"Stuck in Ritualism"- Is It So Bad?
"Unfortunately, the Celtic church during the Roman occupation followed the rest of Christendom into Catholic ritualism and superstition."
The statement above is from a High School British Literature textbook from a well known Baptist publisher (which shall remain nameless). In context, it is discussing the historical background for early English literature and particularly religion in the British Isles. Like many Christians today, and Baptistic Christians especially, the compilers of this book obviously have something against what they label "ritualism". Their appraisal of the British Church in other parts of history is not much better (except for the Reformation). What exactly is "ritualism" and why are certain sectors of Christendom so opposed to it?
Ritualism
By the phrase "ritualism" I believe the authors are referring to what is properly called, liturgy. Every church has liturgy whether they admit it or not. Does your church have a set time for worship (even if they don't always start on time)? Liturgy. Do you sing from a printed hymnbook (or psalter or projection screen..)? Liturgy. Does your pastor start off with "Good Morning" and everyone else replies "Good Morning"( or something similar)? Liturgy. Liturgy is simply the practice of have things prearranged, predetermined and - if you're a Calvinist and not afraid of this word- predestined. However, some churches have more liturgy than others- vestments, responsive readings, corporate prayers, benedictions etc. When the above writers refer to "ritualism", this is what they mean. Is liturgy good? I mean, isn't the sign of a spiritually alive church a whooping and hollering congregation led by a spiky haired dude telling jokes interspersed with what slightly resembles a sermon? Or, if you're more conservative, a "fire and brimstone" preacher jumping up and down in the pulpit and everyone shouting "hallelujah brother!"( if you're more conservative than example A but more liberal that Example B, then it might be "hallelujah sister!") or "Amen!!"? I'm saying, frankly, no.
In his admonishment for orderly gatherings, Paul tells the Corinthians that "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.."(I Corinthians 14:33). Our worship of Almighty God should be orderly, reverent and joyous (not hysterical...). This is the joy that Scripture describes throughout the Psalms. The joy that comes from a love, reverence and healthy fear of God. It is deeper and truer than the sorry mockery of joy which many churches induce through their various and sundry worship strategies. A liturgical service serves to remind us that we are gathered to worship our Creator, the Triune Godhead, the One who made the vastness of the universe by the word of His mouth and our Redeemer. This should cause us to laugh with overflowing joy even as we tremble with reverential fear.
There are those who would maintain that the liturgy, by being repetitious and structured, results in deadness. O really? Then I guess Holy Writ must be dead or have you glanced at the later half of Exodus lately? Or the Books of Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy? One has but to read these books to realize that God is a God of ceremony, interested in the minute details (for example, He doesn't just say "sacrifice a lamb"- He explains how). If God cares so much for these things, should not we also care?
So why are some Christians, and American Baptist in particular, so opposed to liturgy? I cannot fully answer such a broad and complex question but here are two primary factors not necessarily related to each other. Culture is a big reason for many. In America, structured worship runs against the rebellious nature of its inhabitants. We balk at the thought of being led in worship by a vested minister, who acts as God's representative to the congregation and of corporate prayers. Our individualistic society has trouble embracing ceremony and ritual.
Another common factor is pride. We, particularity those of us from the country, take pride in being plain, simple, uncomplicated and, well, country. A country Baptist gets to the city, sees the Anglicans and the Lutherans conducting their service and says to himself, "Aint that silly? Now back X Baptist, we got it nice and simple. We don't need no liturgy nor nothing like that!" In fact, Sgt. Alvin C. York in his autobiography makes pretty much the same statement when talking about religion in the Tennessee hill country (You will find it in the chapter on saddlebag preachers).
But what right have we to be proud when coming before God? If the liturgy humbles us, thank God. For example, when I kneel during the time of confession, it is a sign of humility and I need that to prepare for the week ahead.
