Pianos May Not Be Biblical?

What is your favorite part of church on Sunday? Maybe the singing brings tears to your eyes? Maybe you can’t wait to sit under the faithful preaching of the Word? Probably not, but maybe you like the “shake someone’s hand while the pianist plays through the next verse of the song…” part. But did you ever stop to consider whether your favorite service aspect is even biblical? I don’t mean unbiblical, but expressly biblical.

There are two “schools of thought” (and that is the most pretentious thing I will write today) in dealing with this topic. They are as follows…

Regulative Principle: Churches and individuals who hold to this perspective believe that the Bible specifically directs or regulates what should happen in our church services. If It is expressly stated in Scripture, it is not only approved but expected that it happen in your church. This would include things like preaching, prayer, giving financially, and faithfully participating in church events as a means of worship. 

Normative Principle: Churches and individuals who hold to this perspective view the aspects of worship revealed in Scripture as principles which allow for things that aren’t expressly prohibited in the Bible. The argument could go something like this, “Well Scripture doesn’t say I can’t, therefore I am good.” While this could go way too far in one direction, those who are trying to approach the church faithfully and biblically can truthfully approach their perspective this way.

For the normative principle think of passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Another helpful passage is John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Our primary question for today, is which is right? Is one more correct than the other? Well, that probably depends based upon which church you attend or in which you were raised. For example, if you attended a Presbyterian church or a broader Reformed church you would certainly feel more comfortable in a Regulative principle model. Whereas a Baptist, Methodist, and most evangelical churches would look much more normative.

As to which model is “more right,” I would have to say that the normative principle seems to fit into the broader context of Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount and Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy and Titus. Though there are certainly aspects of church life that are regulative (Ex: pastoral qualifications) things like Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” would certainly allow for some leeway in local churches.

Should this move the needle on which church you attend? It may. However, this is far from a primary issue and one that should be approached with grace and preferring someone above yourself in terms of arguing your case or even participating in worship at a church that holds to the opposite perspective.

Grace and Love are principles that every Christians must apply to truly every situation, even in our opinions on orders of services. That is all.

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