering those being: 1) Preaching (2 Tim. 4:2); 2) Lord's Table (1 Cor. 11:17-34); 3) Prayer (1 Tim 2:1); 4) Reading Scripture (1 Tim 4:13); 5) Financial Giving (2 Cor. 8-9); 6) Singing and Music (Col 3:16). Though there are these commanded orders for a church to abide by, there is no mention of a methodology or a practice form to follow. Along with silence in Scripture, we have not been provided, as of yet, an example of early, 1st century church liturgy. Because of the lack of example, the question naturally arises of whether or not elements not mentioned in Scripture are to be incorporated into the Church gathering. Some of these elements include creeds, special music, music style, service order, length, time, seating, technology, instruments, announcements, architecture, and clothing. These are objects which must be held against Scripture and decided upon with the assistance of conscience, the Holy Spirit and common sense, the latter which is provided us through common grace. Two trains of thought have emerged in an attempt to answer these very important questions. These have come to be known as, or defined as, either the "Normative" or "Regulative" Principles.

The Normative Principle holds that Corporate church worship services must include all the elements that Scripture commands and may include others so long as they are not prohibited by Scripture. So, that what is prescribed in Scripture must be adhered to, while what is forbidden must be rejected, and anything that falls in the between may be permissible.

The Regulative Principle holds that Corporate church worship services must include all the elements that Scripture commands or are a good and necessary implication of a biblical text and nothing more. So, that the prescribed elements are the only items that a church may implement, anything beyond what is strictly mentioned is forbidden.

There are several "pro's and con's" to each argument, the positives for the Normative being that it shows that the Bible provides principles not methods, for the truths must span generations and people groups. (i.e the Bible says sing, but does not tell us how, what language, what form, etc.), it also allows for cultural contextualization (extending the gospel in a method most fitting for the current culture, NOT that one changes doctrine and truths, but simply adjusts the shapes in which this truth comes out), it also considers both "gathered" and "scattered" worship the same. (It is most curious that some will act under one set of rules come Sunday morning, but live by another set of rules the other 6 and a half days of the week! Real life is lived under freedom, not legalistic regulation. We must live our whole lives consistently, faithfully, both for the evidence of truth in our lives to others, as well as for our spiritual health, not pluralistically.) Some weaknesses are evident though, and we must be aware of these possibilities in order to stay faithful to God's Word. These weakness are that it may allow too much, leading to pagan syncretism, it can also make our enjoyment rather than God's glory the priority, it may also elevate unbiblical element thereby pushing out true, biblical elements (such as man-made events like drama, skits, poetry, art. If these cut into the time given for true biblical practices like Scripture reading, Prayer, Lord's Table, etc., then the former must go.)

Some positives are certainly found in the Regulative as well, those include: seeking to define worship by God and His Word, not by us and our words, it also really, honestly seeks to glorify God, even if only in theory, and finally it also gives a strong delineation between the church and "the world", that is syncretism and paganism are definitely not allowed. Though the line may be a little too strong at times, it does a great job at staying faithful to what God says. Some weaknesses to be conscious of are that the Regulative does tend to differentiate between the "gathered" and the "scattered" forms of worship (as though upon walking into the church, you are ruled by a different set of rules than when you stepped out of your car in the parking lot. As though Jesus is not "ruler over all"), it also is not adequate in answering all questions such as what to do with technology, seating, announcements, it also can be legalistically applied such as stating that "we do not allow instruments" or even only certain instruments like the organ, when the Bible is rife with instruments, God, Himself, hands out harps upon our entrance to heaven. Now it is obvious that there are "hard" and "soft" Regulativists, and when the "hard" regulativists state that they are "just being biblical", one must wonder what they do with verses stating that it is proper for the raising of hands in worship, clapping, the lifting of hands by men during prayer, singing a "new song", etc.

For my initial response to these arguments, I would state that both are needed. The church is to be Regulative in that it must remain faithful to the Word of God, it must draw a firm line between pagan and foreign concepts being allowed to enter the church, however the church, I believe should embrace the positive Normative principles as well. That is that we as the church are ordered to "become all things to all people in all time, in order that we might save some." The Normative allows for this, providing a context in which to be culturally relevant, while holding tight to the truth of the biblical commands for the Church. Another strong benefit that is desperately needed in the church, is the erasing of distinction between "gathered" and "scattered" worship, that is that we must live with consistency, that we should see Christ as Lord over all our lives, not solely for an hour a week. Living by His rules and commands extends to our every breath, minutes, and life.

As mentioned in the title, this is merely my initial thoughts sprung from the brief study I have conducted so far. I plan on digging into this topic further as time progresses. Let me close with a quote that I find extremely helpful in our attempt to define worship, embracing both the Regulative and the Normative.

"All of Christian Life is ceaseless worship of God the Father through the mediatiorship of God the Son by the indwelling power of the God the Spirit; doing what God commands in Scripture, not doing what God forbids in Scripture, in culturally contextualized ways for the furtherance of the gospel when both gathered together for adoration and scattered for action, in joyous response to glorious grace." -Mark Driscoll.

-BS

(credits to studied topics belong to Pastor Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle.) Dr. D. A. Carson "Worship by the Book", and John M. Frame ("Worship in Spirit and Truth", "A Fresh Look at the Regulative Principle", "Some Questions About the Regulative Principle"), and Harold M. Best "Unceasing Worship". )