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TechnoratiIn other words, you can go until you see a red light.
Those who follow the normative principle see the Bible as principles and sees flexibility for methods, Driscoll explained. That means, worshippers can pick and choose what instruments and songs they want to sing.
"The Bible tends to be filled with principles, not methods, because it has to speak to people across thousands of years, all kinds of languages and cultures," he noted.
The green light principle allows for cultural contextualization – not changing doctrine but adapting a culture's style, Driscoll said.
But some churches might go further to allow "too much" in worship such as elements from other religions. Some may also elevate unbiblical elements to the degree where it pushes out biblical elements. And some may also try to cater too much to the attendants, performing to entertain them rather than seeking to glorify God.
Where does Mars Hill stand?
"In theory, we hold the normative green light position. But in practice, I don't think there's anything we're doing that a red light regulativist wouldn't agree to," Driscoll said.
Mars Hill holds communion every week, sermons are typically about one hour, they pray, repent and give tithes and offerings.
Although Mars Hill holds the normative position, it doesn't use all the freedom the principle may allow for.
Exhorting attendants to do the same in their own lives, Driscoll said, "God gives you great freedom and you need not exercise it all."
The Mars Hill pastor clearly defined his position on worship:
All of Christian life is ceaseless worship of God, the Father, through the mediatorship of God, the Son, by the indwelling power of God, the Spirit, doing what God commands in Scripture, not doing what God forbids in Scripture, in culturally contextualized ways for the furtherance of the Gospel, when both gathered for adoration and scattered for action in joyous response to God's glorious grace."
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