RPW vs. NPW, Which do you hold to?

[Foundthelight]

Regulative Principle of Worship or Normative Principle of Worship.

Here is a link to a brief description

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulative_principle


I was having a discussion on another board where this came up.

What do you think?

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I voted regulative principle, but there is much debate among those who hold to this as to what it is. The normative principle is way to open ended.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[edie19]

My church follows the regulative principle. I really appreciate it - what should be reserved for the Lord isn't taken up with extraneous stuff.

 

[Jon_]

I'm an RPW that goes to an NPW church. Not only that, but I run the stinkin' sound system for my church. I feel like a hypocrite.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[GrinningDwarf]

I voted for somewhere in the middle. I wasn't even really aware this difference of opinion existed until recently. Well...I guess maybe I did, in that I knew that some church's don't allow musical instruments in a worship service. But every church I have ever attended would be considered 'normative', I suppose.

I suppose I became aware of the regulative principle by listening to RC Sproul. There are indeed valid points to it. I know there are parts of our worship services I would like to see abolished...announcements, for instance...that don't point directly to the worship of God.

I suppose you could say 'my jury is still out' on the topic! (But worshipping without instruments just seems so unnatural and bizarre to me!! )

 

[inchristalone221]

Somewhere in the middle. I do not participate in debates like this because the concept of a "worship service" or some such thing is foreign to the New Testament church. I believe that the church is free to meet whenever they want and to worship with or without instruments. Our faith has become overly liturgical in my opinion.

That's just my two cents, I don't condemn Sunday worship, don't get the idea that I think it's a destructive practice. I do, however, think that it is an entirely optional practice.

 

[Proeliator]

I like Normative, but a Non-denom down the road has shown how far out that can be taken, so I chose somewhere in the middle. I like my CCM songs for worship, but Im not there for a pagent either

 

[Irishcat922]

I think here you have to define RPW I particularly hold to it, yet not In it's strictest form as some of my brethren. I have many friends who go so far as to say you can only sing psalms and will not allow for any musical accompaniment. I believe while as members of the New Covenant, worship is in Spirit and truth we are allowed some leeway as to what exactly that is to look like as long as we don't overstep the clear teaching of scripture and it never takes away from the Preaching of the Gospel. My two cents.

Blessings,
Irishcat

 

[Imblessed]

I like normative, as long as it's God honoring. The songs sung have to be theologically correct. I personally get alot out of the good (read theologically correct) ccm music. We also sing hymns, which I enjoy.

I have to admit though, that I've never participated in the regulative style worhsip, and so I can't say i prefer one over the other. I enjoy the singing without instruments on occasion(which we do do...we'll start a song with music and then the worship leader will fade out the music until it's just our voices...it's very powerful...). However, I most definately feel that musical instruments can and should be used.

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

As Kenith has mentioned, there is still debate about what the RPW entails. I think the principle itself is sound, but I still have a few things to work out. I would like to note that there are those RPW'ers who do believe that instrumental music is appropriate in worship.

I'm an RPW that goes to an NPW church. Not only that, but I run the stinkin' sound system for my church. I feel like a hypocrite.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

I often feel the same way. My church is not only NPW, it's not Reformed in the slightest. But I take what I can get. Not having found another church (at least until the next semester begins, at which point I may have an opportunity to visit a friend's church), I am more than willing to stay at my current church.

 

[lmnop9876]

I'm an RPW that goes to an NPW church. Not only that, but I run the stinkin' sound system for my church. I feel like a hypocrite.

you're not saying sound systems are bad are you? i have been to lots of very RPW churches with sound systems. we have a sound system of sorts at my church, and I have to run that kind of stuff... and we're RPW.