How "Irregular" is the "Regulative Principle"? - Part One

So your church holds to the "Regulative" principle.  Once again, I must say, "Tell me what you mean by "regulative" and I will tell you if my church adheres to it?  I purpose that there are so many versions being played out that the term has lost any clear meaning.

During my studies, I came across an article written by a professor at a Reformed Baptist Seminary.  It is appalling.  (I have pasted an excerpt below followed by a few comments).  Keep in mind, this is a man who is teaching and influencing the impressionable minds of young men; some, who will one day take the pulpit of a local church.

In my travels, I occasionally find myself present in a less-than-simple worship service. Most of our churches take the regulative principle of worship seriously, and avoid the intrusions of choirs and solos. But every once in a while I am invited to preach in a congregation that does not understand (or sometimes accept) the RPW, and have to endure the stylings of the not-so-special music.


Let’s be honest. Most church music of this type is mediocre at best. The pastor (or worship leader) smiles after the performance, duly thanking the individual(s) involved, and the people say ‘Amen’-or worse, they applaud; what an abomination!-and the performer returns to his/her seat alternately to revel in the acclaim for a job self-perceived to be well-done or wallow in self-deprecation over a poor performance.


There have been moments when I wish that I could be Simon Cowell: “That was Cruise-ship karaoke” or “that was bad even for a high school musical” or even “That was a nightmare”. At least Mr. Cowell is honest in his evaluations of those who wish to be America’s Idols.


Perhaps we should give our ‘special’ musicians a title like ‘Ecclesiastical Idols.’ That would fit in well with the mood of the day, and more accurately express just what they are doing-performing, not worshipping. And then, the leaders of the church can give proper evaluations. It might even be possible to let those who sit on the platform respond to the routine with comments.


I guess that it does say something about our culture that those who covet stardom are titled ‘Idol’. But isn’t it ironic that in worship, the same kind of idolatry is overlooked. Shouldn’t we call it there exactly what it is?

The lack of understanding exposed in this man's thoughts is alarming.  Every single argument that he holds about music, can be equally applied to all elements of corporate worship.  Think about this.  Public reading of scripture can be a "performance"; Preaching can also be a performance; Congregational singing can be a performance.  What do I mean?  Well, is it not possible for one to be singing a hymn during congregational singing with the thought, "I wonder what the people in the pew in front of me think of my beautiful voice?   Perhaps if I sing loud enough, even those two or three rows in front of me will hear how gifted I am."

Cannot a man who leads a corporate prayer be entirely focused on the eloquence of his words; the melodious tone in his voice; his ability to move people emotionally by his strategically planned pauses and his powerful speaking voice?

Cannot a man who takes the pulpit to preach be doing so as a performer?

Cannot the people in the pew be also guilty of "judging the performance" of the man leading a corporate prayer, or the man preaching a sermon?

If you are an honest, thinking man at all, it is crystal clear that the answer to the above questions is YES!  Any form of worship; whether it be singing, praying, preaching, and, yes, even the public reading of scripture can be as a stench in God's nostrils.

What a sad state the church is in today.  I will close with another quote from "Worship by the Book":

"What is at stake is authenticity...Sooner or later Christians tire of public meetings that are profoundly inauthentic, regardless of how well (or poorly) arranged, directed, performed.  We long to meet, corporately, with the living and majestic God and to offer Him the praise that is His due."   - D.A. Carson