Liturgics - 1
Outline of Liturgiology
Ⅰ. Worship
Introduction
Worship studies are one of the practical theology along with preaching, evangelism (missiology), ministry, and counseling.
As a believer, a correct understanding of true worship is necessary for pastors and church members.
It can be said that it is a very good thing that an academic inquiry called liturgy is taking place in order to establish a theological for this.
By all means, liturgy should follow the process of properly studying the true worship of God, organizing it, and applying it to the actual pastoral field.
Ⅰ. Real Existence of worship
1. Meaning of worship
The meaning of the word Worship was originally derived from the Anglo-Saxon language Weorthscipe.
This word was converted into an abstract noun by combining the adjective of Worth (```valued) and the adjective of Ship (identity)), and again called Worship.
That means to ascride worth.
It is generally referred to as the heart of worshiping God, worship, and admiration.
In England, this word was used as an honorific title as your excellency. And in an archaism (very old language), it was used for honor and dignity, making it a noun for a good person.
Ps29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD
in the splendor of his holiness.
like this, worshiping God also means acknowledging the supreme value and dignity of God, and giving the glory worthy of its name (Psalm 29:2).
2. Definition of worship
The definition of worship is the communication and meeting that is beneficial between God and man as the mediator of the Lord Jesus Christ, the basis of God's covenant of grace.
Also, Martin Luther (1483-1546) said of worship, saying, “If you have God, you ought to worship him” (Habere Deumest coiere Deum).
And John Huxtable said, "Christian worship is a dialogue between God and his people."
3. Expression of worship
Worship is an indispensable expression of faith.
The question is how to recognize and express the absolute value of God through the expression, worship.
It is actually expressed through offerings.
Ps 96:8
Offerings are service and gifts, and they are presented in the hope that
God's absolute value is recognized and accepted. Or it means to offer. And we can
see that God wants such an offering.
4. Essence of worship
Fellowship between God and human beings is a personal covenant relationship based on God's self-consciousness and self-determination.
In other words, it means that it is not a natural relationship at all, and in this subjective relationship of God, those who keep God's covenant are given eternal life to allow eternal fellowship.
Originally, worship was actually held between God and man in the Garden of Eden before man fell. In other words, there was worship of communication and meeting.
However, after human beings sinned, the conversation was cut off before God who was flawless, and thus became incompetent beings who could not have fellowship.
Therefore, human beings cannot meet God and come close to God only by their own ability. This is the result of the sin of disobeying God's commands.
However, there is only one way that sinners can come before God, only through the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.
This is not the will of an entirely sinner and incompetent human being,
but a foreknowledge in God's own free will (excellent wisdom that sees through
the reason of things) and love.In other words, God knew and chose man in advance.
And those who have been forgiven of their sins through Jesus Christ
He made them God's people, lived among them, and ultimately led them to heaven so that they could enjoy the blessings of eternal life.
What is Worship?
The blessing of God’s existence and presence must be positively responding and sacrifice through faith, which is the essence of Christian worship.
5. Old Testament worship as a special revelation
Worship in the Old Testament in the Scriptures given to man as a special revelation appears visible. In other words, worship in the Old Testament was held in the tabernacle and temple, and it was said that God is present among those worshiping.
(Ex 25: 8; 25:22; Num 17: 4 )
1) Tabernacle worship
The tabernacle in the Old Testament is said to be a visitor's house, meaning that God is present in the tabernacle and is a place to meet with his people.
(Ps 42:1-4; 42: 2; 42:3; 42:4; 63:1-2; 63: 2).
The structure of the tabernacle is composed of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, and a veil is placed between them.
(Heb 9:1-8; Ex25:10-40).
The reason for this veil is to remember God's presence, believe it, and give glory to that God.
The tabernacle of the Old Testament is a model of Jesus Christ and was fulfilled through Christ in the New Testament.
(Matt 27:51 Matt 1:23 Isa 7:14 John 1:14 ).
Therefore, Jesus Christ is our “true temple”.
(John 10:19-21 John 10:20 John 10:21 Mark 14:58 ).
① Most Holy Place
In the Most Holy Place, there is the ark and symbolizes the presence of a holy God.
In this Most Holy Place, one high priest enters the Atonement Day once in a year and receives atonement for the sins of himself and the believers.
(Heb 9: 7 )
② Holy Place
Priests worships God on behalf of believers by killing unblemished and pure animals to sacrifice sin at the altar.
The incense was maintained by the priest so that it was not always extinguished.
And incense is the purest act of worship as a symbol of prayer today.
6. New Testament worship as a special revelation
The New Testament worship in the Bible, which is a special revelation, represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is offered as a commemorative service, and on the day of the resurrection, the first day of the week, Sunday.
Therefore, the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament have now fulfilled their
mission as a model and shadow of Jesus Christ of the New Testament.
Worship in the New Testament is offered at the church (Ecclesia), which means to gather the people of God. This church in the New Testament is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23), the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16),
and the temple of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6:19) and God's house (1 Tim. 3:16).
Eph1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
1Corin 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1Co6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1Tim3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in
a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
In fact, worship in the New Testament church has the same spiritual truths as temple worship in the Old Testament era, such as the work of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God and fellowship with believers, and the service and offerings of believers.
The relationship between the kingdom of God and the church is the same in that it is the rule of Christ and worship of God.
And in the qualifications to which it belongs, since regenerates belong, it is the same in the sense of an intangible church.
Also, the kingdom of God is originally an eschatological concept.
Therefore, worship in the New Testament church can be thought of as a model of the kingdom of God completed at the end, and thus has an eschatological meaning.
In addition, as the kingdom of God means the present heaven, Christians are those who possess heaven in the present.
In other words, even today, at this time, the place where you have fellowship with God on the street, at home, or at work becomes the kingdom of God.
In worship, God is present among God's people, God's people commune with God in Jesus Christ, the mediator, and have that sacred encounter.
Therefore, the blessing of the kingdom of God can only be experienced through worship.
God's presence in worship is distinguished from God's ubiquity (distributed throughout) and can be said to be the presence of special revelation.
In other words, it can be called the presence of Christ.
The presence of Christ is the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Word, which most clearly represents the presence of Christ by the preaching of the Word and the
sacrament meeting.
7. Element of worship
Worship is a sacred fellowship between God and man in Christ.
It is an intimate meeting. There are two inevitable factors here.
① The divine element
As a divine part of worship, it refers to the coming of God to each believer as the word. These include reading the Bible, sermons, rites, and benedictions.
② Church elements
As an ecclesial part of worship, each believer turns toward God to responding with faith. These include prayers, hymns, and offerings.
③ The above two elements have important meanings in worship, allowing worshipers to experience passive work from God by listening to the Word, and to experience active work by the worshiper himself responding to the Word of God.
It is important for believers to attend the worship service and achieve this kind of work of both sides.
8. Purpose of worship
The apostle Paul said that the purpose of worship is to enhance the virtue of the church.
(1Corin 14:3-5,
1Corin14:4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
1Corin 14:5, I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
1Cor 14: 26, Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
Eph 4:11-16 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
(Eph 4:12 - 16)
In the reformist churches including Calvinism, the purpose of worship was called “for the glory of God”.
Luther described the purpose of worship asconversion of sinnersorpublic education.
On the other hand, the devotees, whom we should be careful of, call the purpose of worship is the fellowship of saints.
As we have seen above, the true purpose of worship is that through worship, the purpose should be for the glory of God, the completion of the saints, and the conversion of sinners.