Doulos asked:
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One more thing, what is this "regulative principle" thing? I must've missed that one when I was reading the bible.

It's in Deuteronomy 12:32. It's called "regulative" because, simply stated, it means that we are not to imagine what we think might be pleasing to God and then apply those inventions to the corporate worship of God. What pleases God is obedience, not superstitious attempts to please Him which He has not commanded.

The regulative principle has been taken by some to mean that only unaccompanied psalms are to be sung in public worship. That may be too narrow, but this former charismatic "worship addict" finds unaccompanied psalm singing far purer and richer and sweeter than the most emotionally charged charismatic "praise music" ever was. Who can possibly take offense at singing Scripture - especially Scripture that written to be sung!

I don't believe the regulative principle has to mean necissarily that only psalms should be sung in church. I think it's more of a regulation upon those in ecclesiastical authority which forbids them from imposing religious holy days, rites and rituals, etc upon the people which God did not command. The people are not to be bound to anything but the Scriptures when it comes to the worship of God.

Yet in John 10:22 we find Jesus in the temple during the "feast of dedication." There is no such feat commanded in Scripture at all. It was begun during the intertestament period to commemorate the rededication of the temple after the Maccabees. It's Hannukah! Did Jesus violate the regulative principle by showing up at the temple during an uncommanded "holy day?" No. The text doesn't say whether or not Jesus participated personally, but it says only that He was walking in the portico of Solomon during the feast when this conversation took place that riled the Jews to try to stone Him (verse 31). The point being that He was there and did not condemn those who participated. I think it compares with Christmas and Easter - festival days not expressly commanded in Scripture, yet commonly observed with great joy by many who love Him.

-Robin