Forms: Old, new, and revised
Forms: Old, new, and revised
The forms of our worship change, but our response flows from hearts touched by God's grace.
That brief encounter in a small narthex reveals the tension in worship attitudes in modern America. On the one hand, some feel strongly about using the historic patterns of worship Christians have handed down over the centuries. On the other hand, some feel strongly about worship being more of a spontaneous, personal expression of faith. Which is better?
Printed patterns or freedom
Scripture depicts both. Temple worship, for example, followed patterns formed around the daily rituals of sacrifice. Before the Lord’s altar the priests meticulously followed instructions for worship drawn from Leviticus. On the sanctuary steps the priestly choirs, sometimes including children, stood and sang the psalm assigned for each day of the week. In synagogues across the Mediterranean region, like those in which Jesus and Paul preached, worshipers followed a standard “liturgy” and heard the set order of readings taken from the law and the prophets. Think of the Passover celebrated in Israelite homes. Over the centuries believers developed and used a simple devotional pattern that reviewed important spiritual truths.
On the other hand, there were times when God’s people broke out in spontaneous songs of praise and thanksgiving. Moses erupted in song on the shores of the Red Sea following the defeat of Pharaoh’s army, and Miriam’s song of praise followed in its wake. Mary joyfully chanted her song, the Magnificat, in response to the Lord’s goodness to her. The children of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday with song. Finally, almost all the worship John describes in Revelation resounds with impulsive bursts of praise from the redeemed in heaven.
What will bring the greatest good?
Since both approaches to worship still exist in our day, how is it even possible to create a worship book that will be a blessing to everyone, such as Christian Worship: Supplement hopes to be?
The small committee entrusted with producing the worship section of the supplement wrestled with that question. The overriding question became: What type of worship book will be of greatest benefit to most people in WELS churches today?
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