The irony is that many modern attempts to make worship more attractive to the world often makes worship less distinctly Christian, but the church is most compelling when she is most faithful to her identity. The church is most missional when she is most distinctly the church.

One of the more common arguments in Presbyterian discussions about worship goes something like, “The Regulative Principle only governs the elements of worship, not the forms.” ¹

At one level, that statement contains a lot of truth. Scripture commands the preaching of the Word, but it does not prescribe whether the sermon should last thirty-five minutes or fifty-five. Likewise, scripture commands public prayer, but it does not specify whether the congregation sits or stands during a pastoral prayer. There is such a thing as Christian prudence in worship.

But the discussion often becomes too simplistic.

Historically, the Reformed understanding of the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) has never meant that once an element is established, the church has unrestricted liberty regarding how that element is carried out. Rather, the church has recognized that Scripture sometimes regulates not only the existence of an element, but also the manner attached to that element. ²

An Important Distinction

In other words, some forms are merely circumstantial. Others are divinely regulated because God Himself has spoken to them.

That distinction matters tremendously.

The classic statement appears in Westminster Confession of Faith:

“There are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence…”

Notice what the Confession actually says. Circumstances are things “common to human actions and societies.” They are matters necessary for orderly worship, but not spiritually significant in themselves.

The time of the worship service is a circumstance. Whether the church building uses pews or chairs is a circumstance. Whether a minister preaches with a lapel microphone or from behind a fixed pulpit microphone is a circumstance.

Not Every “Form” is Merely Circumstantial

But not every “form” is merely circumstantial. Some forms are inseparably connected to the theological meaning of the element itself.

Take preaching, for example.

The RPW does not merely state that preaching should exist in worship. Scripture also regulates who is authorized to perform that task. The New Testament repeatedly ties authoritative public ministry of the Word to the ordained office. Ministers are entrusted with stewardship over the mysteries of God. Timothy is commanded to preach the Word as one lawfully set apart for that work.

That means the question, “Who may preach the Word in corporate worship?” is fundamentally different from,“How long should the sermon be?”

The second question concerns prudence. The first concerns divine institution.

The same issue emerges in debates over the public reading of Scripture. Historically, many Presbyterians understood public Scripture reading in gathered worship not as a generic act of literacy, but as an ecclesiastical act connected to ministerial oversight and the means of grace. Whether one agrees with that conclusion or not, the underlying logic is important. The RPW speaks not only to whether an element exists, but also to those aspects of worship Scripture itself regulates.

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