Does how we worship really matter? (Part Three)
In the previous instalment of this series of blog posts on the regulative principle of worship (‘RPW’) we used as an illustration the fence which surrounds my garden. As my children play in the garden, the fence performs a dual function: on the one hand, the fence limits the freedom of my children by marking a boundary beyond which they should not go, but on the other hand the fence protects the freedom of my children, giving them a safe place in which to play. In a similar way the RPW performs a twofold function, setting a limit upon but also protecting the church’s freedom as we worship God.
This leads to a further question: where exactly does the ‘fence’ of the RPW stand? When it comes to worshipping God when we gather together as the church, what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’?
To answer this question, Reformed theologians often speak in terms of three different categories of what takes place within a worship service. The three categories are as follows: the elements of worship, the circumstances of worship, and the forms of worship. Let’s consider these in turn:
THE ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP
When we consider what the bible says about the church’s worship, it is very clear that there are certain elements which ought to be included. That is not to say that every element must be present in every service, but if these elements are disregarded, or supplemented by other things, then we can no longer say that the church is worshipping in accordance with God’s word.
What, then, are the biblical elements of worship? In their book ‘Worship’, Matthew Allen and Ernest Reisinger offer the following list of elements of worship:
The reading of Scripture (Acts 15:21, Rev. 1:3)
The preaching of the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2)
The hearing of the word of God (James 1:19)
The singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19, James 5:13)
Baptism (Matthew 28:19)
The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23, Acts 2:42)
The Collection of Offerings (Gal. 2:10; 1 Cor. 9:3-12)
(To this list I would want to add prayer)
The elements are the ‘non-negotiables’ of worship. The church can neither add to them nor subtract from them without undermining the integrity of their worship.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WORSHIP
The elements of worship must take place within a certain context, and this brings us to the second category: the circumstances of worship. The Westminster Confession of Faith helpfully addresses this matter in chapter 1, paragraph 6:
“…there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.”
Examples of the ‘circumstances’ of worship may be as follows: Should a church meet for its Sunday morning service at 10:30am or 11:30am? Should they meet in a person’s home, or in a purpose-built building, or rent a meeting place from a school or a community centre? Is it necessary to provide amplification for the preaching?
These are important matters for a church to consider, but they are not ‘non-negotiables’ like the elements of worship. As the Westminster Confession points out, concerning the circumstances of worship the church has a large degree of freedom, as long as we are guided by the “light of nature”, “Christian prudence”, and “the general rules of the Word”.
THE FORMS OF WORSHIP
Finally, we must consider the forms of worship. Whilst the circumstances provide the context for the elements of worship, the forms provide the shape of the elements themselves. The elements of worship must be carried out in a certain manner, done in a certain way, adopt a certain shape. This is what we mean when we talk about the ‘forms’ of worship.
For example, will the minister preach on a single verse or an entire chapter of the bible? Which translation of the bible will be read from? Will the minister pray a prayer that he has prepared word for word in advance, or will he do so extemporaneously? What particular items of praise will be sung? What musical instruments will be used to accompany the singing, if any? When the Lord’s Supper is celebrated, will a single cup be used? What mode of baptism will be administered?
A church’s theology will no doubt be reflected in the forms of worship they adopt. To a certain extent, the culture within which a worship service takes place will also have some impact upon the forms chosen. The worship of a church in first century Judea will look and sound somewhat different from a church in 16th century Scotland or 21st century China (or, for that matter, should the Lord tarry, the worship of a church in 25th century Iceland), though the God they worship and the gospel they proclaim remain unchanged.
APPLICATION
Why is it important for us to know the difference between the elements, circumstances and forms of worship? Consider these two applications:
1) Beware of giving the forms of worship the status that belongs to the elements of worship
We have to be honest: there are certain forms of worship that we are more drawn to than others. A favoured bible translation, a preferred style of preaching, a genre of musical accompaniment that we find more enjoyable, be that traditional or contemporary. This is inevitable – but let us beware of elevating a particular form of worship to the status of an element of worship, such that we start to say, “it’s not real worship unless it’s done this way!”
Such a mindset makes us unbiblically narrow in our understanding of worship, and leads us to become dismissive of those whose worship is not quite like ours.
However, that’s not to say that any form of worship is acceptable. Lastly, remember this:
2) Beware of allowing the forms of worship the flexibility that belongs to the circumstances of worship
Deciding on a ‘form’ of worship is not merely a matter of circumstance, preference or culture. The forms of worship we employ are not something ‘indifferent’ where anything goes. When we allow the forms of worship to have the kind of flexibility that belongs to the circumstances of worship, we become unbiblically broad in our understanding of worship. The forms of worship are still worship, and as such must be pleasing to God, filled with and informed by his word. Terry Johnson has helpfully written:
“Worship expresses, reinforces, and teaches theology, and we can never just graft our theology onto any form and expect it to survive. There must be forms that are adequate to express and carry the content of the theology that we hold to… We must not compromise the integrity of the element by choosing the wrong form.”
In a similar way, Daryll Hart and John Muether have commented:
“Forms matter. There is no escaping them. Instead, we need to determine what the correct forms are. They are the forms that please God, that permit us to express the truths He has revealed. And they are ones that edify us, that build us up in the faith and increase our knowledge and understanding of God's Word.”
Having a clear understanding of the difference between the elements, circumstances and forms of worship will help us to apply the RPW in a consistent, biblical way – for the good of the church and the glory of God.
