Is there an issue with Liturgical worship?

[George]

I've heard some say that Liturgical worship is rather a waste of time and really doesn't allow one to connect.

 

[Lamb]

Those people don't know their bible enough to see the scripture throughout the liturgy (and those who say differently should read my thread on the explanation of the liturgy on this site)

 

[Tigger]

Those people don't know their bible enough to see the scripture throughout the liturgy (and those who say differently should read my thread on the explanation of the liturgy on this site)

^this^

 

[Brighten04]

Sometimes I worship with my Methodist friends and they have a liturgical style of worship. I have no problem with it.

 

[psalms 91]

I go to a Methodist church as well as my non denom church

 

[TurtleHare]

I would like to know as well why people are against having a liturgy? I mean are they against worshiping with God's Word and instead want to make up their own stuff?

 

[psalms 91]

The reason I go to a non denom church is because while there is a certain structure there is also room for a word or some other moving of the spirit and that is what I long to experience

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Those people don't know their bible enough to see the scripture throughout the liturgy (and those who say differently should read my thread on the explanation of the liturgy on this site)

If I came to you with the comment that "liturgy doesn't allow me to connect (even though I might feel different), and you began your answer the way you just did, you would have lost me right there.
I know we are protective of our corner of Christology, but how does that attract one to your position?

 

[Lamb]

Wouldn't it give those people an opportunity to respond and try to prove otherwise?

There are so many anti-liturgical people, but when it comes down to it, they don't realize how scripture-filled it is and there are 2 reasons for that. They don't "see" the scripture that is obviously there or they don't realize that the liturgy is filled with scripture because they've never taken the time to investigate.

 

[Josiah]

I've heard some say that Liturgical worship is rather a waste of time and really doesn't allow one to connect.

I don't think so.

 

[TurtleHare]

I've heard some say that Liturgical worship is rather a waste of time and really doesn't allow one to connect.

How can someone not connect when we grow in faith by hearing God's Word? Who are these people saying these things?

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Wouldn't it give those people an opportunity to respond and try to prove otherwise?

There are so many anti-liturgical people, but when it comes down to it, they don't realize how scripture-filled it is and there are 2 reasons for that. They don't "see" the scripture that is obviously there or they don't realize that the liturgy is filled with scripture because they've never taken the time to investigate.

Problem is, it's in the "trying to prove" that discord comes. Proof and rebuttal gets nowhere for the cause of Christ. Starting with "those people don't know their bible enough..." may result in "I know my bible just fine, thanks very much", and the end of the conversation. It does nothing toward being able to state your case.

 

[Lamb]

Ahh, I see how it could be taken differently than how it was intended. Thanks for that correction.

But now, back to the liturgy and my 2 reasons as to why people are anti-liturgical. I love being in some bible studies with people who are new to the liturgy and we come across scripture in the study and it hits them WOW! There's always a deep appreciation when people can see God's Word in worship. :amen:

 

[George]

Well some say it's a waste of time in that it is the same thing over and over every week and that it loses its meaning but moreso become a routine. I don't think that at all though. :lol:

 

[tango]

I've heard some say that Liturgical worship is rather a waste of time and really doesn't allow one to connect.

Personally I find when something is very formulaic I tend to switch off and effectively go into autopilot, and find myself reciting the words without really thinking about what they mean. When it comes to "the bit where we recite the Creed" so we all stand and recite the exact same thing we've recited every week since, well, forever then it's easy to just go through the motions and not really engage with it.

It's very much a preference issue - presumably there are a lot of people out there who do feel that they can engage with it. I'm just not one of them. That said I wouldn't specifically tell someone they shouldn't be doing it, I would just not choose to do it myself.

 

[tango]

Ahh, I see how it could be taken differently than how it was intended. Thanks for that correction.

But now, back to the liturgy and my 2 reasons as to why people are anti-liturgical. I love being in some bible studies with people who are new to the liturgy and we come across scripture in the study and it hits them WOW! There's always a deep appreciation when people can see God's Word in worship. :amen:

This reminds me of my childhood days when on a Sunday I was dragged to church (my parents went, I was too young to be left home alone, so off to church I went whether I liked it or not). I vaguely recall a chant the church did call the Te Deum, and that it had a long version and a short version. As I grew slightly older I reached a point where I enjoyed the note at the end of the short version that said "The Te Deum may end at this point", although many times for me that was just wishful thinking.

I don't honestly remember the words to the Te Deum any more, but do remember much later in life realising that they were actually very powerful and wondering why they were set to such tragic attempts at music. What I do remember of the church singing the Te Deum was that the words were in the Book of Common Prayer but unless you knew what tune was going to be used you'd have no idea when to change note and whether to shift up or down. A visitor to the church would probably have lost the message of the words while trying to figure out how they were supposed to know the tune that everybody else seemed to know.

 

[Lamb]

Personally I find when something is very formulaic I tend to switch off and effectively go into autopilot, and find myself reciting the words without really thinking about what they mean. When it comes to "the bit where we recite the Creed" so we all stand and recite the exact same thing we've recited every week since, well, forever then it's easy to just go through the motions and not really engage with it.

It's very much a preference issue - presumably there are a lot of people out there who do feel that they can engage with it. I'm just not one of them. That said I wouldn't specifically tell someone they shouldn't be doing it, I would just not choose to do it myself.

My pastor says that when he visits the homebound that rote memory of the liturgy, creed, etc...kicks in and then it all just comes together for the one who can't get out to church. I still remember the slightly different tune of the liturgy of my youth. It's God's Word in song. It's never worthless since God's Word does NOT return to Him empty.

 

[tango]

My pastor says that when he visits the homebound that rote memory of the liturgy, creed, etc...kicks in and then it all just comes together for the one who can't get out to church. I still remember the slightly different tune of the liturgy of my youth. It's God's Word in song. It's never worthless since God's Word does NOT return to Him empty.

As I said, it's a preference thing. Personally I don't see any point in reciting anything, however Scriptural, if I've essentially tuned it out because "this is the bit where we recite the Creed". It's easy to see how it can help some people but personally I find it too formulaic.

 

[Hebrews 11]

Being in the Charismatic movement, it seems to me that a liturgical ceremony would suggest we keep God in a box and let him out for our pleasure.

But on the other side I take part in communion and you would consider that liturgical.

 

[Lamb]

How does having God's Word throughout the service keep God in a box?