Do Means Matter?

When discussing the Forms and Circumstances of worship, several truths must be accounted for:

First, although there are no Biblical imperatives for the Forms and Circumstances of Worship, there are still scriptural indications for proper Form and Content. Biblical principles must still inform the lesser means. Duncan writes, "When something is not specifically commanded, prescribed, or directed or when there is no scriptural example to guide us in how we are to perform some particular aspect of worship we should try nevertheless to be guided by scriptural principles" (GPTG 22). The mere absence of direct prescriptions and proscriptions does not imply that all Forms and Circumstances are equal in the eyes of either God or man. Through scriptural principles, it is possible (and, thus, the church's responsibility) to distinguish which means would be more reverent, beneficial, and practical. Burroughs exhorts, "God would have us all to pick out His mind from dark expressions in His Word. Though He does not express His will fully and in expressed terms, yet if there is anything in His Word whereby we may come to gather the mind of God, God expects that we should gather His mind out of His Word. If we do not, it's at our own peril" (GW 21).

Second, there is weighty responsibility to be observed in the choice of Forms and Circumstances. Duncan reminds the church, "There will be, of necessity, some human discretion exercised in these matters. So, here, Christian common sense under the direction of general scriptural principles, patterns, and proportions must make a determination" (GPTG 23). Poor discretion in this area, either willful or ignorant, will have consequences. Burroughs uses the example of Nadab and Abihu to clarify the weighty responsibility of human discretion in these matters. Although God provided no clear scriptural directive forbidding strange fire, His condemnation of ignorance was severe: "God expects that they should have reasoned thus, but because they did not pick out God's mind by reasoning after this manner, therefore the hand of God came out upon them. They offended, and it may be that it was through ignorance, but it was at their peril. If they were ignorant of the mind of God when it might be known, though it was only darkly revealed and had to be picked out from several places compared together, it was at their peril" (GW 22). Thus, the wrath of God was terrifyingly revealed against men who failed in their responsibility to discern which Forms of worship would be most pleasing to God.

Third, the ultimate message cannot be separated from the Forms and Circumstances whereby it is communicated. Therefore, means have shaping influence upon the message they are conveying. Marshall McLuhan contends that "the medium is the message" (GPTG 32). He also acknowledges that particular "forms of media favor particular kinds of content" (GPTG 32). Certainly, it would be foolish for the church to dismiss the principle that "Form impacts content. The means of worship influences the worshipers' apprehension of God" (GPTG 52). The historical church has long recognized this observable truth. It is this very principle that helped to shape the Forms and Circumstance of traditional corporate worship: "the liturgy, media, instruments, and vehicles of worship are never neutral, and so exceeding care must be given to the 'law of unintended consequences.' Often the medium overwhelms and changes the message" (GPTG 64). If this is true, then great care must be taken to wisely select which Forms and Circumstances should shape corporate worship.

If Forms and Circumstances can exert such great influence and consequence, what should corporate worship look like? The Reformers recognized the ultimate end of using increasingly perilous means: "the forms in which those elements are performed must not be inimical to the nature or content of the element or draw attention away from the substance and goal of worship, and the circumstances of worship must never overshadow or detract from the elements, but rather discreetly foster the work of the means of grace" (GPTG 56).


But...the means matter.