Liturgy in the Reformed TraditionThere are many forms of liturgy in the contemporary church, but they are not always critically assessed. Liturgy can be viewed as a sealed encounter in which behind closed doors heaven and earth meet and participate in each other. But it can also be viewed as an exercise in acceptance of the world outside, where critical assessment is neglected in favor of socio-political engagement for what passes as “ethical” on the world stage. But true liturgy, writes Dr. Noordmans, is accomplished in the full consciousness of sin, and the sacrifice by which that sin is dealt with. There can then be no unquestioned acceptance of the world; by the same token, there is no turning away from the world in an otherworldly flight to transcendence. There is only the critical confrontation with ourselves and the world around us, in the liturgy which, as the apostle Paul emphasizes, takes place not behind church walls so much as in the “field of the world” (Matthew 13: 38). The liturgy is restrained by the eschatological realizations of original sin and the death and resurrection of the Savior, as contained in the sacraments. And the Word can then operate in the field of the world as it ought to. Reformed liturgy as it has come down through the ages is, Dr. Noordmans is convinced, a reflection of these realities. And only such a liturgy can do justice to the gospel. |
Contents
Liturgy | 8 |
The Reformation | 21 |
The Presence of God in the Worship Service | 47 |
Liturgy and Life | 69 |
The Essence of the Worship Service | 89 |
Sacrifice and Liturgy | 111 |
| 137 | |
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Aalders Abraham Kuyper already altar apostle Asmussen Augustine Bakhuizen baptism Barth become Blaauw called Calvin celebration ceremonies character Christ Christian church order congregation connection cultic cultus distinction doctrine dogmatic early church ecclesiastical ecumenical epiclesis eschatological essence ethics faith Gentiles God’s gospel Gottesdienst Greek liturgy Handboek heaven Heidelberg Catechism Holy Spirit Ibid incarnation Jesus Kuyper latter Leeuw Liturgical Circle liturgical movement Liturgische liturgists Lord’s Supper Luther manner Mass means ment mission modern liturgical movement mystery mystical Noordmans Onze Eeredienst original sin particular grace pastoral Paul Paul’s praesentia realis prayer preaching presence Protestantism Rapport realistic reality Reformed church Religion religious exercise remains revelation Rietschel Roman Catholic Roman Catholic church Rome sacrifice sense sermon significance sober soul speaks stands Strasbourg theology thereby therein things tion Union for Church University of Groningen urgy whole wishes Word and Sacra Word and Sacrament worship service writes