The Informed Principle of Worship?
As God has given me the opportunity to lead worship in my Church these past months and into the coming year, I have been working through a philosophy of worship.
Aside from working through Edwards' and Pipers' input on the emphasis on the glory of God and the creature's joy in God, I've also been working through the Normative and Regulative principles of worship.
As I was working through it, I came across a principle I had never heard before: "The Informed Principle." Have any of you ever heard of it? Though I am familiar with both the Normative and Regulative principles and desire to embody the Regulative principle practically at my Church as a worship leader, what do you make of the Informed Principle?
The following has been taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulative_Principle_of_worship
briefly describing what it is:
"A new principle has been recently introduced into this discussion that seeks to strike a balance between the regulative and normative principles. Sometimes referred to as the "informed principle of worship", it teaches that:
What is commanded in Scripture regarding worship, it is required. What is prohibited in Scripture regarding worship, it is forbidden. What is not prohibited in Scripture regarding worship, it is permissible in worship only if properly deduced from proper application of Scripture using good and necessary consequence."
At first glance, this 'balance' appears to make sense. However, whether this principle should be embraced in our approach to corporate worship or not, what would be a tangible example of an 'exception' to such 'deductions' and also of 'necessary consequence'?
I am eager to read your thoughts and comments. Thanks.
Gabe--Philippians 3:7-11
Aside from working through Edwards' and Pipers' input on the emphasis on the glory of God and the creature's joy in God, I've also been working through the Normative and Regulative principles of worship.
As I was working through it, I came across a principle I had never heard before: "The Informed Principle." Have any of you ever heard of it? Though I am familiar with both the Normative and Regulative principles and desire to embody the Regulative principle practically at my Church as a worship leader, what do you make of the Informed Principle?
The following has been taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulative_Principle_of_worship
briefly describing what it is:
"A new principle has been recently introduced into this discussion that seeks to strike a balance between the regulative and normative principles. Sometimes referred to as the "informed principle of worship", it teaches that:
What is commanded in Scripture regarding worship, it is required. What is prohibited in Scripture regarding worship, it is forbidden. What is not prohibited in Scripture regarding worship, it is permissible in worship only if properly deduced from proper application of Scripture using good and necessary consequence."
At first glance, this 'balance' appears to make sense. However, whether this principle should be embraced in our approach to corporate worship or not, what would be a tangible example of an 'exception' to such 'deductions' and also of 'necessary consequence'?
I am eager to read your thoughts and comments. Thanks.
Gabe--Philippians 3:7-11
posted by the Zepeda family at
10:49 AM
3 Comments:
Gabe,
As far as I can tell, this is really the same thing as the Regulative Principle. The Reg. Princ., as a distinctively Reformed doctrine, does not require prooftexting, meaning, you must have a clear EXPLICIT command for everything you do. Rather, Reformed folks have always embraced that theology includes proper deduction from proper application of Scripture "using good and necessary consequence." Good theology (and therefore, good worship) is arrived at using good biblical theology. What I mean is, there are many biblical doctrines that are not taught in a specific chapter and verse but are taught by the bible as a whole. If this is what the Informed Principle means, I would have to agree and say that the Regulative principle also agrees. However, as I have never heard of the informed Principle before, it may include a different understanding than what I am getting from your quote. What do you think?
By
Matt H, at 5:45 PM
Matt,
Thanks for your response. Pretty much everything you have said here has gone through my mind as to any resemblance that the Reg. and Inform. principles have between each other. I guess the thing that I am questioning or at least trying to figure out, is...what would be the purpose of having this new principle? It seems that its sole purpose is to compromise the Normative and the Regulative principles. I am open-minded, but is there a higher means to an end for this new principle in accomplishing how we must approach the living God to worship Him?
By the way, I told Jared this, but Rebekah, Gabriella and I are heading your direction to the West Coast (WEST SIDE!) in March of 2007. We're going to the Shepard's conf. in Sun Valley, CA. I think Piper, Sproul, MacArthur, Dever, Mahaney and others will be there. We will be limited in time there but it would be cool to see you and have lunch or something.
By
the Zepeda family, at 1:08 PM
Gabe, I'm so glad you are coming out here!!! I'm sure we'll figure something out. But hey, can you see about scheduling an extra day on one end of your trip to come doen to San Diego? It would be a shame for you to be out here and not get to spend some descent time with you guys.
Do you have any sources for this Informed Principle? Who is putting this foward? What are they saying is different than the Reg. Principle?
By
Matt H, at 1:23 PM
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