"The Church as an Institution for Faith" by Travis Berg
Note: This blogpost was written by the Rev. Travis Berg
Sometimes, I read a statement that I already knew and believed but because it was written so eloquently and forcefully that it sticks with me. Recently, I have been reading Grundsätze Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenverfassung by Johann Hoefling. Hoefling is a man that might confuse the listeners and editors of Gottesdienst. On the one hand, Hoefling was the father of the liturgical restoration in Bavaria and his influence is still felt in the church today. For his work on baptism and the liturgy, we rightly lionize him. On the other hand, many may question and critique Hoefling’s stance on church and ministry. People, especially theologians, are a mixed bag.
The statement that really struck me was this: “[The church] is, at the same time, both a gathering of believers as well as an institution for creating and nourishing faith.” I always believed it, but I’m not sure that I ever would have put it together so cleanly and beautifully.
Hoefling’s statement shows the error in many American congregations today. They rightly believe that the congregation is the gathering of believers, but they do not teach or practice that the church is also an institution for the propagation of the Christian Faith. Just take a look at what they do and how they live. In order to rightly praise God through revivalist or “contemporary” praise songs, you already need to be a Christian so that you can fill in the blanks! The screens are only good for those who can read and sing; screens are not beneficial to the illiterate, the young, or the aged. And the entire church service is built around the tastes and desires of adults, while the children are carted off to “children’s church.” “Nondenominational” congregations, while touted as transcending myopic confessional borders, is supremely sectarian: they have cut themselves off, not only from the present but also from our past.
The church as an institution of faith doesn’t only revolve around Sunday School or the Catechism class. This is the reason for ceremonies. “[C]eremonies, however, ought to be observed both to teach men Scripture, and that those admonished by the Word may conceive faith and fear [of God, and obtain comfort], and thus also may pray (for these are the designs of ceremonies)” (Ap 24:3).
Our Fathers “observed human rites for the sake of bodily advantage, that the people might know at what time they should assemble; that, for the sake of example all things in the churches might be done in order and becomingly; lastly, that the common people might receive a sort of training. For the distinctions of times and the variety of rites are of service in admonishing the common people” (Ap 15:20).
This is why we ought to use one divine service. We use it so that both the very young and the very old might sing the same words together in the one Faith. In my congregation, four- and five-year-old children sing along with the eighty- and ninety-year-old members. Both are edified thereby. This is why we choose doctrinally pure hymns. If hymns are not for teaching the Faith, then what are they for? Tickling the flesh? This is why we teach the very young to cross themselves when they are afraid, so that they might learn to call upon Jesus in every trouble. This is why we use the historic lectionary, which is easily digestible by our members. At the same time, the historic lectionary teaches the people the whole council of God.
The church is, at the same time, both a gathering of believers as well as an institution for creating and nourishing faith. May God continue to bless the effort to restore godly ceremonies, which aid in teaching men Scripture.