Elements v Circumstances

[Tree]

What makes something an element rather than a circumstance?

The specific cases that have been on my mind are:
Is corporate confession and element of worship or a circumstance within prayer?
Are which songs we sing a circumstance or an element?
Is there a reason to say that what instruments we use in corporate worship is an element?

 

[NaphtaliPress]

My opinion,
You need to find a prescription in Scripture for corporate confession of sin as a part of the worship service, not rely on that prayer is commanded in general. As to the command to read Scripture and preach, which are parts of worship, these can't be done without choosing which parts to read or to preach from, and thus that are circumstantial (things that must be done in order to do the worship commanded). The way many treat musical instruments, they are treating them as elements of worship. For those that say they are only a circumstance to aid the singing, to be consistent they must only be used to aid singing; not performative on its own, mood music, etc.

 

[MW]

What makes something an element rather than a circumstance?

The specific cases that have been on my mind are:
Is corporate confession and element of worship or a circumstance within prayer?
Are which songs we sing a circumstance or an element?
Is there a reason to say that what instruments we use in corporate worship is an element?

The parts of worship are things commanded by God. The "circumstance" used to be called an "adjunct." It is joined to the part of worship because without it you could not do the thing commanded, e.g., time and place.

Corporate confession is a part of prayer. Hence the minister usually includes it in his prayer with and for the congregation.

If one is an exclusive psalmodist he holds that we are not simply commanded to sing but to sing psalms. Hence the matter sung is part of the worship. Those who do not hold to EP have a variety of opinions on this.

Yes, instruments were commanded under the OT. Instrumental music was part of the sacrificial worship that has been abolished with the coming of Christ.

 

[DanM]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe circumstances of worship tend to be qualified as necessary circumstances common to other human actions and societies. Things like buildings, seats and a specified time to gather, while elements are those things commanded by God's world. i.e the circumstances are needed to facilitate the elements.

 

[MW]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe circumstances of worship tend to be qualified as necessary circumstances common to other human actions and societies. Things like buildings, seats and a specified time to gather, while elements are those things commanded by God's world. i.e the circumstances are needed to facilitate the elements.

Correct. They are necessary for the action of worship to happen.

 

[Tree]

Correct. They are necessary for the action of worship to happen.

Does that mean that instruments are only a necessary circumstance if the congregation can't carry a tune and should otherwise be avoided?

 

[DanM]

Those of the a Capella camp would argue they are not necessary at all

 

[NaphtaliPress]

I think we can rule out instruments as a necessary circumstance, that singing cannot be done without them. My church in the evening is a capella. If our best precentor is there we can work through even a new tune (which we are doing as we test drive our new psalter before publication). If our precentor does not show up we switch to more familiar settings.

 

[Pictet]

Does that mean that instruments are only a necessary circumstance if the congregation can't carry a tune and should otherwise be avoided?

Certainly most of us who think instruments are biblical would regard them as more than a mere circumstance.

Circumstance would cover what instruments you have, the way they are played, how many there are, and so on.

 

[MW]

Does that mean that instruments are only a necessary circumstance if the congregation can't carry a tune and should otherwise be avoided?

I have heard it argued as such, but I doubt the congregation sees it as a mere circumstance. Their actions usually demonstrate otherwise. Besides, if they were cast by necessity to sing without instruments they would soon learn to hold a tune one way or another. It might not sound very good so far as the trained ear is concerned, but if it comes from a gracious heart that is what the Lord hears.

 

[Tree]

Certainly most of us who think instruments are biblical would regard them as more than a mere circumstance.

Circumstance would cover what instruments you have, the way they are played, how many there are, and so on.

What Bible passages are used to say instruments are an element of worship?

For the purpose of worship do voices count as instruments or is there a distinction to be made?