Forming Worship: An Outline of Liturgical History (In Brief)

Corporate Worship In The OT and NT Comparison

Old Testament (Law)

• Prescribed Order (Ex. 21-40, Lev. & Deut)
• Prescribed Place (Tent of Mtg, Tabernacle, Temple)
• Prescribed Liturgy (Torah)
• Prescribed Offerings (Lev, Num) Grace Filled Offerings (Acts 2:44)
• Motive then Method (Lev. 10)
• Forgiveness through Priestly Intercession (Lev. 23)
• Praise through sacrifice (Gen. 22:13)
• Glory displayed through wondrous acts (Red Sea, Mt. Carmel, Miracles of Christ, Early Church)
• Grace for the Humble (Job 22:29)
• God’s presence feared (Ps. 89:7, Ps. 96:4)

New Testament (Grace)

• Orderly (1 Cor. 11-14)
• Where Christ is Present (Heb. 9:1-23, John 4)
• Prescribed Liberty (Luke 4:18)
• Motive over Method (1 Cor. 13, Mat 22:37)
• Forgiveness directly from Christ (1 Jn 1:9)
• Praise in response to sacrifice (Rom. 8:32)
• Glory celebrated through resurrection (Phil 3:10)
• Grace for the Humble (Jas 4:6, 1 Ptr 5:5)
• Conviction through HS (John 16:8, 1 Cor. 2:10)

Elements of Worship In Hebrew Synagogue

Take a look at this rough outline of worship in the synagogue.  Look for the influences upon our worship services today.

• The Call To Worship – A Psalm or blessing that called people to see God’s glory.
• Affirmation of Faith (Creeds) – recitation of Shema (Deut. 6:4-9) or the like.
• Reading / Exposition of Scripture – Teaching from Torah / Prophets
• Rituals – Circumcision, Dedications, Cleansing, Passover Meal, other
• Prayer / Praise – Thanksgiving, Intercession, Petition
• Confession – Private and public confession of sin.
• The Amen (Agreement) – May be song or verbal ascent of agreement in unity.
• Fellowship Meal (Agape Meal in early church)

Early Church Would Add

• Eucharist (Lord’s Supper, Communion)

* This may have varied in order some based on practical elements.
** Synagogue worship was simple but known to be long.  A few hours was not uncommon.
*** Adapted and expanded from W.O.E Oesterly via Andrew Hill in Enter His Courts With Praise. p.232
**** This form was the basis for NT worship and evolved as church developed.

Early Church References To Worship Gathering

90 AD “But every Lord’s day, do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord” [Matt. 5:23-24] (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Chap. 14:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, page 381).

90 AD “On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, that is, the Lord’s day, assemble yourselves together, without fail, giving thanks to God, and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ, and has delivered you from ignorance, error, and bondage, that your sacrifice may be unspotted, and acceptable to God, who has said concerning His universal Church: “In every place shall incense and a pure sacrifice be offered unto me; for I am a great King, saith the Lord Almighty, and my name is wonderful among the heathen” [Malachi 1:11, 14] (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 471).

*Though there is no direct discussion of music in these quotes.  Music and singing in particular was a significant part of the early church worship.  (Col. 3:16)

Development of Catholic Church Liturgy

Mass – 7th Century On
As years progressed the worship of the early church took a more formal approach.  Some of this was born out of the public acceptance of Christianity in the Roman world (Edict of Milan, Constantine 313 AD).  After the fall of the Roman empire (476 AD approximately), The church remained influential and the development of liturgy and practice of worship adapted toward the ritual we know as Mass today.  It should be noted that the Eastern Orthodox Church which split from Roman Catholicism (1204 AD) has very similar but variances on the mass.

Definition: Mass comes from the word (Missah in Hebrew, roughly translated “assembly”)
The modern mass is strongly similar to what it was thirteen centuries prior under Pope Gregory.

