Editing Adiaphora (section)

===Puritanism===
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}

The [[Westminster Confession of Faith]] distinguishes between elements or acts of [[worship]] (worship proper) and the circumstances of worship. The elements of worship must be limited to what has positive warrant in Scripture, a doctrine known as the [[regulative principle of worship]]. In this framework, the elements of worship have included praise (the words and manner of music), prayer, preaching and teaching from the Bible, the taking of vows, and the two sacraments of [[baptism]] and the [[Lord's Supper in Reformed theology|Lord's Supper]], while the circumstances of worship have included the building and its necessary furniture and the time of day for worship.

The circumstances of worship are considered adiaphora, although they must be done for edification and to promote peace and order (compare {{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|14:26–33}}; {{bibleverse|Romans|14:19}}). According to the [[Westminster Confession]] 20.2,<ref>{{cite book | chapter-url = https://www.apuritansmind.com/westminster-standards/chapter-20 | publisher = Reformed.org | title = Westminster Confession of Faith | chapter = Chapter 20: Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience}}</ref> the conscience is left free in general belief and behavior within the realm of whatever is not "contrary to the Word. However, specifically concerning worship and religious faith, the conscience is free from whatever is "besides" Scripture; that is, one is free to worship and believe only according to whatever has positive warrant in Scripture.

[[Presbyterian]]s who have subscribed to the Westminster Confession, for instance, sometimes considered the questions of [[musical instruments]] and of the singing of [[hymn]]s (as opposed to [[exclusive psalmody]]) not drawn directly from the Bible as related to the elements of worship, as not optional circumstances. Thus, they rejected musical instruments and hymns because they believed these were neither commanded by Scripture, nor deduced by good and necessary consequence from it.<ref>{{cite web | last = Schwertley | first = Brian | url = http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/sola.htm | title = Sola Scripture and the Regulative Principles of Worship | website = Reformed Online | access-date = 2007-06-23 | archive-date = 2013-01-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130120005900/http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/sola.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Schwertley | first = Brian | url = http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/music.htm | title = Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God | website = Reformed Online | access-date = 2007-06-23 | archive-date = 2013-01-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130120010940/http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/music.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Schwertley | first = Brian | url = http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/psalm.htm | title = Exclusive Psalmody: A Biblical Defense | website = Reformed Online | access-date = 2007-06-23 | archive-date = 2013-01-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130120011120/http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/psalm.htm | url-status = dead }}.</ref> However, adherence to such a position is rare among modern Presbyterians.

The Puritan position on worship is thus in line with the common saying regarding adiaphora: "[[In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas|In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity]]."