Introduction
“The acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.” (2LBCF 22:1). Chapter 22 of the 1689 Confession addresses the topic of “Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.” Within this paragraph, we find the regulative principle of worship.
Historical Background
The immediate historical occasion of this paragraph was the debate between Puritans and Anglicans.1 Puritans held to a form of worship called the regulative principle, while Anglicans held to a form of worship called the normative principle. The regulative principle of worship states that Scripture prescribes or “regulates” the permissible elements of public worship.2 Put simply, the regulative principle of worship states that the corporate worship of God is to be founded upon specific directions of Scripture.3 Whatever is not commanded, therefore, is forbidden. On the other hand, the normative principle of worship affirms that whatever Scripture does not prohibit is permissible.4 These different views of worship within the universal church arose out of a debate concerning the reformation doctrine of Sola Scriptura. The Anglicans followed the normative principle of worship adopted by Luther, while the Puritans followed the regulative principle of worship adopted by Calvin.5 To summarize, the Puritan view is that true worship is only that which is commanded in Scripture (anything outside of Scripture is false worship); the Anglican view is that true worship is everything that is commanded plus anything not explicitly forbidden (things that are forbidden is false worship).
Biblical Basis
Adding non-biblical modes of “worship” allows for tradition to be intermingled with the means of grace. Mixing tradition with God’s word can be a temptation to humanity, and we find examples of this mixture by people in the Bible. In Matthew’s Gospel, we have an account of the Pharisees mixing their tradition with God’s commandments: “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3 ESV). The Pharisees had just asked Jesus why his disciples did not keep the traditions of the elders. The Pharisees had implemented a ceremonial cleansing whereby each person must be outwardly washed to eliminate the possibility of outward dirtiness. Whenever the Pharisees added tradition to what God had defined as worship, Jesus rebuked them: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:8-9 ESV).
In the book of Leviticus, we have the example of Nadab and Abihu—they attempt to bring an offering before the Lord that He had not instructed them to offer: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.” (Lev. 10:1-3 ESV). Nadab and Abihu were punished by death for offering incense in a way that God had not instructed them to offer.
Another example of regulative worship can be found in the book of Joshua: “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.” (Josh. 23:6-8 ESV). Joshua specifically instructs Israelite leaders not to depart from the Law of Moses and not to mix with the nations around them. Joshua taught the Israelites that they were not to allow pagan practices to influence their worship.
Colossians gives us insight to regulative worship: “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Col. 2:20-23 ESV). Manmade religion was being pushed upon the Christians at Colossae. Paul doesn’t want Christians to abide by unnecessary “human precepts and teachings” as an authoritative/biding standard for Christian worship. Moreover, Paul doesn’t want the Colossians to submit to “self-made religion.” He emphasizes that God sets the standard of worship, not man.
Practical Applications
By upholding the regulative principle, churches keep God at the center of their worship. Allowing for non-scriptural methods of “worship” can be a slippery slope for allowing “the imagination/devices of men” and “the suggestions of Satan” to take preeminence over biblical worship. For us to allow for a form of “worship” that is not found in the word of God asserts that we know more about worship than God. By using the word of God alone, all methods of worship focus on God and keep Him as the object of praise.
The regulative principle of worship teaches us that our life is not first and foremost about doing what pleases us, but rather, it is about doing what pleases God. Biblical worship teaches us to deny what we want to do, and to worship God the way that He wants to be worshipped. The Christian may be tempted to invent man-made methods (and call them worship), but the Christian must rebuke this temptation, and submit to doing what pleases God: Biblical worship.
The regulative principle of worship doesn’t grieve the Spirit of God. This form of worship serves as a safeguard against unscriptural methods of man-made worship. Either unknowingly or intentionally, the Spirit of God is grieved whenever man-made worship usurps God-instructed worship. The regulative principle of worship allows Christians to worship in spirit and in truth.
The regulative principle of worship can be practiced in any church, anywhere on the globe, regardless of size or budget. Through the regulative principle of worship, people from every tongue, tribe, and nation gather together as their visible churches worship God in the same way—through the means of grace. Moreover, the regulative principle of worship can be practiced in any time period, church era, etc. The regulative principle of worship remains tried and true throughout all generations because the Bible is unchanging and authoritative. Biblical worship transcends time periods and generations.
Conclusion
God, through His word, regulates how He is to be worshipped. May the teachings of this paragraph guard us from the devices of men and the suggestions of Satan as we worship the Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit and in Truth.
Austin has been one of the pastors of Covenant Baptist Church (Clarksville, TN) since February of 2024. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Spurgeon College, a M.A. in Pastoral Studies and a M.Div from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.
By God’s free and sovereign grace, Austin was saved early in his adulthood. He is married to Rachel, and together they have three children: Geneva, Benjamin, and Bristol.
