Lutheran Theology of Worship
Written for Liturgics class 9.22.05 This is not my best writing but there are some interesting points The Lutheran theology of worship is essentially about receiving God’s gifts and we, in response offering our thanks and praise. We emphasize that there is the true presence of Christ in our worship, brought into our midst through the gifts of the Word and Sacrament. Our liturgical form and practice reflect this theology. We offer distinction between the direction and the movement of events presented in worship. We do not believe that our participation, praise, gifts, or abilities call God to us. We do not believe that by returning these gifts to God in the form of praise he will be present. Those who practice these forms are a sacrificial church by offering personal sacrifice and emphasizing their deeds or actions. They believe their deeds have merit and do anything to affect their salvation. Lutherans believe that proper liturgical form reflects us as a gathering of people in God’s name. We believe that he is indeed present in the time and place as he promised in Matthew 18:20. We read his scripture and by this receive one of his gifts, his true presence. He continues by giving us his means of grace; forgiveness of sins through baptism, absolution, and the Eucharist. Consequently, the Lutheran church is a sacramental church, a church celebrating the gifts of God as he commanded. We do not focus on the one doing the deed but rather the Lutheran theology of worship emphasizes maintaining the integrity of the message, God’s Word. We receive this Word in spoken and chanted form, as Jesus communicated in his Gospel. This text is given with concern of inflection and tone so as to not impede or distort the intent of the Word. We believe the Holy Spirit will speak to us through this hearing from his chosen servant, drawing us to faith (for a catechumen) or for the baptized increased knowledge in the triune God. The Lutheran theology of worship emphasizes reverence. We show proper deference and respect in reaction to Christ’s true presence in Word and Sacrament. We model our practice of liturgy to the clear instructions God to the first priesthood of Aaron, singing psalms, speaking aloud his Word, and receiving his gifts of sacrifice with thanksgiving Just as you would speak humbly and with respect in the presence of a public dignitary and speak thanks for gifts that he might give you, we similarly give highest reverence and thanks to God for our salvation. Baptism serves an important worship role as we begin our life in Christ through the anointment of water. The law of our hearts can be justified through the Gospel, Christ crucified given by the Holy Spirit in baptism. We are bound together in this baptism as a community. Consequently our theology of worship is a corporate one, not individual. We gather as community in public confession, speaking of the word and celebration at his table. The liturgical form practiced by the Lutheran church and indeed the early Christian church emphasizes a form that ultimately points to Christ’s atoning sacrifice in His crucifixion. We celebrate this focal event at the climax of the divine service is in the form of the Eucharist. We practice a service that guides and leads us to understanding of God’s Word and the essential nature of this sacrifice. As Christ commanded, “do this in remembrance of me for the forgiveness of sinsâ€; we receive the gifts of his atonement in the form of bread and wine. Through each divine worship service, Christ is recreating us, creation in his image, restoring it by his grace. We receive his gifts with thanksgiving and join with the prophets of old and the saints in one common worship saying “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth!†Your comments or questions are welcome.
