A local Catholic chiropractor buys magazines for YMCA, and one that he buys is Christianity Today. I tend to read it while Jennifer is finishing up her shower. The other day I read a letter from the July 2008 issue that claimed that Christianity Today was overemphasizing liturgical worship. The writer was convinced (and probably right) that most evangelicals are not particularly interested in liturgical worship, and that Christianity Today is devoting way too much time to this type of worship. However, what I found interesting was the way in which the letter was worded. It said something to the effect that “maybe we don’t want to worship the way the early Church did.”
I guess this demonstrates why I am Catholic. Notice that this reader is quite willing to affirm that the ancient Church didn’t worship the way his church does. However, this doesn’t bother him. Basically it looks like this: the early Church worshiped one way, but we worship our new way. This is where I am much different from this writer. When I was reading the Fathers as an evangelical, and studying ancient languages and worship, I was bothered by the fact that what I believed and the way I worshiped was so removed from what the early Church believed and the way they worshiped. I could not say “the early church did it this way, but we do it this way” as if it was a good, or even acceptable, thing. In fact, I did utter those words from time-to-time, but it was to encourage my fellow evangelicals to examine our beliefs and worship in light of early Christian worship.
I honestly believe that evangelicals that believe that proudly going against the early Church is wrong will eventually either be Catholic or Orthodox, or perhaps Anglican or Lutheran. It is very difficult to immerse yourself in reading about ancient Christian worship, and then attend a church that knowingly and proudly worships much differently.
David Bennett
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Also, if God is unchanging, why then would we no longer worship with liturgy and ritual? Where is the incense, priests, robes, chalices, sacrifice, chanting, proclamation of God’s Word as Jesus Himself did and proclaimed the reading fulfilled.
The Israelites/Jews worshiped as God had commanded them; so do we Catholics–in the manner as fulfilled by Jesus the Christ Himself.
Excellent post, David. The ancient quality of the Church is what kept me Catholic.
Sure, it’s the Protestant Priniciple…”I did it MY way.” Which is why I’m Catholic.
I agree with Robin, until Evangelicals embrace liturgical practices, their attempt to copy the Early Church in worship is laughable.
Well said. Now, if only many of our priests and bishops would seek to worship the way the Church worshiped…
Owen, AMEN.
While the Mass can and does change organically over time, what never changes is the doctrines and beliefs of the Catholic religion. Our beliefs today are the same as the Apostles and the early Church Fathers. To believe otherwise is heretical. It is true, though, that the style of worship affects our devotion and piety. This is known as lex orandi lex credendi; or, the law of prayer is the law of belief. The way we worship is the way we live, and the last four decades have failed us miserably in this regard.
I may be one of those Protestants to which you refer. I consider myself (trying) to be an orthodox Protestant, a (if you’ll forgive the term) “closet Catholic.” The liturgy is one of many things that calls to me from the Catholic Church.
Came across your blog this evening. Looking forward to reading it more in depth.
Eutychus,
Glad to have you as a reader! Please come back, and we’ll check out your blog too.