Theology and Practice of Worship

What Is Worship ???

What Is Worship?

Christian worship -- actually all worship -- occurs in time and space

Its content, practice, and meaning are influenced by the world, situation, and people
around it

Therefore, the same event / action / sight / sound / smell can have different
meanings at different times and places

Especially if separated by geography, time, past history, current events

And different events / actions / sights / sounds / smells can have the same meaning in
different times and places

That is because worship, besides being a theological expression, is both a cultural

activity and a cultural event

Look at what that means

Start With the One Being Worshiped

Leads discussion to the one or ones being worshiped

Concept of who or what is being worshiped greatly influences worship itself

What is the perceived character of the god(s) -- benevolent, malevolent, capricious,

consistent

What must be done to gain the god's or spirit's favor, or at least influence him / her

Does the god / spirit even care about people, and if so, how, or did they somehow just
wander into his / her / its domain

How are the gods or spirits related to one another

All of these and more influence the purpose of worship

Because worship is essentially the acting out of a relationship between the

worshiper or worshipers and the one or ones worshiped

The Worshiper

Historically, worship has often been a community event or activity

Certainly, throughout history often find examples of individual worship

But probably even more often find examples of a worshiping community

Or of the leader of a community leading the members in worship

Leaders, or specially appointed or trained people, may act as intermediaries

Representatives of the individual

Representatives of the community

Representatives of the one being worshiped

Or at least lead the worshipers through their worship, so it will be appropriate and accepted

But again, important element is relationship between the worshiper(s) and the
worshiped

Sounds Like A Discussion of World View

Weltanschaung first used by Kant (1724-1804), taken up by Hegel (1770-1831),

and popularized in the 19th century

James Sire, The Universe Next Door, (1st ed. 1978) 5th ed. Downers Grove , IL:
Intervarsity Press: 2009. Translated into over 20 languages

One of the great 20th'century Christian works on the concept of worldview

A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be

expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true,
partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously,
consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that
provided the foundation on which we live and move and have our being. 5th ed., p.20

Sire's categories: prime reality (God), external reality(the world), humanity, death,
knowledge (truth), morality, history

One's worldview determines how the events and circumstances of life will be
understood and acted upon

Simplified presentation of world view categories and concepts

REALITY

Naturalism
Atheism;
Agnosticism;
Existentialism

Pantheism
Hinduism; Taoism;
Buddhism; much
New Age
Consciousness

Theism
Christianity;
Islam; Judaism

Spiritism and
Polytheism
Thousands of
Religions

Postmodernism

MAN

TRUTH

VALUES

The material universe is all

that exists. Reality is "onedimensional." There is no
such thing as a soul or a
spirit. Everything can be
explained on the basis of
natural law.

Man is the chance product of a

biological process of evolution.
Man is entirely material. The
human species will one day
pass out of existence.

Truth is usually understood as

scientific proof. Only that which
can be observed with the five
senses is accepted as real or
true.

No objective values or morals exist.

Morals are individual preferences or
socially useful behaviors. Even
social morals are subject to
evolution and change.

Only the spiritual dimension

exists. All else is illusion,
maya. Spiritual reality,
Brahman, is eternal,
impersonal, and unknowable.
It is possible to say that
everything is a part of God,
or that God is in everything
and everyone.

Man is one with ultimate reality.

Thus man is spiritual, eternal,
and impersonal. Mans belief
that he is an individual is
illusion.

Truth is an experience of unity

with "the oneness" of the
universe. Truth is beyond all
rational description. Rational
thought as it is understood in
the West cannot show us
reality.

Because ultimate reality is

impersonal, many pantheistic
thinkers believe that there is no real
distinction between good and evil.
Instead, "unenlightened" behavior is
that which fails to understand
essential unity.

An infinite, personal God

exists. He created a finite,
material world. Reality is both
material and spiritual. The
universe as we know it had a
beginning and will have an
end.

