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History of Christian Worship

History of Christian Worship. Rev Dr Stephen Skuce s.skuce@cliffcollege.ac.uk. What is the common feature here?. The Apostolic Age Continuity, but growing discontinuity, with Judaism A Jesus (synagogue, temple feasts) B apostles, early Christians

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History of Christian Worship

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  1. History of Christian Worship Rev Dr Stephen Skuce s.skuce@cliffcollege.ac.uk

  2. What is the common feature here?

  3. The Apostolic Age Continuity, but growing discontinuity, with Judaism A Jesus (synagogue, temple feasts) B apostles, early Christians • worship & prayer in temple (Luke 24:53; Acts 2:46; 3:1) • teaching in temple (Acts 5:21,25,42) • participation in temple rites (Acts 21:26) • teaching in synagogues (Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1-2,10,17; 18:4,19; 19:8)

  4. C Adapted forms of worship 1. House meetings and common meals, probably including the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2: 42-47; 20:6; 1 Cor. 11:26; 16:1-2) 2. Elements: Scripture reading, preaching, singing, prayer, fellowship

  5. The Patristic Period • private, small communities • periodic persecutions and hence eschatological expectations • developing traditions • A lex orandi, lex credenda (“the law of prayer is the law of faith”): expressions of faith often preceded and informed doctrinal formulations for example: praying to Christ (Acts 7:59-60; 2 Cor. 12:8-9), singing His praise (Eph. 5:19; Revel. 5:8-10,13-14), baptizing into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), referring to Him as “Lord” (Romans 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3) • canon of Scripture and creeds formulated (in response to heresies) • growing sacramentalism • conversion of Constantine, leading to “public Christianity” • increased public role of clergy

  6. Codex Sinaiticus, written in Greek in the 4th century

  7. The Middle Ages A rise of priesthood, saints, Mariology B ascendancy of the Mass, decline of preaching C Is this a description of modern cathedral worship? D Development of Orthodox tradition

  8. The Reformation • Reformation of doctrine and worship • Primacy of the Word of God and doctrine • Translation of the Bible into the language of the people • Reaction and over-reaction • Rise of state churches (Catholic, Orthodox (earlier), Lutheran, Reformed) with regional liturgy

  9. The Post-Reformation Period 1 Ascendancy of preaching, decline of worship and the Lord’s Supper 2 Differing views on worship • Normative Principle: whatever is not expressly forbidden in Scripture is allowable (Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans) • Regulative Principle: whatever is not expressly allowed in Scripture is forbidden (Presbyterians, Reformed)

  10. 3 The Enlightenment, rationalism, and theological liberalism 4 The rise of evangelicalism and free churches 5 The reformation of worship 6 Vatican II (Roman Catholic) • Word of God, preaching • mass in the vernacular • Protestants = “errant brethren” 7 Charismatic/Pentecostal worship 8 Alt.worship

  11. Orthodox

  12. Roman Catholic

  13. Methodist

  14. New Frontiers

  15. Quaker

  16. Wainwright and Tuckerfield (eds) Oxford History of Christian Worship(Oxford: OUP, 2005) Look for other works by Geoffrey Wainwright, James White, Susan White

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