The Regulative Principle, what is it? Well, it regulates! It provides good boundaries. It circumscribes what is to be done in Christian worship according to God's word - in other words by applying the R.P. we do in worship only those things God has mandated in Scripture.
Under the older covenant, God commanded worship by animal sacrifices. Under the new and better covenant in Jesus' blood, in which His perfect sacrifce of Himself has put away sin's guilt and corruption for His people once for all and forever, we no longer have animal sacrifices in worship. The abolition of them is a sound application of the R.P.
So in what other ways does the Regulative Principle inform us regarding new covenant worship?
It tells us to include therein the exposition (preaching) as well as the reading of Scripture. New covenant worship also includes prayers, the giving of tithes and offerings, and the two new covenant ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper, both directly instituted by Christ.
It also includes SINGING. Following are a few considerations aimed to get us thinking more deeply about our worship singing.
Does our worship culture lead some to believe that having a naturally gifted and/or trained singing voice is required, and inhibit them from "making a joyful noise to the Lord?"
How are we to regard choirs and the electronic amplification of instrumental accompaniment?
Should these eliminate or drown out the singing of other worshipers?
How about the lyrics used in some songs? Are the concepts they convey Biblical?
("We Three Kings of Orient Are" - were the magi kings? Do we know that they were three in number? Matthew 2 does not say. Is this nit-picking? Perhaps, but you get the point.)
God has given us 150 Holy Spirit inspired songs to use in our worship. They are called the Psalms. In them the vast range of emotions, aspirations, fears, and joys (and more) experienced by a worshiper of God is expressed. Their words are infallibly orthodox in doctrine. Although some in Reformed circles have "gone overboard" in the opinion of this writer, holding that the R.P. forbids the singing of any songs other than the Psalms, should we not be careful of going overboard on the other side of the boat?
According to Christ Himself and His apostles (cf. Luke 24, Acts 2:25-31 et. al.), the Psalms speak of Him! Let's ask ourselves why there is so little use of this divinely appointed worship resource in many churches today? Have we become practitioners of exclusive hymnody or exclusive chorus singing?
Semper Reformanda!
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart..." (Ephesians 5:18,19)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)