HOW SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?

Sometimes Christians ask what are the principles to guide us in how we are to worship God?  Do we worship God in an unthinking manner, or are there fundamental principles that may be used to direct us?

These questions lead us to consider what in history has been known as the Regulative Principle.  The word ‘Regulative’ means a guide, directive, to control by a rule.  A ‘Principle’ means a fundamental truth or rule of conduct upon which other actions may be based and directed.  So by ‘Regulative Principle’ we are referring to a fundamental and scriptural principle that will enable us to act rightly and consistently in our worship of God.

What Principle may all Christians adopt which will be a safe guide as to how they are to worship God?  We cannot do just what is good in our own eyes, or what pleases us.

In history there have been two Principles adopted by various Christians.

These are:

1. That what God has not expressly forbidden, we may safely do when we worship God.

2. That we should only do that which God has commanded us to do.

Let us briefly consider both of these Principles.

Principle 1.

That we may have and do in the worship of God whatever He has not forbidden in the Scriptures.

Those who believe this Principle argue that if something is unacceptable to God, then He would have clearly told us not to have it in our worship.

This line of reasoning appears to be sound at first sight.  But when we ask are candles, crosses, incense, pilgrimages, washings, bowings, robes, adornments and a host of other things, expressly forbidden in Scripture, the answer is, No!

One of the main supporters of this Principle was Martin Luther.  Although Luther was a great Reformer and upheld the great doctrines of justification by faith and many others, he strongly adopted the Principle that we may have in our worship services, those things that God had not expressly forbidden.

This matter came to a head in the early days of the Reformation.  On one occasion, when Luther was absent for a time from Wittenberg, his supporters cast the ornaments, crosses, candles, organs, incense etc, out of the Church, believing that they were doing the will of God.  When Luther returned he was deeply offended and ordered that they be reinstated.  He argued that these things were not forbidden in Scripture; therefore they are acceptable to God in His worship.  The result has been that the Lutheran Church adopted Luther’s view; consequently their worship is very ornate.  Many other Churches, including some Presbyterian Churches, have followed the position adopted by Luther.  However, a small number of Presbyterians have consistently believed that what is not commanded is to be forbidden in worship.

Principle 2.

That we may only have what God has commanded in His worship.

Those who maintain this Principle maintain that the Scriptures clearly state, by a command or example, what we are to have and do in worship, and that it is our duty to act in obedience to His word.  What God has not commanded is to be rejected.  John Calvin, John Knox and many of the other Reformers accepted this Principle.

What are some of the things God has clearly instructed us to do in times of public worship?  There are a number of things:

·        The word of God is to be publicly read.  The Lord Jesus read Isaiah 61 in His first sermon (Luke 4:18-19).

·        God’s word is to be explained and preached.  “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2).  Peter preached God’s word on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

·        Prayer to God is to be made in the name of Christ. “After this manner pray ye etc” (Matthew 6:9).

·        The Lord’s Supper is to be administered.  “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19.)

·        Baptism is to be administered.  “Baptizing them etc.” (Matthew 28:19).

·        God’s praises are to be sung. “In psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Colossians 3:16. Ephesians 5:19.)

These are the main outward parts of worship that God has commanded.

This Principle of doing only that which God has commanded is in agreement with Scripture, Deuteronomy 4:2, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God.”  Proverbs 30:6  “Add thou not unto His words.”  These and many other verses command God’s people not to do less than God had directed, and not to add to His commands.

When Moses was building the Tabernacle, he was a good example of observing this Principle.  He was to do everything just as God had commanded. God said to him, “See that thou do all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” (Hebrews 8:5).

Many people basically agree with Principle 2.  However, they find difficulty in two areas, namely the use of instrumental music and the singing of man-made hymns.  Let us consider these two matters.

a) Instrumental Music:

Concerning instrumental music we must ask, “Does the New Testament command us to use music?  Does it give any instruction on its use?  Does it give any examples of the Lord Jesus or the apostles having music of any kind in their worship?” The answer to these questions is clearly, No!

But someone may reply, “there was music in the temple in the Old Testament, so it must belong to us today.”

It is true that various kinds of musical instruments were used in the Temple worship.  See Psalm 150.  However, we must remember that the Temple only lasted from the time of King Solomon until it was destroyed in seventy A.D.  The people of Israel only visited the Temple three times a year to attend the annual feasts.  The Temple worship was neither the weekly nor the only form of worship in the Old Testament time.  The temple worship, with its ceremonies, sacrifices, priesthood etc., represented types of Christ and His work.  When the Lord died, the veil of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom, (Matthew 27:51) indicating that the Temple worship had finished, and that the way into God’s presence was now opened by the sacrifice of Christ.  Music was a part of the Temple worship.  There is no indication in the New Testament that music continued to be used in the public worship of God among Christians.

b) The singing of man-made hymns in public worship:

It is clear that the Psalms were sung in the New Testament and we are commanded to sing them.  But what about man-made songs and choruses?

It is often thought that Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 which refer to “hymns and spiritual songs” give approval for man-made hymns and choruses which are quite different from the Psalms.  However, in these verses, Paul was referring to the three categories of the book of Psalms.  In the Greek Old Testament, which was in use in Paul’s day, the various Psalms are called often called, ‘Psalms, Hymns and Songs’.  Paul was not commanding believers to compose new songs, but to sing what they had been given to sing.  Colossians 3:16 says to “teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”  Certainly, Paul did not command believers to compose their own songs that would then become the basis for instruction and correction to others.  He states in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Scriptures are “profitable for teaching and correction.”  The words “spiritual songs” refer to Spirit inspired songs, which can never be case with human compositions; many of which contain serious doctrinal errors.

Now if we apply Principle 1 to the use of music and man-made songs, then it is clear that they are not forbidden and therefore are considered to be acceptable to God.

However, if we apply Principle 2, (the Regulative Principle), that whatever is not commanded is forbidden, then we must sing Psalms alone, unaccompanied, in our worship of the Lord.

It is important to stress that in this paper we are referring to the public worship of God only, not to the private life of a believer.  We are to read and preach only the word of God in public worship, however, in private; a believer may read and study books written by men who were not inspired.  We may sing songs other than Psalms in private life.  Solomon wrote a thousand and five songs that were evidently sung by the people, but they were never introduced into the worship of God, (1. Kings 4:32).  While a Christian should be wise in all that he reads and sings in ordinary life, he is not so restricted as in the public worship of God.  In that worship God is declared, uplifted and praised in a public manner, which must always be in truth and according to His word.

Which principle do you believe is correct, and which should be observed in worshipping the Lord?

Rev R. Cameron-Smith.