Worship Music and the Regulative Principle

In the Reformed Church in America, along with other reformed bodies, we say that we believe in the Regulative Principle of Worship. What this means is that we believe that we are to do ("liturgy") in worship, what God has prescribed to be done in worship, nothing more and nothing less. We differ from the Lutheran concept which says that anything that is not expressly forbidden by Scripture may be used in worship. Since we are of the reformed camp and say that we hold to the Regulative Principle, it ought to effect our worship.

The Regulative Principle leads to the following:

1. Music in worship ought usually involve the use of the human voice. The examples of worship we have in the Scripture most frequently involve the singing of words by human voices. Thus, we ought do the same.

2. Music in worship ought to involved the use of musical instruments. We see the use of musical instruments, especially in the Psalms, but throughout the descriptions of music in the Scripture. There are also descriptions of instrumental music, so that ought also be used in worship. But what instruments ought to be used? David and others noted the use of the musical instruments of the day. Are we to use the biblical instruments and no other? That seems to carry the Regulative Principle into Pharisaism. The point we might conclude is that the instruments of the day -- whenever that day is -- ought to be used in worship -- and a variety of them.

3. The Psalms must necessarily be used and sung. Why? Because they are the "hymnal" that God inspired and gave to His people.

4. If any other words are sung besides the Psalms, they are to be biblical, (in fact, based on the Scripture itself), clear, and not in contradiction with any of the Scripture. One might argue that this goes beyond the bounds of the Regulative Principle, since God did not "breath out" any of the songs and hymns that are outside of the Scripture. Again, this seems Pharisaical: if the words are based on the Scripture, clear, and do not contradict any of the Scripture, then they would have to come out of the Scripture, at least indirectly. (But, yes, if one desired to "take no chances" one could use only the 150 Psalms.)

5. The music ought to be simple. The music we see in the Scripture is sung by the congregation, not just the choir or the paid soloists (one might question whether these should even exist given the biblical example, but that question can be left for another day). The music does not need to be dull or "uninspired" or boring, but it must be music that most of the congregation is capable of singing. Worship is not the time for a concert or to show off, it is a time in which the congregation joins together as a Body, including in the music, in the worship of God. If the majority of the people cannot learn to sing the music that is being proposed, it ought not to be used. The majority of the congregation ought to be capable of learning a piece for it to be legitimate.

One other note:

6. The music and the words must be of the highest quality. We have no sheet music for the Psalms, so we must write music for the singing of them, and since that music is for the worship of our Holy and Worthy God, it must, by definition, be of the highest quality. Likewise, if we use any mere human words, they also must be of the highest quality. We serve a God Who only accepts a pure and holy sacrifice, and if we offer up our best, through Jesus, it will be well received.