Articles
Living Liturgy
A few years ago a friend mentioned that the religious group where his wife attends was changing their liturgy. What is a liturgy? Webster’s dictionary says the word means:
1) a form of public worship; ritual,
2) collection of formularies for public worship,
3) a particular arrangement of services.
The word comes from the Greek word leitourgia. A definition from Strong’s Greek dictionary says it is “a public function (as priest [“liturgy”] or almsgiver): - ministration, service.”
It is interesting to see how the word is used in the New Testament text (underlined below):
And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. (Luke 1:23 ASV)
For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; (2Cor 9:12)
Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all: (Philippians 2:17)
Because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me. (Philippians 2:30)
But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. (Hebrews 9:21)
The examples show that the word liturgy described an act or service rendered unto God or man or both. Only Hebrews 9:21 makes reference to liturgy in the context of a rite or ritual - the items sprinkled with blood as per the Old Covenant – which things have been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
We don’t use liturgy to describe the order of activities within our assemblies because the New Testament does not use the word in this way, and a specific order of activities is nowhere to be found. We could not show book, chapter and verse for “a particular arrangement of services” if we wanted to. So in such matters there is liberty, consistent with order. But we do have a liturgy as the first century Christians did. A Christian’s service to Christ and fellow man is our everyday ministration, a living liturgy.
