Regulative principle of worship
Christian doctrine that public services of worship must be conducted only using elements found in scripture
The regulative principle of worship is a Reformed Christian doctrine held by the Continental Reformed, Anabaptist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Baptist traditions that God commands churches to conduct public services of worship using certain distinct elements affirmatively found in the Bible, and conversely, that God prohibits any and all other practices in public worship. The doctrine further determines these affirmed elements to be those set forth in scripture by express commands or examples or, if not expressed, those implied logically by good and necessary consequence. The regulative principle thus provides a governing concept of worship as obedience to God, identifies the set of specific practical elements constituting obedient worship, and identifies and excludes disobedient practices.
Overview
The regulative principle of worship is held, practiced, and vigorously maintained by conservative Reformed churches, the Restoration Movement, and other conservative Protestant denominations. Historic confessional standards stating the doctrine include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Orthodox Creed, and the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.
The regulative principle contrasts with the normative principle of worship, which teaches that whatever is not prohibited in scripture is permitted in worship as long as it is agreeable to peace and the unity of the Church. In short, there must be agreement with the general practice of the Church and no prohibition in scripture for whatever is done in worship.
A broader sense of the term "regulative principle" is occasionally cited on matters other than worship, such as to constrain designs of church government to scriptural elements. The regulative principle is often confused with the doctrine of sola scriptura, which states that scripture is the only infallible spiritual authority, but is compatible with and taught by many churches that follow the normative principle of worship.
Scriptural basis
The Reformed confessions cite various biblical passages in support of the regulative principle, such as Deuteronomy 12, in which Yahweh gives the Israelites various commands about worship, sacrifice, and the avoidance of Canaanite religious practices, and says at the close of the chapter:
Whatever I am commanding you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
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