There is a restlessness today among the churches of the Reformation. We witness it in so many areas of the church’s life and work. There is much campaigning for a more accommodating attitude to the world and its ways. In extreme cases there is a call for the offices of the church, including the ministry, to be opened up to women, despite the clear testimony of Scripture to the contrary.

The restlessness is seen especially in the matter of worship. Churches which have historically been committed to scriptural worship are facing pressure to change their stance. This is not coming from the world outside (which is not very interested in such things) but rather from within. It is coming from members and even ministers who seem to think that the regulative principle has either been wrongly applied to date, needs to be relaxed somewhat or should be done away with altogether.

By the ‘regulative principle’ we mean the biblical principle that only that which is prescribed in Scripture ought to be used in the worship of God. This was declared by Moses to Israel in the Old Testament: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deut.12:32). It was reiterated by Christ to His disciples in the New Testament when He gave them their great commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt.28:19,20).

While the worship of God has at its heart preaching and prayer the main area of contention appears to be praise. In Reformed churches in general and Presbyterian churches in particular the Psalms of David have been regarded as having a unique place as the God-given manual of praise. Now we are being told that the Psalter is not sufficient and that other songs should be sung. It is also being suggested that there is nothing wrong in using musical instruments to accompany our singing. What response may be made to this?

Firstly regarding the songs that we should sing. The Psalter is unique as a song book for its contents have been given to us by the inspiration of the Spirit. This fact alone means that there is a strong presumption in favour of its use as the church’s manual of praise. There are other inspired songs in Scripture, such as those ascribed to Moses, Deborah and Mary, but these were never incorporated into the Psalter and so were never meant to be employed in public worship.

What about other sections of the Bible? May they be put into verse and sung to the praise of God? This was done in the past in what were known as the ‘paraphrases’ and it is done today with various portions of Scripture. Of course every part of the Word of God is inspired but is every part appointed for worship? The Psalms certainly are (Psa.95:2; Jam.5:13) but there is no evidence that other books are.

Reference is often made to two verses where we are exhorted to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16). It is suggested that the mention of “hymns” and “spiritual songs” justifies the use of human compositions in worship. It is amazing though that anyone should think that man-made hymns and songs could rank alongside the God-given psalms! In fact the three terms all refer to the Book of Psalms, some of which are described as songs in their titles (e.g. 30,45,46,48,65) and a portion of which is referred to as a hymn (Matt.26:30).

Secondly regarding the use of musical instruments in our worship. Presumably no-one would argue that Jesus and the apostles or the apostolic church praised God with the accompaniment of instruments. Generally it is held that instruments are simply an ‘aid’ to worship, providing the melody which the congregation follow.

Apart from the fact that we do not require an instrument to lead our praise (someone with a good singing voice can do that) it cannot be maintained that musical instruments are a mere ‘circumstance’ of worship rather than an ‘element’. Various instruments (and a choir) were part of the temple ritual, accompanying the offering of the animal sacrifices (2Chron.29:25-28). However in the synagogues, the local places of worship, the ritual was very simple and instruments had no place in it. New Testament worship is patterned after the synagogue, not the temple.

The need of the church is not for new forms of praise but for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for grace to honour the Lord in our worship, that He may inhabit our praises.

“Give thanks to God, call on his name;

    to men his deeds make known.

Sing ye to him, sing psalms; proclaim

    his wondrous works each one.”