Nov 05 2009
Why Liturgy?
Apropos the post below and the linked article, one of the things I dislike the most in arguments over the superiority/necessity of liturgy over and against non-liturgical or mega-church types is the crutch-like reliance on tradition.
What?! Mark, are you saying tradition doesn’t matter?!
Well, no. Obviously. I definitely think that the long and rich history of liturgical worship (and yes, I’m aware how many different things that includes) gives it significant weight. Even the mere existence of something for 2,000 years creates in anyone wishing to overturn or ignore it an obligation to give an accounting.
That being said, saying that liturgy is better because it’s older is lazy. Why can’t we talk about why liturgy is objectively excellent, beautiful, and conducive to deeper faith?
(CC) 2010
Well, for one thing, it depends on what you mean by “tradition”, or even, “Tradition”.
The argument will often rest on historicity because the first Christians, as hellenized Jews well-versed in the synagogue worship of the day, would have worshipped “liturgically”. That is, with order, psalms, a cantor, readings, etc. Christianity is inherently historical; therefore historical arguments will likely always hold the greatest sway.
Aesthetic considerations are also important, but what’s really important is to know the best form of worship. What’s the best way to encourage true *prayer* and the experience of God? This is obviously a difficult question to answer on one’s own, so reliance on an inheritance or tradition of some sort is necessary.
If you have a conception of “Tradition” as sacred, as the entire day-to-day life of the Church protected and guided by the Holy Spirit, and therefore as something you can rely upon, then suddenly issues of liturgy become something you don’t need to worry about. You just inherit, and pray, and let the Tradition work on you and change you. Optimally, the Tradition has become developed enough that it’s an entire school of theology – liturgy becomes the place you learn the Faith, how to pray, and what to believe, all in one place. A one-stop shop, if you will.
My favorite Russian bishop explains the idea pretty well in this talk: http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/12/1.aspx
Also, what everyone forgets, is that even “non-liturgical” churches are liturgical. The pastor has certain accepted ways of doing things, certain ways of speaking, everyone knows when certain things happen in a service. That the service is disjointed and awkward is unfortunate, but it’s still “liturgy”. It’s simply a deprived liturgy.