What is Christian Worship?

What is Christian Worship?

Amen.  This is an excellent, excellent treatment of the subject, the best I have ever read.  I want to nail this to my door forever (reference to Luther intended).

http://orthodoxbridge.com/orthodox-worship-versus-contemporary-worship/

Somewhere, I’ve heard it reported that Luther said words to the effect, “Our worship is identical with that of...,” and he listed a string of a dozen or so Orthodox countries.  An observer of Lutheran worship will immediately see its relationship to St. John Chrysostom’s liturgy.  Similarly, some Anglican/Episcopal rites appear to have an affinity to St. James’ liturgy.  Not that I’m an expert in liturgics, but this information, if it can be substantiated strongly supports the argument of this paper.

Sadly, some Orthodox do not take these facts as seriously as they might.  A few Orthodox priests don’t preach at all.  The result can be that worshippers depart the service glutted on the liturgy of the Eucharist, but starving and malnourished in the the liturgy of the Word.  Ironically, conservative evangelical worshippers may depart the service glutted on the liturgy of the Word, but starving and malnourished in the the liturgy of the Eucharist.  Tragically, others may depart having received neither one.  It is a disgrace to have either the liturgy of the Word without the liturgy of the Eucharist, or the liturgy of the Eucharist without the liturgy of the Word.

What this Robert Arakaki, “Orthodox Worship Versus Contemporary Worship,” article makes clear is that a strong church is built on a strong liturgy of the Word with good preaching, and on a strong liturgy of the Eucharist.  How many Christians suffer with half a service or no service at all?  This article expresses what I believe.  It is an excellent bridge with Reformed theology.

What this Robert Arakaki, “Orthodox Worship Versus Contemporary Worship,” article leaves out, is that such a strong worship is built on a foundation.  At least part of that foundation is the regular practice of Vespers and Orthros.  What Vespers and Orthros build in life is a strong relationship with the Spiritual warfare contained in the Psalms.  Worshippers may and should come to worship with their hearts fully equipped (Ephesians 6) with a full set of Divine armor.

God bless you.  Yours in Christ.

http://orthodoxbridge.com/orthodox-worship-versus-contemporary-worship/