At the time of the Reformation (1600s), the Reformers knew that the Church needed to reform worship as well as soteriology (the theology of salvation). Two camps emerged, led in part, but not exclusively, by Martin Luther and John Calvin.

Luther’s view came to be known as the Normative Principle of worship. The normative principle says that whatever is not forbidden in scripture is permitted.

Calvin’s view came to be known as the Regulative Principle of worship. The regulative principle says that whatever is not commanded in scripture is forbidden.

The Normative Principle allows many practices and traditions that are questionable, if not blatantly wrong, even though they are not expressly forbidden in scripture. An example of this might be rosary beads. They are not forbidden because they are not mentioned, but they are clearly not a biblical way to pray (Matthew 6:7). Therefore the Normative Principle tends to approve of practices that are not biblical, routinely leading to serious error in worship.

The Regulative Principle, on the other hand, is intended to insure that worship is biblical and God-centered rather than extra-biblical and man-centered. This is safer and greatly preferred over the Normative Principle. A word of caution is in order, however.

There are principles and there are particulars. Principles regarding worship come from both explicit and implicit teaching of scripture. Particulars might include whether we sing using hymnals or follow the song lyrics projected on a screen, gather in buildings or worship outdoors, sit in pews or folding chairs, and the use of musical instruments. While biblical principles must be obeyed, particulars that are not mentioned in scripture—and therefore are neither commanded nor forbidden—need not be forbidden unless they somehow violate biblical principles regarding worship.

While we embrace the Regulative Principle rather than the Normative Principle, a biblically informed, sanctified, common sense approach to worship would not forbid particulars simply because they are neither commanded nor mentioned in scripture. Let’s face it, even among Reformed folks who embrace the regulative principle, not every church that worships biblically does so in precisely the same way. Let us worship God according to His Word.