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Book Review: Deregulating Worship

July 1st, 2008 at 05:41pm Albert McIlhenny

Covenantal Worship: Reconsidering the Puritan Regulative Principle – R. J. Gore, Jr. P & R Publishing (April 2003) Topic: Liturgy & Sacraments; Protestantism Summary: Critique of the Puritan regulatory principle of worship Rating:

Although Reformed churches in America have not generally held to a fixed liturgy, they have generally been guided in their form of worship by what is known as the regulative principle of worship. Initially set out by the Puritans, the regulative principle of worship dictated nothing be allowed that the Bible did not specifically command. This would direct their liturgical forms in an entirely different direction from Lutherans and Anglicans who allowed the retention of previous practices that did not (according to their interpretation) contradict Scripture. The comprehensiveness of the practice of the regualtive principle did, of course, vary among various Reformed churches but the ideal that underlied it has been left unchallenged.

R. J.. Gore, Jr. undertook a reevaluation of the regulative principle as part of his doctoral dissertation at Westminster Theological Seminary and has publshed the fruits of his research in Covenantal Worship through which he demonstrates the failings of the regulative principle as a basis for guiding the worship of the Church. In particular, he sees the principle best understood as a consequence of the battles Puritans waged battles both with Catholicism and the established Anglican Church and not as a commendable course of action independant of those circumstances.

Gore begins the book by placing the regualative principle within the context of the post-Reformation period and particularly the battles between Anglicans and Puritans for the direction of the Christian faith in England. Yet even in the Westminster standards, we see a certain amount of “wiggle room” develop as various compromises were needed to bring more high church Scottish Presbyterians into agreement with English Puritans on key issues. Disputes over the use of clerical garb, the frequency of the Lord’s Supper, the practice of godparents, and the use of a formal liturgy were all points of contention and the author demonstrates how the words of the instructions for worship were designed to allow freedom of conscience on the issues that could not be agreed upon.

The uniquely austere developments within Puritan circles look even more pronounced when compared to the opinions of Calvin and the practice of Geneva. Calvin had a higher of the sacraments, a greater reverance for the tradition of the Church fathers, and a far more tolerant view of the adaphora than did his later disciples – particularly the Puritans.

After supplying the context from which the regulative principle arose, the author then provides a critique that points out its inherent weaknesses. His views should not be misunderstood as entirely negative towards the regulative principle – like any good critique, it attempts to understand why it may have seemed a necessary corrective at the time and points out the strengths of the approach while also demonstrating that it leads to a distortion of worship that undermines its goals.

Gore then goes on to illustrate some of the weaknesses of the regulative principle. First among these is that Jesus appears to not have abided by this view. In following the Jewish customs of worshipping at the synagogue and presumably engaging in the normal practices thereof, He in fact was worshipping in ways not madated by Scripture. His participation in the feast of Purim and the Festival of Dedication – neither Biblically mandated – only gives further evidence that the Lord allowed worship traditions that sought to bring the faithful closer to God.

Turning to more pedagogical objections, Gore points out how applications of the regulative principle presents a distorted view of the Christian faith in the context of worship. There is a tendency to overintellectualize the faith with worship being seen as a purely mental activity instead of having the full participation of body and soul. Much of this is motivated by perceived abuses within Catholicism but this often led to becoming obsessed with demonstrating one’s opposition to Rome in all things. Indeed, if worship is to be seen as blending with the Christian’s life, the regulation principle would violate the basic freedom of the Christian in nonessential matters.

Gore closes with some considerations of how worship should be structured in keeping with the Reformed understanding of the faith. He holds that in worship there should be freedom of conscience in all nonessential matters, our worship should glorify God and edify the faithful, our worship should be open to learn from other Christian traditions, our worship should be culturally sensitive, our worship should be balanced between Word and Sacrament, and our worship must be Christocentric.

In Covenantal Worship, R. J. Gore has given us a strong case for the Reforned faith to reconsider the regulative principle that has governed their worship for centuries (in theory if not in practice). Unlike many attempts in the past, this was not merely a hatchet job on past beliefs to make way for new ideas. Gore admires the Puritans’ respect for the sovereignty of God but believes in the regulative principle that it has been taken to an extreme at the expense of other truths. Rather than a deconstruction of existing beliefs, he proposes an alternative path that he holds to be more in harmony with true Reformed principles. Whether his will prevail among his Reformed brethren or be ignored will play out in the future, but his effort in framing general outlines for worship in the Reformed tradition is definitely worth a long look.

Entry Filed under: Essential Books, Gore, R. J., Liturgy & Sacraments, Protestantism