We worship best when we say back to God the words which He has given us to say, thus as we look at the liturgy, with its roots back in the first century of the Church (and this author believes has its roots in the ceremonial laws given in Leviticus, but in a fulfilled form), it is permeated with the Word of God which pastor and congregation speak back to one another and to God. The worship service, which is rightly called the Divine Service, is first and foremost God coming to His people, through the means of grace to pour out on them all the good gifts and blessings He has to give. Thus, the Divine Service follows the faith (beliefs, teachings and confession) of the Christian Church, thus we worship as we believe and so we believe as we worship. The service is pedagogical as well as spiritual.
The hymnal is not a German, classical, set in time work, rather, as one looks at the hymnal one will make note that the hymns span many centuries and many ethnicities. Thus, the hymnal transcends time and culture. It is its own genre so that one puts aside their favorite type of music in order to worship God in the way He would have us to worship, being given the gifts He has to give through the means He gives (especially as we are reminded of our Baptism, as we confess and are forgiven, as we hear God’s Word read and expounded and as we are given His body and blood in His Holy Supper).
The hymnal is also a tool for use at home as well. The various devotional services included are designed for family and personal devotions and as opportunities to be given more of the gifts of God. We rejoice in this wonderful resource called the Lutheran Service Book because it teaches us as well as gives to us the gifts of God.
51 of 52 © Rev. Dr. Ronald A. Bogs (2018)
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