http://bensternke.com/2007/01/liturgical-theology-9-is-liturgy-stifling/ field notes from the missional church planting frontier Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:43:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://bensternke.com/2007/01/liturgical-theology-9-is-liturgy-stifling/comment-page-1/#comment-595 Benjamin Sternke Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:29:04 +0000 http://bensternke.com/?p=291#comment-595 Thanks for the comment, Nathan. Having been part of meetings that did go a long time, I know it's a tricky thing. Sometimes there's an "anointing" for those kinds of meetings, and nobody really wants to go anywhere... but the temptation is to try to "drum up" some of that kind of enthusiasm next time, or risk feeling like the meeting was a failure. I think that's part of what the liturgy saves us from - while there's room for charismatic elements and experimentation, you come back to the solid ground of this normative response to God in worship. There really is an order to it, a rhythm, a drama with movement through a storyline, and if we just think we can do anything we like with a church service, very often we find ourselves figuring out that those who wrote the old prayers and liturgies knew more than we give them credit for. Good word, though - making room for God's surprises can be inconvenient, and we have to be ready for it. Thanks for the comment, Nathan. Having been part of meetings that did go a long time, I know it’s a tricky thing. Sometimes there’s an “anointing” for those kinds of meetings, and nobody really wants to go anywhere… but the temptation is to try to “drum up” some of that kind of enthusiasm next time, or risk feeling like the meeting was a failure.
I think that’s part of what the liturgy saves us from – while there’s room for charismatic elements and experimentation, you come back to the solid ground of this normative response to God in worship. There really is an order to it, a rhythm, a drama with movement through a storyline, and if we just think we can do anything we like with a church service, very often we find ourselves figuring out that those who wrote the old prayers and liturgies knew more than we give them credit for.
Good word, though – making room for God’s surprises can be inconvenient, and we have to be ready for it.

]]> http://bensternke.com/2007/01/liturgical-theology-9-is-liturgy-stifling/comment-page-1/#comment-594 Nathan Kipfer Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:02:53 +0000 http://bensternke.com/?p=291#comment-594 In response to the question whether or not liturgy gives enough space for the Holy Spirit to work, I have a few thoughts. First, the Holy Spirit is more than able to work within liturgy and the organization and pattern of services, and obviously He does work in the liturgy work with now. However, I can't help but wonder if there wasn't an hour and a half time limit on our liturgical services what would happen. What if we were willing to be in church until 2:00, or 3:00? Of course, if most churches tried to pull that off, half the people would be mad because their roast would be dried out in the oven by the time they got home because they were planning to be home at 12:30. It's hard to be flexible with time in our scheduled lives. Perhaps there is a place for both, but can both work together? Are they supposed to be grouped together? Are the services in the western church allowing for everything that God intends the church to be about? My conclusion?----There is and should be a place for both. How to make it work and play out in real life?----That'll take some creativity. In response to the question whether or not liturgy gives enough space for the Holy Spirit to work, I have a few thoughts. First, the Holy Spirit is more than able to work within liturgy and the organization and pattern of services, and obviously He does work in the liturgy work with now. However, I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t an hour and a half time limit on our liturgical services what would happen. What if we were willing to be in church until 2:00, or 3:00? Of course, if most churches tried to pull that off, half the people would be mad because their roast would be dried out in the oven by the time they got home because they were planning to be home at 12:30. It’s hard to be flexible with time in our scheduled lives. Perhaps there is a place for both, but can both work together? Are they supposed to be grouped together? Are the services in the western church allowing for everything that God intends the church to be about? My conclusion?—-There is and should be a place for both. How to make it work and play out in real life?—-That’ll take some creativity.

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