"They Worship the Liturgy"

At Gottesdienst we are familiar with the kind of complaints our adversaries like to level: that we’re legalists or modern-day Pharisees, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. I think of these complaints as indicators of very poor worship practices on the part of those who make them. The easy way for them to deal with our concerns is to resort to ad hominem attacks. Consider and dismiss the source, and you can dismiss the point, no matter how valid it might be, without giving it much thought.

Recently I heard a new variety of this complaint which amused me: “They worship the liturgy.” Translated, this means that we don’t worship God, and therefore one should not be overly concerned about the liturgical concerns of us Gottesdiensters because there is a danger of unbelief and idolatry there.

It’s not only a very shallow way to dismiss our concerns; it’s quite possibly a very tragic really a kind of projecting.

How is attention to worship in a liturgical way a false kind of worship? If it is, does that mean that one must not worship in a liturgical way to be worshiping rightly? Must we be casual? Wear hush puppies? Eschew vestments and wear polo shirts? How far does this go?

How is it idolatrous to bend the knee before Jesus? And if it is, does that mean one must not bend the knee in adoration to be adoring him properly? And if that’s true, does that mean that we must remove our communion rails and begin communing without kneeling at all?

Or how is elevating the Host and Cup a sign of unbelief or false worship? Here’s where it gets really dicey, because some would say it certainly is, and they even point to the Formula of Concord, which says that among the things we condemn is this: “when it is taught that the elements or the visible species or forms of the consecrated bread and wine must be adored.” But if one continues with the words immediately following, there’s this: “However, no one, unless he be an Arian heretic, can and will deny that Christ Himself, true God and man, who is truly and essentially present in the Supper, should be adored in spirit and in truth in the true use of the same, as also in all other places, especially where His congregation is assembled” (FC SD VII: 126). Thus, when we elevate the Host and Cup we are not adoring mere bread and wine, but Christ Himself who is “truly and essentially present” there. In fact, the very same thing can be said about kneeling at the communion rail.

So the more important question is this: What does this say about someone who refuses to adore Christ in the supper? Say, someone who refuses to kneel at the communion rail? After all, we are all kneeling in adoration at the communion rail, are we not?

Question: if you kneel at the communion rail, are you worshiping the liturgy? And if not, then how come we who adore Christ liturgically in the Sacrament are any different? What’s the difference between elevating Host and Cup in adoration and kneeling at the rail in adoration? Isn’t it the same thing?

Or perhaps, dear critic, you hadn’t thought of that. In which case, I’d suggest it’s time you did. And either you join us who are trying to provide helpful rubrics and liturgical instruction on how best to worship the Incarnate One who is present in the liturgy, and in the Supper, or, well, I guess you’d better stop kneeling at the rail. Because, just what do you believe, anyway? Surely you’re no Arian heretic, right?

I suggest you’d better figure this all out before you go making ad hominem accusations. Whom do you worship? And how do you worship him? If you need help with that, we’re only too glad to oblige!