Does the Liturgy serve a purpose?

[George]

So I pretty much heard one time from someone(not sure if they're on here) that the Liturgy is nothing more than wasted time for those in the pews. And this annoyed me because they came off saying it's a waste of time and everything going on doesn't do anything.

Since it seems to have been an issue with my threads, I'll give my thoughts to make those individuals happy.

I disagree with that individual, specifically because of what the Liturgy is. The Liturgy in Orthodoxy is mostly comprised of Scripture, so right there you have the Word of God in use. Secondly on a personal level, when I go to church when I can, I marvel at the beauty of the Liturgy which in turn only makes me feel closer to God. The words being said and what goes into it is amazing and I say quite fitting for us worshiping God. In the Liturgy at the center is the Eucharist.

So I find it has a purpose, regardless of me growing up in it, I've taken the time to look over how it works and what I believe and I can say it serves a purpose. The purpose of us being able to glorify God in the liturgical manner that combined with the beauty of His House and the service with all it contains, culminates to one thing: Christ is the King, and so it is fitting.

 

[MoreCoffee]

The liturgy is the work of God. It cannot be a waste of time. It is God's doing.

 

[Lamb]

God feeds us throughout the liturgy with His Word. The person who claims it is a waste of time thinks that God's Word is a waste of time and is ineffective.

 

[visionary]

You get what you want out of it.

 

[Lamb]

God's Word is effective, is it not? Does it not strengthen our faith?

 

[George]

God's Word is effective, is it not? Does it not strengthen our faith?

It does. What I mean though is that some Protestants I've heard before is that it's the same stuff over and over and it becomes pattern, while some think its a total waste of time.

 

[Lamb]

It does. What I mean though is that some Protestants I've heard before is that it's the same stuff over and over and it becomes pattern, while some think its a total waste of time.

It's odd to hear Christians say that they wouldn't want to hear God's Word over and over, isn't it? How can that be a waste of time to have God feed us by His Word? They'd rather hear the words of man?

 

[George]

It's odd to hear Christians say that they wouldn't want to hear God's Word over and over, isn't it? How can that be a waste of time to have God feed us by His Word? They'd rather hear the words of man?

Someone said on another forum that it's not Divine(The Divine Liturgy), but rather an unfortunate waste of the congregations time.

 

[Lamb]

Someone said on another forum that it's not Divine(The Divine Liturgy), but rather an unfortunate waste of the congregations time.

Does that person KNOW the liturgy? People like to talk smack about stuff without even knowing what they're talking about.

 

[George]

Does that person KNOW the liturgy? People like to talk smack about stuff without even knowing what they're talking about.

No it was a Baptist who said it.

 

[Lamb]

No it was a Baptist who said it.

Ahh, so because he assumed he knew what he was talking about he chose to gossip and tell lies about what he was told that the liturgy was. I got it. It's easy to fall into that trap for people who are repeating what others have told them but really don't have a clue what they are talking about. The Liturgy is God's Word throughout. It's spoken. It's sung. It's chanted. Perhaps those people who reject the liturgy don't know God's Word when they come across it?

 

[Brighten04]

Ahh, so because he assumed he knew what he was talking about he chose to gossip and tell lies about what he was told that the liturgy was. I got it. It's easy to fall into that trap for people who are repeating what others have told them but really don't have a clue what they are talking about. The Liturgy is God's Word throughout. It's spoken. It's sung. It's chanted. Perhaps those people who reject the liturgy don't know God's Word when they come across it?

It would be better to repeat the liturgy than to repeat gossip.

 

[George]

It would be better to repeat the liturgy than to repeat gossip.

Where is repeated gossip?

 

[Lamb]

It would be better to repeat the liturgy than to repeat gossip.

Yes, exactly! God's Word will not return to Him empty Isaiah 55:11.

 

[visionary]

Ahh, so because he assumed he knew what he was talking about he chose to gossip and tell lies about what he was told that the liturgy was. I got it. It's easy to fall into that trap for people who are repeating what others have told them but really don't have a clue what they are talking about. The Liturgy is God's Word throughout. It's spoken. It's sung. It's chanted. Perhaps those people who reject the liturgy don't know God's Word when they come across it?

It don't think it is the fact that you have a congregation, sing, chant, and repeat it weekly that is the problem. The problem is that it is repetition and without thought for most part. Not only that, the isolated verse choices are few and little venturing out into the whole bible is done. So it becomes its own in and of itself without context.

 

[Lamb]

It don't think it is the fact that you have a congregation, sing, chant, and repeat it weekly that is the problem. The problem is that it is repetition and without thought for most part. Not only that, the isolated verse choices are few and little venturing out into the whole bible is done. So it becomes its own in and of itself without context.

Are you aware of the readings done weekly? They are not the same. Have you investigated this?

 

[visionary]

Are you aware of the readings done weekly? They are not the same. Have you investigated this?

And you will find them on a cycle.

 

[Lamb]

And you will find them on a cycle.

It depends on the lectionary. Add that to the verses already used in the liturgy, the verses that the priest/pastor uses in the homily/sermon, verses used in the hymns and wow, that's a LOT OF GOD speaking to us and teaching us!

 

[visionary]

It depends on the lectionary. Add that to the verses already used in the liturgy, the verses that the priest/pastor uses in the homily/sermon, verses used in the hymns and wow, that's a LOT OF GOD speaking to us and teaching us!

From a personal view point, I would like to clarify that I am not totally against liturgy in congregational settings. It brings harmony, continuity, and a foundation upon which the clergy can preach from. Where I have a problem in it is, the least [liturgy] has become the most for a lot of parishioners.

 

[Lamb]

From a personal view point, I would like to clarify that I am not totally against liturgy in congregational settings. It brings harmony, continuity, and a foundation upon which the clergy can preach from. Where I have a problem in it is, the least [liturgy] has become the most for a lot of parishioners.

How do you mean by your last statement?