Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.Definition: Exclusive psalmody is the practice of worship by singing only the psalms a capella.
~There’s never a question of the words being compatible with or pleasing to God.
~When people try to worship God their own way, it infuriates Him and brings severe consequences upon them.
~Sola Scripture: The Bible is our only standard for faith and practice.
~Is God’s Word not enough for you?
~Where God has not revealed His Will, no faithful response is possible, therefore we can only live in faith as a response to what He has revealed.
~This is just a logical extension of the Second Commandment warning against false images and (by implications) false forms of worship
~If you start from the notion that man is depraved, would you ever get to the conclusion that man could properly decide for himself how to worship God?
~This protects the church from its own dangerous tendency to invent new rules.
~The congregation learns the psalms by heart.
~Any other sort of worship is going to risk requiring the congregation to participate in something offensive to his conscience.
~If someone is this particular in their method of worship, how likely are they to honor the instructions of the Bible everywhere else in their lives?
~Have you heard or read modern hymns? That alone is the best argument for it.
~You’ll never run the risk of turning worship into a rock concert.
~If a group of people had only their voices and the Bible, would their worship be defective in any way?
Links:
Exclusive Psalmody (Wikipedia)
Nine reasons for regulative principle (T. David Gordon)
Some questions about regulative principle (John M. Frame)
Exclusive psalmody (Third Millenium)
Exclusive psalmody homepage (Covenanter.org)
Exclusive psalmody (W. Gary Crampton)
2 comments:
Andrew.
I am not able to listen to the entire show this evening. I wish that I could, but from what I read I was wondering what your view of the regulative principal was and how it applies to worship? I find it interesting that people believe that the principal only applies to those who hold to the historic creeds. What gives? It is either true or false. I am sure you would not want to apply a historic relative perspective to theology and truth. (j/k)
So are we commanded to worship in spirit and in truth?
I am sure you would say yes, but what do you mean when you say it? As Francis Schaffer stated, He who defines the terms wins and we both have a common dictionary to draw from being the Bible, but we can also draw good and necessary consequences from using reason, which is from the Lord, not fallen in itself, but not applied correctly at times.
I also thought some your responses to why this "wacky topic" may be correct, were popular at best. Like a man on the street version of the topic, except you would find better answers if the street were covered in Reformed Presbyterians. While this does not make the topic true, it is an interesting side note. Maybe you have a different experience and experiences get us just far enough most of the time to start the conversation.
James Allen
Whether you believe that man is depraved at birth, or from the age of accountability, he is still sinful. At best we could hope that he is being inspired by God to write down true lyrics in hymns. (but wouldn't that then be Scripture?)
And besides it only applies during a couple hours on Sunday.
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