Regulative Principle of the Church
According to the regulative principle embraced by Reformed Christians, the church cannot prescribe as necessary for true faith and practice
anything that is not commanded in Scripture. In public worship, for example, there are elements (such as preaching, confession of sin, prayer, baptism, the Supper, singing, and alms giving) and circumstances (such as the appointed time and order of services, liturgical forms, architecture, musical style, and so forth). Making everything in the church's worship and church order an element, even apart from any biblical warrant, is legalistic; making everything a circumstance, in spite of biblical command, is antinomian.
Since they were matters not specifically commanded in Scripture, decisions regarding circumstances were left to sanctified wisdom, and churches were free to change them at their discretion, in the light of their time and place. The Spirit, who sometimes disorders the settled life of the church when it does not conform to his word, also reorders it, so that the church is always being built up. This upbuilding takes place across generations through a public, ordered, and disciplined ministry. Wherever the word is preached and the sacraments are administered, a desert blossoms into a lush garden with the streams of living water. In the chaotic use of spiritual gifts in the church, one may edify oneself but will not build up the church, Paul warns (ICo 14:4, 15 17). "Let all things be done for building up," he exhorts. "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace" (w. 26, 33).
Pilgrim Theology by Michael Horton
According to the regulative principle embraced by Reformed Christians, the church cannot prescribe as necessary for true faith and practice
anything that is not commanded in Scripture. In public worship, for example, there are elements (such as preaching, confession of sin, prayer, baptism, the Supper, singing, and alms giving) and circumstances (such as the appointed time and order of services, liturgical forms, architecture, musical style, and so forth). Making everything in the church's worship and church order an element, even apart from any biblical warrant, is legalistic; making everything a circumstance, in spite of biblical command, is antinomian.
Since they were matters not specifically commanded in Scripture, decisions regarding circumstances were left to sanctified wisdom, and churches were free to change them at their discretion, in the light of their time and place. The Spirit, who sometimes disorders the settled life of the church when it does not conform to his word, also reorders it, so that the church is always being built up. This upbuilding takes place across generations through a public, ordered, and disciplined ministry. Wherever the word is preached and the sacraments are administered, a desert blossoms into a lush garden with the streams of living water. In the chaotic use of spiritual gifts in the church, one may edify oneself but will not build up the church, Paul warns (ICo 14:4, 15 17). "Let all things be done for building up," he exhorts. "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace" (w. 26, 33).
Pilgrim Theology by Michael Horton