What is Liturgy

🌿Sapling 😁Strongly-Agree 🟢Conviction

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Importance: 10%

The Big Idea

Liturgy is latin for “the work of the people.” They are the wonderful way by which we get to practice our faith together as a community. They are an interesting meeting of embodied Biblical truth and human tradition.

Related Notes: Embodiment of Community Foundations of Discipleship Introduction to Thematic Liturgies Project Thoughts on Liturgy and Rhythm

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Liturgy as Human Tradition

The book or concord is clear that the idea of Liturgy falls within the category of human traditions, rites and ceremonies. Being written in a context where church rites had become more like magic incantations (the phrase “Hocus Pocus” literally coming from the words of institution in the latin mass) it makes sense that the reformers had to reorient the church to the true source of our salvation and faith. Liturgy is not what saves people. Only faith in the saving work of Jesus saves people! What follows is a helpful distinction to keep this balanced.

Ritual Efficacy versus Sacramental Efficacy

Keeping in mind the tension of tradition and translation, we come to the need to differentiate between ritual efficacy and sacramental efficacy.[^5]   On the one hand, the word of God is always efficacious.  For example, a sermon can be given in the most monotone and dull method, written in the most cliche and boring style, yet it is still God’s living and active word at work among His people.  The word of God will do what the world of God will do by the power of the Holy Spirit apart from, and often in spite of, our human efforts.  The deep reality of the words sacramental efficacy is somewhat at odds, however, with our experience of ritual efficacy.  The sermon described above will be met with eye rolls and sighs as even willing listeners struggle to not fall asleep.  This same idea can be fleshed out in many other examples that all lead to the need to evaluate and work toward ritually effective forms of liturgy.  

To state this distinction another way, all liturgy grounded in the true word of God and the right celebration of God’s gifts (sacramental and other) are without question efficacious (sacramental efficacy).  It makes no difference how engaging, interesting or personally compelling an individual finds it.  Liturgy delivers the goods of God’s promises with 100% assurance.  Ritual efficacy, on the other hand, deals in our human experience of a particular liturgical form’s ability to engage us.  It is no secret that almost every person finds different styles of worship music more or less effective for their personal engagement in meaningful worship.  Not only this but fields such as neuroscience point out the benefits of multisensory engagement for memory and retention of material in sermons and bible reading.  By maintaining the distinction between sacramental efficacy and ritual efficacy we can critically engage our practice of liturgy affirming the value and place for all faithful forms, while also acknowledging the nuances of human engagement.       

The writers of the Book of Concord also outlined a number of valid purposes for observing liturgical traditions:

• Restraining the flesh.
• Disciplining nonliterate people.
• Good order of the Church community.
• Help people focus on the Holy things of God.
• Help instruct people about how to live and what to do when.

Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession, Section 15, p. 226

Traditions have the purpose of demonstrating and illustrating things for the people.

Important

Therefore, the core purpose of liturgical practice is to teach and learn the faith in practical and down to earth ways. If a piece of liturgy is not being used for this purpose it has lost it’s way. Likewise if a piece of Liturgy is thrown away without consideration for what it was meant to teach an equally poor course of action has been chose.

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Liturgy as Reflection of Scriptural Rhythms

While one side of the coin is thinking about the human traditions that are a part of liturgical practice. The deeper reality that all this is pushing toward is the fact that Scripture pictures and encourages a particular mode of being. Humans were created to live and relate with God and one another in particular God pleasing ways. All of this flows from the good order of Creation God set in place in the garden of Eden and is restoring through Jesus Christ.

Therefore, truly good and healthy liturgical practice must derive primarily from the witness of scripture with human tradition as a secondary source. Below is a further discussion of how this can function in our faith and practice:

The Rhythm of Life 

Liturgy is a very churchy word. To many liturgy, or liturgical practices, are a very specific set of prayers, and words said every Sunday over and over. In this context, liturgy is either dearly beloved or apathetically repeated. Using the word liturgy in this way has led to many empty debates ending with disagreement over subjective personal taste.

Liturgy is however so much more than a set of practices or a few pages in a hymnal.  It brings together a tapestry of meaning from across the whole story of Scripture. It voices patterns and rhythms that flow from God and His grace into every corner of our lives. Liturgy does not happen only on Sundays. It is the heartbeat of every Christian life. 

Liturgy comes out of the Greek language and means “work for the people.”  It describes the intricate interweaving of God and His good gifts being worked out for us by Jesus. While also describing the work of God’s people in mission.  

The very first set of liturgical patterns comes to use out of the opening pages of Scripture. God creates a world that blooms and grows to a rhythm.  Morning and evening come and go.  God works for six days and then rests.  A living vibrant world dancing to the beat of the Father’s heart. These foundational patterns are meant to define our lives. They take the chaos of our days and give us purpose. 

Yet humans did not abide within the created rhythms. After taking hold of the fruit, we hear the beauty of God’s liturgy as it slips away. In the cool of the day, what should have been a time of connection and communion is lost because of sin’s rupture. And so humans are forced to live in a world screaming with our own greed and pride. Voices so loud that the heartbeat of the Father seems to all but fade away from Human awareness.  

Even so, as the Scripture unfolds the story of God’s people, the created liturgical patterns begin to regrow. We see Israelites gathered around a Tabernacle on the day God set aside for rest. In the Psalms, we join King David praying in the morning and evening. The patterns of liturgy begin to come into clearer and clearer focus as we read the stories of faithful people.  

Until finally - we meet Jesus.  He lives a perfect liturgical life. He rests and works. He prays quietly and speaks to crowds. He cares for the oppressed and challenges the self-righteous.  He lives, breathes, and eats.  Every moment perfectly in harmony with the patterns of God.  

Then Jesus leaves. He ascends into heaven, but leaves His church on earth. He calls His disciples to live lives after the pattern.  The pattern He spoke into existence at the dawn of time, and restored through His death and resurrection. A liturgy that beats in step with the Father’s heart. 

As we seek to live lives shaped by the liturgy of Scripture, we enter into these patterns. We gather on the day of rest as a community. We pray and care. We eat together and cry together.  All seeking to dance with the rhythm of Jesus’ heart.  As you enter into worship, or get out of bed.  Keep an eye peeled for the liturgies of God. His patterns have shaped the very fabric of the universe. A liturgy that calls us into a reality not yet fully realized.  The return to Eden. The coming of Heaven on earth. The day we see Him face to face. Liturgy is a window through which we catch glimpses of eternity. 

May His liturgy grab your heart and imagination. May it call you into new life each and every morning.  

“He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night,  when all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.” 

• Psalm 104:19-13