Worship Distinctives

If you join us for worship at CNRPC, you will notice that our mode of worship is distinct from that of most Reformed and evangelical churches. As a member of the RPCNA, we hold to what is called “exclusive psalmody”—meaning that we sing the Psalms exclusively—and we sing the Psalms “a cappella,” or without musical accompaniment.
 

Historically, this was the mode of worship of the post-apostolic church, or the church of the first few centuries, as well as the mode of worship in the majority of Reformed and Presbyterian churches in the first few centuries after the Reformation. In other words, while our mode of worship is unique, it is not reactionary or innovative. In fact, in Italian, the phrase “a cappella” means to sing “as in the chapel,” as this was the historic form of worship used by the church.
 

Our practice of a cappella exclusive psalmody arises from what is termed “the regulative principle.” The regulative principle of worship teaches that we can only worship God as a congregation in the way that He has commanded. This means that we must avoid not only what is forbidden by Scripture, but also that the leadership of the church can only prescribe elements of worship that are commanded in Scripture through direct commands and consistent examples.
 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism ties this principle of worship to the second commandment when it says in Q&A 51, “The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His Word.” In other words, just as we are not to worship God through images made with human hands, this principle extends to any mode of worship that arises from human invention. This principle can be observed throughout both the Old and New Testaments (see Lev. 10:1–3; Deut. 12:28–32; Mark 7:1–13; John 4:20–24; Col. 2:20–23).
 

Therefore, finding no command in Scripture to compose or sing songs of human composition, we sing only the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of David, which the apostles commanded the early church to sing (see Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; James 5:13; Matt. 26:30). Likewise, as the use of musical instruments was conjoined to the temple sacrifices, which have now passed away, and seeing no command in the New Testament to use instruments, we sing a cappella (see 2 Chronicles 29:25–30; Heb. 7:11; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
 

While we know that Christians can be richly blessed by hymns and contemporary music, within formal worship we hold firmly to the historic practice of the church. We warmly invite you to join with us each Sunday as we worship God in “spirit and in truth,” singing the very songs that Jesus sang, in union with Him as our risen King.