There is comfort in Liturgy, comfort in knowing that you can come to church and, for a time, you can bask in the familiarity of the ceremony. So, is "ritualism" so bad? I think not.
The statement above is from a High School British Literature textbook from a well known Baptist publisher (which shall remain nameless). In context, it is discussing the historical background for early English literature and particularly religion in the British Isles. Like many Christians today, and Baptistic Christians especially, the compilers of this book obviously have something against what they label "ritualism". Their appraisal of the British Church in other parts of history is not much better (except for the Reformation). What exactly is "ritualism" and why are certain sectors of Christendom so opposed to it?Ritualism
By the phrase "ritualism" I believe the authors are referring to what is properly called, liturgy. Every church has liturgy whether they admit it or not. Does your church have a set time for worship (even if they don't always start on time)? Liturgy. Do you sing from a printed hymnbook (or psalter or projection screen..)? Liturgy. Does your pastor start off with "Good Morning" and everyone else replies "Good Morning"( or something similar)? Liturgy. Liturgy is simply the practice of have things prearranged, predetermined and - if you're a Calvinist and not afraid of this word- predestined. However, some churches have more liturgy than others- vestments, responsive readings, corporate prayers, benedictions etc. When the above writers refer to "ritualism", this is what they mean. Is liturgy good? I mean, isn't the sign of a spiritually alive church a whooping and hollering congregation led by a spiky haired dude telling jokes interspersed with what slightly resembles a sermon? Or, if you're more conservative, a "fire and brimstone" preacher jumping up and down in the pulpit and everyone shouting "hallelujah brother!"( if you're more conservative than example A but more liberal that Example B, then it might be "hallelujah sister!") or "Amen!!"? I'm saying, frankly, no.
In his admonishment for orderly gatherings, Paul tells the Corinthians that "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.."(I Corinthians 14:33). Our worship of Almighty God should be orderly, reverent and joyous (not hysterical...). This is the joy that Scripture describes throughout the Psalms. The joy that comes from a love, reverence and healthy fear of God. It is deeper and truer than the sorry mockery of joy which many churches induce through their various and sundry worship strategies. A liturgical service serves to remind us that we are gathered to worship our Creator, the Triune Godhead, the One who made the vastness of the universe by the word of His mouth and our Redeemer. This should cause us to laugh with overflowing joy even as we tremble with reverential fear.
There are those who would maintain that the liturgy, by being repetitious and structured, results in deadness. O really? Then I guess Holy Writ must be dead or have you glanced at the later half of Exodus lately? Or the Books of Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy? One has but to read these books to realize that God is a God of ceremony, interested in the minute details (for example, He doesn't just say "sacrifice a lamb"- He explains how). If God cares so much for these things, should not we also care?
So why are some Christians, and American Baptist in particular, so opposed to liturgy? I cannot fully answer such a broad and complex question but here are two primary factors not necessarily related to each other. Culture is a big reason for many. In America, structured worship runs against the rebellious nature of its inhabitants. We balk at the thought of being led in worship by a vested minister, who acts as God's representative to the congregation and of corporate prayers. Our individualistic society has trouble embracing ceremony and ritual.
Another common factor is pride. We, particularity those of us from the country, take pride in being plain, simple, uncomplicated and, well, country. A country Baptist gets to the city, sees the Anglicans and the Lutherans conducting their service and says to himself, "Aint that silly? Now back X Baptist, we got it nice and simple. We don't need no liturgy nor nothing like that!" In fact, Sgt. Alvin C. York in his autobiography makes pretty much the same statement when talking about religion in the Tennessee hill country (You will find it in the chapter on saddlebag preachers).
But what right have we to be proud when coming before God? If the liturgy humbles us, thank God. For example, when I kneel during the time of confession, it is a sign of humility and I need that to prepare for the week ahead.
There is comfort in Liturgy, comfort in knowing that you can come to church and, for a time, you can bask in the familiarity of the ceremony. So, is "ritualism" so bad? I think not.
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