Worship
Diversity Gets Needed Support
By
David S. Luecke
The appointment of Rev. Michael Zehnder as
National Worship Consultant with the
LCMS
Center
for United States Missions is an important step forward in
supporting the worship life of many congregations.
The reality is that well over half of all LCMS
congregations have some version of contemporary worship in
their regular schedule. Yet they are often on their own to
figure out how to do this well.
A turning point came with the 2004 synodical
Convention’s adoption of Resolution 2-04 To Affirm
Responsible Use of Freedom in Worship. It affirms
diversity and urges development of diverse worship resources.
The
Confessional Principle is Clear
The governing Lutheran principle behind Resolution
2-04 is Article 10 of the Formula of Concord: “We
believe, teach, and confess that the community of God in every
place and at every time has the right, authority, and power to
change, to reduce, or to increase ceremonies according to its
circumstances as long as it does so without frivolity.” The
phrase “We believe, teach, and confess” is the strongest
statement possible for a confessional principle.
Contemporary worship is not a frivolous activity of
some fringe congregations in the Synod. It is well
established. It is time for us to stop fighting over
liturgical OR contemporary and embrace God’s gift of
liturgical AND contemporary worship in our various
congregations.
What
Would Luther Do?
Vilmos Vajta shows how Martin Luther feared widespread
uniformity in worship as well as in church organization. He
saw two dangers. One is legalism, which strikes at the heart
of Lutheranism. The other is failure to adapt to the needs of
those being served.
The Reformation historian E. G. Schwiebert provides an
example of the Reformer’s concerns about worship: “The Deutsche
Messe was regarded by Luther as a kind of colorful Sunday
dress for those not yet strong enough in the faith. In time he
hoped . . . to provide more mature congregations with simple
preaching, prayers and hymn singing.”
Luther would urge 21st Century Lutherans to
be cautious: Don’t ever pin your church identity on external
forms. The substance is the internal change that justification
by grace through faith brings about. Styles and forms change
with the times. Keep focusing on the needs of those who are
being served.
Luther’s view, according to one scholar, is that
neighborly love will call for many changes in forms of
worship, even as a tree sprouts new blooms and fruit every
year.
Much of the material in this article is drawn from the
book, The Other Story of Lutherans at Worship: Reclaiming
Our Heritage of Diversity. Copies can be obtained from the
author at dsluecke@aol.com
