The Regulative Principle Part 3 — The New Testament Witness

In our last two articles on the Regulative Principe of Worship, we explained what this principle is, and gave several examples from the Old Testament of where it is taught. In the third installment of this series, we will now endeavor to show the New Testament witness to this important doctrine of worship. This topic is of vital importance for the Church today. Our God commands that we reocgnize him as holy when we draw near to him in public worship. As was demonstrated in the case of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–2), the holiness of God is diminished on the part of his people when we introduce our own inventions as additions to what he has prescribed.

The Vain Worship of the Pharisees

The Lord Jesus Christ himself upheld the Regulative Principle of worship, as can be seen in Matthew chapter 15 & its parallel account in Mark chapter 7.

Matthew 15:1–2 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, (2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Mark’s account gives us some further explanation:

Mark 7:1–5 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. (2) And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. (3) For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. (4) And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. (5) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

It ought to be kept in mind at this point that the tradition of washing hands before eating was not simply the act of keeping oneself clean from germs before dinner, as we commonly think of it today. Rather, the Jewish tradition of washing hands entailed a ritualistic observance, whereby the particpant would raise one hand, and pour water over it while reciting a prayer or blessing, and then do the same thing for the other hand, as if this were some sort of pietistic act dedicated toward the Creator. Mark also informs us that the Pharisees baptized furniture and utencils, such as cups, and pots, and tables.

The elders and those practicing their traditions were just as many professing Christians are today. Where does the Bible expressly prohibit the ritual washing of hands? It does not. Yet the elders considered this to be a truly spiritual and God-honoring custom. After all, it wasn’t explicitly contradicting any commandment of God, it was a harmless hand washing ritual. Yet, what is the response of our Lord to such traditions?

Mark 7:6–8 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (7) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (8) For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Our Lord quoted the prophet Isaiah in order to show that the Jews were indeed worshiping God — but they were doing so in vain. They were laying aside the commandment of God by means of their tradition. This ought be a solemn warning to all Christians. The blessed Mediator here unequivocally calls man-made inventions in the worship of God vain worship, that is to say, worship which is utterly useless, and without value. You may think that you are adding something significant to the worship experience by introducing rock concerts, theatrical dancing, or similar inventions, as though God receives these acts performed toward him with approval. But in reality, they are all vain acts of worship. They do not please God in the slightest, nor do they add anything spiritually meaningful to the worship experience.

Will-Worship in Colosse

The Apostle Paul dealt with a similar situation in the Colossians church. Not only were the Colossian Christians being influenced by Judaizers who were attempting to make them return to the ceremonial law, but they were also dealing with mystics (either Jewish or Gentile) who were attempting to push ascetic practices onto them. Hence the Apostle warns:

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul further addresses these traditions of men which were being pushed on the Colossians church later on in this chapter:

Colossians 2:18–19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Voluntary humility connotes the idea of operating under a mere pretense of piety, which God himself never actually defines as such. It is uncommanded humility which originates within the sinner’s wicked heart, rather than from the Law of God. The reference to “worshiping of angels” has been variously understood, but it is commonly concluded that the heretics who are here warned of by Paul were treating angels as intercessors and offering some sort of service to them, under the impression that such service was an act of piety or holiness on their part. This was being done despite the fact that God never stipulated that they ought to have done these things, and hence Paul says that they were “not holding the Head”, namely, Christ Jesus. They were “intruding into those things which they had not seen” — neither by dream or vision, nor within the pages of holy Scripture. These things did not come from God, but from men.

Our beloved Apostle then goes on to ask the Colossians why they are still subject to man-made ordinances, if they are dead with Christ to the rudiments of the world:

Colossians 2:20–23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Verse 23 is particularly instructive to us. Paul styles this false, voluntary humility, not commanded by God, “will-worship”. Will-worship is defined as worshiping God according to ones own fancy, or arbitrary whim. It is worship which man takes upon himself to institute apart from authorization from God or His word. Paul says that will-worship, indeed, has a show of wisdom — they appear to be godly, wise, acts of piety and humility, but in reality, as our Lord Jesus Christ stated, they are vain. It matters not whether this will-worship consists in extreme ascetic practices, or in hand-washing rituals, or in theatrical dancing, puppet shows, stage-plays, or anything else one can think of. If it is an authorized addition to the worship of God, then it is vain, and God takes no pleasure in it. It is strange fire, which is to be utterly shunned from the house of God.