There are two parts to the Catholic Mass

1. The Liturgy of the Word
2. The Liturgy of the Eucharist (Communion)

Below is what is called the Ordinary of the Mass.  These are the non-changing musical elements they are present at any and all celebrations.  The Gloria and Alleluia are typically exchanged or dropped during Lent. (40 Days leading up to Good Friday)

• Kyrie eleison (“Lord, have mercy”)
• Gloria (“Glory to God in the highest”)
• Credo (“I believe in one God”), the Nicene Creed
• Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”), the second part of which, beginning with the word
• “Benedictus” (“Blessed is he”), was often sung separately after the consecration, if the setting was long. (See Benedictus for other chants beginning with that word.)
• Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”)

The Proper of the Mass were elements that would change in format based on need and/or the type of mass. Typically these would not be musical elements but in some cases they would be ie. Requiem Mass (Mass for the Dead)

• Introit
• Gradual
• Alleluia or Tract
• Sequence
• Offertory
• Eucharist (Communion)

Protestant Reformation to Modern Day

Through the middle ages, worship in the Catholic Church was for many a ritual that was designed to be observed more than participate, to be received more than contributed, and in many cases used people’s fears and emotions to drive them to certain acts, deeds and offerings.

As the reformation and renaissance period began to take hold, congregations began to posses their worship more intimately.  Luther pioneered having the Scriptures translated and preaching in German thereby giving them access to the Word of God. He also gave them the gift of congregational participation (Music and other elements were all performed by church leadership in RCC at that time.)

At this point more diversity appeared in how congregations celebrated.  Lutheran’s stayed closely tied to the Mass (a part from the fore-mentioned) though making room for songs of human composure or Hymns. Luther wrote hymns himself, most notably A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.   Zwingli and Calvin made great use of the Psalms and published what is known as likely the first Hymn book “Genevan Psalter”.

The next 500 years would see the most development and functional change in worship the church had ever seen.  As corporate worship became indigenous to the culture in which located, diversity grew in both style and format.  Prior to the reformation the Roman Catholic mass was performed in latin exclusively. Parenthetically, this changed after 2nd Vatican Council 1967.  History records that there were other groups of believers not associated with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox but the majority of Christendom was under the influence of the Catholic Church in some way.

As Protestantism developed, a host of new music and worship evolution took place.  There were two primary schools of thought on worship form.  The Normative Principle and the Regulatory Principle.  In brief, one was a proponent of liberty in worship form (Normative) and one was more conservative and formalized in their liturgy (Regulatory).  For example, Southern Baptists would be more likely to be Normative in form and most Presbyterians would have some form of regulatory principle as their basis for worship.

Here are a few of the changes born out of the reformation:

1. Hymns (Songs of Human composure) took prominence.
2. Spread of use of musical instruments (Organ invented in 1250 AD approx.)
3. Bible became accessible outside of clergy. (1454-55 AD)
4. Worshipers became more involved and integral in participation in worship.
5. Some liberty in worship form emerged from the strict formula of the Mass.
6. The protestant church became like the early church, being an underground movement which effected the practical elements of their worship.  Therefore some traditions were developed out of desire and some from necessity.
7. Involvement of laity in elements of worship, prayer, offering, reading.

 Modern Worship Forms (Western Culture)

Here is an over-simplified attempt at describing differing expressions or liturgies that we typically see today in our western culture.

*Note:  Every church is liturgical.  Liturgy is simply the order which things happen.  We tend to relegate liturgical to more traditional worship settings. Also, hymns are simply songs of human composure (though they do have some musical uniqueness), and like liturgy we tend to relegate them songs produced during a certain time period. (1500’s – 1960’s)

Formal (Sometimes called Liturgical)

• Would consist of a form (worship order) that does not vary.
• Would likely to commemorate the Church Calendar (Liturgical Calendar).
• Likely be more stoic than expressive (There are exceptions).
• Likely to celebrate communion with great frequency.  (Possibly weekly/daily)
• Would most likely gravitate toward classical styled music (1600’s-1900’s)
• Would be likely to use piano, organ, and other orchestral instruments
• Would likely utilize a choir in their regular worship meetings.
• Preaching would be more likely to be homilies or topical, could be based on set calendar.
• Examples include:  Roman Catholic, Anglican/Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, and some Southern Baptists.

