An unreflective call for reflection

As a doctrinal respondent for the OPC website, I was surprised to see an answer to a question on worship music (not something I wrote, by the way) called out in Ordained Servant as an example of unpresbyterian thinking. From Stephen J. Tracey's review of T. David Gordon's Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns:

All too often our answers to "missional" music questions fall short. An example of this appears on the OPC website series of questions and answers. The only question relating to church music includes the following sentences:

Choirs were used in the Old Testament worship of God and are therefore not forbidden, so choral responses reverently executed today are not forbidden. Similarly, special music is referred to and is therefore not forbidden.

^{The argument that something is not forbidden is not the Presbyterian understanding of the regulative principle of worship. Something needs to be commanded. This lack of carefully nuanced answers contributes to the frustration that swirls around this debate....}

The Rev. Tracey is incorrect: the formulation "what is not commanded is forbidden" is not, in fact, the presbyterian understanding of the regulative principle of worship, as it cannot be found in the Westminster Standards. Moreover, in context, the doctrinal respondent has cited Scriptural example of the use of choirs; therefore, "not forbidden" is a negative formula for "commanded by way of example."

Am I picking at a nit? Firstly, my blog is called "The Presbyterian Curmudgeon:" this is what I do. Secondly, Mr. Tracey is accusing the doctrinal respondent of not thinking clearly; the least he could do is demonstrate good manners by carefully reflecting on whether that criticism is in fact warranted. Thirdly, debates over liturgical practice are not helped by falling back on unreflective formulae.

While the recently introduced Directory for Public Worship is a vast improvement over previous versions, the debate surrounding it in the OPC's presbyteries and General Assemblies showed observers that the average OPC minister could have done with a great deal more study and reflection on liturgical matters. That still seems the case, sadly.