Is the Regulative Principle of Worship a Straitjacket?

(This article originally appeared at fwbtheology.com)

Since the Protestant Reformation, Christians of different kinds have espoused the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW). In short, the RPW asserts that God should only be worshipped in the ways prescribed in His Word.  Various writers on worship have provided numerous definitions, but each parallels this definition quite closely.

Here are a few other definitions that I appreciate:

“The regulative principle is simply the assertion that we must worship God in the way that he has revealed himself and the way he has commanded us to worship Him in His Word.” (Ligon Duncan, PCA Presbyterian)

“The only acceptable worship is that which is explicitly taught in the Bible.” (Tim Challies, Canadian Baptist)

“Everything we do in a corporate worship gathering must be clearly warranted by Scripture.” (Mark Dever & Paul Alexander, Southern Baptist)

“The practice of worship that consists only in things that the Bible commands or clearly implies.” (Zach V…