True Liturgy

Luther, in his "Preface to the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans" says,

In chapter 12, St. Paul teaches the true liturgy and makes all Christians priests, so that they may offer, not money or cattle, as priests do in the Law, but their own bodies, by putting their desires to death.

As you know, Inspiring Worship Service is made up of three parts; Praise, Teaching and what the people bring (or as NCD calls it, Liturgy).

When we think of liturgy we usually think of order of service and prayers and responses but Luther (and NCD) don't think that way. That is why Luther's statement stood out. He makes it clear that we must bring something to offer in the worship service each week. Usually it is our money, voices (in Praise), and our minds as we engage in the Teaching. However, Luther says that a better offering is our own body and subdued desires.

We studied the verses, Luther referred to, in our lesson last week, Romans 12:1,2:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (rational) service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

That was the NKJV, the New Living Translation makes it even clearer:

And so, dear brother and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (your spiritual worship). Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

For eleven chapters, Paul has shown us what God has done for us, His mercy, love and abundant grace. Now Paul asks something of us; not works of the law, he's already said they are stumbling stones (9:30) and surprisingly, not even stronger faith as that is God's gift (4:20, 12:3) but Paul says we need to offer true, spiritual reasonable Worship. Or, in other words, Inspired Worship.

Paul defines such worship as complete surrender of body and mind to God. A return of the whole person and our desires to the Creator. Then God can completely renovate our thinking so we reflect His will not the behaviour and customs of the world.

Luther suggests that the liturgy of an Inspiring Worship Service is something far bigger and much more than just meeting God for an hour each Sabbath, it means giving God all that we are and co-operating with Him as He transforms us from the inside out.

Read the whole of Luther's Preface to Romans