Free

• Would consist of a form (worship order) that can vary.
• Likely not to commemorate the Church Calendar (Liturgical Calendar) strictly.
• Can be stoic and expressive (depends on congregation).
• Likely to celebrate communion regularly at their discretion.
• Would most likely gravitate toward music that fits their culture and tradition. (not necessarily modern music)
• Would be likely to use a variety of instrumentation based on availability and tradition.
• Would likely use ensembles in their meetings.  Choir, Vocal Team, Solos etc.
• Sermons would be either expositional or topical, but based on Scripture.
• Worship may include a time of response or “invitation” for salvation.
• Denominations could include: Presbyterian, Methodist, Free Will Baptist, Non-Denominational, Cumberland Presbyterian, Evangelical Methodist, Southern Baptist, General Baptists, and more.

Emergent/Vintage

• Would be like free in many ways.
• Would likely be more iconic and ritually driven in their liturgy (like Formal)
• Would make use of modern expressions musically.
• Likely be band driven or simple in their musical compliment.
• Tend to be more expressive.
• Would likely not use ensembles such as choirs.
• Would be more likely to utilize creeds, confessions, readings and other elements from Liturgical Calendar
• Would make use of lighting and atmosphere.
• Preaching is likely expositional in nature
• May celebrate the ordinances with greater regularity than Free.
• Examples include: Sojourn Church, Acts 29 Network, Sovereign Grace, and some Vineyard Churches.

Seeker Sensitive/Seeker Driven

• Would be like free in many ways.
• Preaching would be centered on needs and less on exposition.
• Music could be secular or sacred, but nearly always contemporary in style
• Order of worship will be widely varied and expressive.
• Can have a tendency toward emotional expressions in worship.
• Examples include: Willow Creek Church – Chicago, Saddleback Church- Anaheim,

Fundamental

• Would be like free in some ways.
• Emphasis would be on order and controlled expressions
• In many cases music could be minimized or would remove instruments.
• Teaching would tend to lean on moralistic teachings from Scripture. (Generalization)
• Examples include: Church Of Christ, Independent Baptist

Charismatic/Pentecostal

• Free worship in form.
• Emphasis emotional involvement, social issues, and morals.
• Emphasis on work of the Holy Spirit and evidences of that work.
• Music is most often contemporary, though vary in variety of that genre.
• Services can be longer than average
• Can involve, healing, slaying in the spirit, speaking in tongues, prophetic utterances.
• Examples include: AME, Church of God, Holiness, Pentecostal

Trivia About Worship

• Philippians 2:6-11 is believed to be an early hymn sung by the church.
• The use of percussion in worship is more “biblical” than the use of an organ. (See Ps 81:2, 149:3,150:4-5.  We can argue their missional fit, but we can’t argue bible.
• The piano was not readily accepted in worship at first, it was seen to be a “profane” instrument crude and harsh.
• We do not sing a single song that Jesus sang.
• Many of the hymns we know as traditional songs were not accepted in the day they were written.  (Example: Isaac Watts, was known as the renegade preacher he wrote When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.)
• Many of the hymns we sing today were originally sung to different tunes (Amazing Grace is an example)
• In the early 1900’s a group of songs began to be written for children called, Sunday School songs.  These would not have been done in worship as they were considered juvenile. They would include hymns such as: What a Friend we have In Jesus, He Leadeth Me, Sweet Hour Of Prayer.
• In 2006 Contemporary Christian Music became a 1 billion dollar industry.  Selling more than Jazz and Classical combined. This may or may not be a good thing.
• Each year there are hundreds of songs written for “worship”.  Yet, the average church does 4 songs per service.  At 52 weeks (including seasonal music) that only 208 possible songs per year.  In other words, you could do all new songs every week for an entire year and never repeat a single song.