More on the Regulative Principle

Continuing the Discussion

My thanks to Dr. Watts for responding to the questions I raised about the “Regulative Principle of Worship” (RPW), and for providing opportunity to continue the discussion. I think I begin to see two things: (1) that though we differ we aren’t quite as far apart as might appear, either to us or to others; and (2) that in some ways I have failed to make clear where my somewhat indirect critique is headed. At any rate, his response prompts the following.

1. I gather we agree that the same “principle” by which we determine what is acceptable in corporate worship works as well for all areas of church life (which is as far as I went; Frame would say to all of life and not just “church life”). I wanted that to be established so that we could then use the same reasoning for worship issues that we use for other issues in church life, in order to test our reasoning. I take it that I can now do that.

By all means I approve applying whatever principle we use (regardless what we call it) to worship…