Humankind is the unique

creation of God. People were
created "in the image of God,"
which means that we are
personal, eternal, spiritual, and
biological.

Truth about God is known

through revelation. Truth about
the material world is gained via
revelation and the five senses
in conjunction with rational
thought.

Moral values are the objective

expression of an absolute moral
being.

The world is populated by

spirit beings who govern
what goes on. Gods and
demons are the real reason
behind "natural" events.
Material things are real, but
they have spirits associated
with them and, therefore, can
be interpreted spiritually.

Man is a creation of the gods

like the rest of the creatures on
earth. Often, tribes or races
have a special relationship with
some gods who protect them
and can punish them.

Truth about the natural world is

discovered through the
shaman figure who has visions
telling him what the gods and
demons are doing and how
they feel.

Moral values take the form of

taboos, which are things that irritate
or anger various spirits. These
taboos are different from the idea of
"good and evil" because it is just as
important to avoid irritating evil
spirits as it is good ones.

Reality must be interpreted

through our language and
cultural "paradigm."
Therefore, reality is "socially
constructed."

Humans are nodes in a cultural

reality they are a product of
their social setting. The idea
that people are autonomous
and free is a myth.

Truths are mental constructs

meaningful to individuals within
a particular cultural paradigm.
They do not apply to other
paradigms. Truth is relative to
ones culture.

Values are part of our social

paradigms as well. Tolerance,
freedom of expression, inclusion,
and refusal to claim to have the
answers are the only universal
values.

This chart is adapted from Christianity: The Faith That Makes Sense by Dennis McCallum (Tyndale)

Relationship Between Worldview and Worship

An individual's or a society's worship is not only shaped by what we would call their
theology, but also by their general world view

And although the fundamental core core of a basic category of world view e.g.,
biblical world view may remain somewhat consistent over time, details do not

In fact, details vary greatly -- not surprising, because details affected by culture

To say this a different way -- worship occurs in a context

A context shaped by both

Worldview

Theology

Biblical Concept of Context

Students of biblical studies should be familiar with the concept of context.

Understanding a biblical passage requires more than just a knowledge of the

vocabulary and grammar of biblical languages, though that is essential

But beyond those is the context

Often think of both a literary context and an historical context, although in practice
are many nuances

Literary context -- genre, but also structure, style

Historical context: author, occasion, readers, etc.

In worship, the two fundamental (and somewhat analogous) ingredients of

context are:

Theology

World view / culture

Toward a Theology of Worship

Suggest that for worship, the most important (although not the only important)
elements of world view that influence how we worship are:

Concept of God

Concept of humanity / the individual

Concept of community particularly, the worshiping community

To understand a theology or theologies of worship

Understanding and content of these theologies have changed throughout time and
place, as has human culture

We need first to understand theologies of God, God's people, and the individual

And they may differ considerably, from place to place, even at the same time period

BUT theology can (and should) transcend culture

For example God does not change, but expressions of worship might

Toward a Theology of Worship

Since worship is both a cultural and theological event, our study of worship is not
a search for the earliest, purest, or best liturgy or music in contrary to study of
the biblical text

Fundamental truths may not have changed, but they way they are expressed may be quite
different

If worship really is a response to God by both the worshiping community and the
individual worship that takes place in time and space (context) then
To develop a theology and practice of worship for today

Must first to develop a theology of God, God's people, and the individual, and how they
are related in this thing we call worship particularly in corporate worship

Put that theology and message into practice in our own culture and context

What fundamental truths about Christian worship should be consistent through all time

The message does not change, the methods (or style) do

Can learn a great deal through history (although not to try to figure out who is 'right' )

Agenda

Theology and practice of worship in the past

In the OT God, individual, worshiping community

In the NT constituent elements of worship and worship practice

In the early church growth of practices, liturgies, creeds

Through major eras of church history

As expression of major doctrines of the church

Theology and practice of worship today

An expression of the New Covenant in today's cultures

Practical considerations

Theology and practice of worship in the future Revelation