In his article presenting and defending formal-liturgical worship, Paul Zahl responds to the oft leveled claim that formal liturgical worship is "cold and dead". Zahl rightfully admits that this is a valid claim, and gives his way for overcoming it. He suggests "a personal warmth", leading with "passionate belief", and giving "right eye contact of recognition as you walk down the aisle".
Yet this reponse does not seem to fit. Zahl's answer to the typical coldness of liturgical service is essentially shiny teeth and nice cologne. His remedy for apparent deadness of faith does not start with the heart, but with actions. In his critique of Zahl, Don Williams is right to point out that this external change is, "...shallow and burdensome" and that it, "...puts us all squarely back under the law".
Zahl should have instead pointed out that all forms of worship are truly dead and cold without a knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. That is not a problem unique to the formal-liturgical forms of worship. Even the most frenetic Charasmatic worship is cold and dead if it is not based in seeing, loving, and believing what is true about Christ. But if it is based in true knowledge and love of God through Christ, then the rigidly beautiful formal-liturgical style of worship can lead to "joy inexpressible and full of glory".
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ReplyDeleteRight! Personal warmth isn't a fruit of the Spirit. The effect-driven church is often under the bondage of a sort of "law lite" legalism ["Less filling, great taste, zero nutrition]. Both charismatic and liturgical forms of worship are deadly formal twins without the oil of gospel gladness. Sure, charismatic forms may appear to possess life, but as Henry Scougal writes: "Religion is not a sudden start, or passion of the mind, nor though it should rise to the height of a rapture, and seem to transport a man to extraordinary performances. These sudden fits may be compared to the violent and convulsive motions of bodies newly beheaded, caused by the agitations of animal spirits, after the soul is departed, which however violent and impetuous, can be of no long continuance."
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