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History of Christian Worship. Steve Emery-Wright. Some Key Texts: Bradshaw, P. Early Christian Worship (London, SPCK, 2010). Pecklers, K. F. Worship (London: Continuum, 2003). Stringer, M. Rethinking the Origins of the Eucharist (London: SCM, 2011).
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History of Christian Worship Steve Emery-Wright
Some Key Texts: • Bradshaw, P. Early Christian Worship (London, SPCK, 2010). • Pecklers, K. F. Worship (London: Continuum, 2003). • Stringer, M. Rethinking the Origins of the Eucharist (London: SCM, 2011). • Webber, R. E. Worship Old & New (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,1994). • White, J. F. A Brief History of Christian Worship (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1993). • Wainwright and Tuckerfield (eds) Oxford History of Christian Worship (Oxford: OUP, 2005)
Ancient Postmodern Worship Worship is an invitation of God to respond to God’s word in the world and in our lives – in the power of the Spirit. • Allowing our spirit to be set alight by the Spirit of God. • Showing God’s worth – • The Gospel in motion – Lex orandi lex crendeni – what is the Gospel? • The history of worship is a history of contextualisation
Ancient Postmodern Worship • Pre Church • Creation • Tabernacle, Temple, Priests, Home • Synagogue • Community shaped by ritual
Ancient Postmodern Worship • Early Church… Serious Play and Discovery • Book of Acts • Like what went before and also strove to be different • Contextual – different in Jerusalem, Corinthians, in the Images of Revelation
The Apostolic Age Continuity, but growing discontinuity, with Judaism A Jesus (synagogue, temple feasts) B apostles, early Christians • worship & prayer in temple (Luke 24:53; Acts 2:46; 3:1) • teaching in temple (Acts 5:21,25,42) • participation in temple rites (Acts 21:26) • teaching in synagogues (Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1-2,10,17; 18:4,19; 19:8)
C Adapted forms of worship 1. House meetings and common meals, probably including the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2: 42-47; 20:6; 1 Cor. 11:26; 16:1-2) 2. Elements: Scripture reading, preaching, singing, prayer, fellowship
Ancient Postmodern Worship • 2000 years in • 1 Hour…
The Patristic Period • private, small communities • periodic persecutions and hence eschatological expectations • developing traditions • A lex orandi, lex credenda (“the law of prayer is the law of faith”): expressions of faith often preceded and informed doctrinal formulations for example: praying to Christ (Acts 7:59-60; 2 Cor. 12:8-9), singing His praise (Eph. 5:19; Revel. 5:8-10,13-14), baptizing into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), referring to Him as “Lord” (Romans 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3) • canon of Scripture and creeds formulated (in response to heresies) • growing sacramentalism • conversion of Constantine, leading to “public Christianity” • increased public role of clergy
Ancient Postmodern Worship The Middle Ages A rise of priesthood [laity], saints, Mariology B ascendancy of the Mass, decline of preaching C Is this a description of modern cathedral worship? D Development of Orthodox tradition E Importance of universal liturgy
The Reformation Reformation of doctrine and worship • Primacy of the Word of God and doctrine • Translation of the Bible into the language of the people • Reaction and over-reaction • Rise of state churches (Catholic, Orthodox (earlier), Lutheran, Reformed) with regional liturgy
3 The Enlightenment, rationalism, and theological liberalism 4 The rise of evangelicalism and free churches 5 The reformation of worship 6 Vatican II (Roman Catholic) • Word of God, preaching • mass in the vernacular • Protestants = “errant brethren” 7 Charismatic/Pentecostal worship 8 Alt.worship
Ancient Postmodern Worship • What was lost, gained, and what were common elements? • Word, Sacrament, Music, • Different emphasis and purposes of each • Actually entertainment in the sense of drama, wonder, and awe always present.
Ancient Postmodern Worship • Worship Shaped in modernity • Shift from modernity to postmodernity. • Universal practice vs local • Orthodoxy vs authenticity • Expert vs participation and engagement • Word based vs total experience
Ancient Postmodern Worship The Ancient Rediscovered but also Changed… A return to the play of the New Testament Labyrinth, Silence, Icons, Rituals, participation, ordination of all