ModernPuritan?
Puritan Board Freshman
the mythical notions of worship in reformed circles
during the reformation (I think) 2 ideas of worship came about- the Regulitive Principle and the Normative principle (RPW, NPW respectively) another Thing was Sola Scripture (SS)
according to Wikipedia (as far as i can tell the definitions are accurate) NPW=
The Normative Principle of Worship is a Christian theological principle that teaches that worship in the Church can include those elements that are not prohibited by Scripture. The most common traditions utilizing this are Anglican and Lutheran.
RPW=
The regulative principle of worship is a 20th century term used for a teaching shared by Calvinists and Anabaptists .The substance of the doctrine regarding worship is that only those elements that are instituted or appointed by command or example in the Bible are permissible in worship, or in other words, that God institutes in the Scriptures everything he requires for worship in the Church and that everything else is prohibited
SS=
Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, "by scripture alone") is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating, clear (perspicuous) to the rational reader, its own interpreter ("Scripture interprets Scripture"), and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine.
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so, NPW- as long as God doesnt say no your good
RPW- only what God says
SS- only what God says- Scripture only
---
Problems:
1) the Normitive principle by SS standards is simply proposterous. for these things are not according to NPW forbidden
a) dancing
b) Drama
c) special music/altar calls
d) holy days, etc.
~ I dont see any place in scripture, using SS, that gives authority for any invention, or addition to worship. It would seem that in order to hold to NPW, you must also allow for the church, and traiditon to dictate (to an extent of course) "faith and practice"
2) the folk who claim to hold to RPW are closer, but still seem to be willfully illogical. for by the own definitions of RPW and SS. Everything must be expressely commanded too, or clearly inferred. within the confines of scripture. which means that passages like "Psalms, Hymns, SPiritual songs (P,H,S)" according to SS these three things must be defined within the bounds of scripture, and not tradition. so,
we see commands to sing.(RPW is follwed here)
we see commands to sing "P,H,S"(RPW and SS is lost right about here)
we do not see any example in the Bible using SS of "P,H,S" other than the book of Psalms(that Im aware of)
therefore the only plausible inferrance or interpratiaton (using SS) should be that we are commanded to sing from the book of psalms alone.
with SS, regardless of RPW/NPW, examples of what is meant by P,H,S must be found with in scripture no?
IM thinking out loud with this blog, and I anticipate that my arguments need to be strengthened, or reworded..
please note, im trying to address the theory vs anyones personal interpretation of RPW/NPW/Whatever W thats why i put it in philosiphy.
during the reformation (I think) 2 ideas of worship came about- the Regulitive Principle and the Normative principle (RPW, NPW respectively) another Thing was Sola Scripture (SS)
according to Wikipedia (as far as i can tell the definitions are accurate) NPW=
The Normative Principle of Worship is a Christian theological principle that teaches that worship in the Church can include those elements that are not prohibited by Scripture. The most common traditions utilizing this are Anglican and Lutheran.
RPW=
The regulative principle of worship is a 20th century term used for a teaching shared by Calvinists and Anabaptists .The substance of the doctrine regarding worship is that only those elements that are instituted or appointed by command or example in the Bible are permissible in worship, or in other words, that God institutes in the Scriptures everything he requires for worship in the Church and that everything else is prohibited
SS=
Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, "by scripture alone") is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating, clear (perspicuous) to the rational reader, its own interpreter ("Scripture interprets Scripture"), and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine.
---
so, NPW- as long as God doesnt say no your good
RPW- only what God says
SS- only what God says- Scripture only
---
Problems:
1) the Normitive principle by SS standards is simply proposterous. for these things are not according to NPW forbidden
a) dancing
b) Drama
c) special music/altar calls
d) holy days, etc.
~ I dont see any place in scripture, using SS, that gives authority for any invention, or addition to worship. It would seem that in order to hold to NPW, you must also allow for the church, and traiditon to dictate (to an extent of course) "faith and practice"
2) the folk who claim to hold to RPW are closer, but still seem to be willfully illogical. for by the own definitions of RPW and SS. Everything must be expressely commanded too, or clearly inferred. within the confines of scripture. which means that passages like "Psalms, Hymns, SPiritual songs (P,H,S)" according to SS these three things must be defined within the bounds of scripture, and not tradition. so,
we see commands to sing.(RPW is follwed here)
we see commands to sing "P,H,S"(RPW and SS is lost right about here)
we do not see any example in the Bible using SS of "P,H,S" other than the book of Psalms(that Im aware of)
therefore the only plausible inferrance or interpratiaton (using SS) should be that we are commanded to sing from the book of psalms alone.
with SS, regardless of RPW/NPW, examples of what is meant by P,H,S must be found with in scripture no?
IM thinking out loud with this blog, and I anticipate that my arguments need to be strengthened, or reworded..
please note, im trying to address the theory vs anyones personal interpretation of RPW/NPW/Whatever W thats why i put it in philosiphy.