The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology
Overview
In The God We Worship Nicholas Wolterstorff takes a ground-up approach to liturgical theology, examining the oft-hidden implications of traditional elements of liturgy. Given that “no liturgy has ever been composed from scratch,” Wolterstorff argues that the assumptions taken into worship are key to perceiving the real depths of historical Christianity’s understanding of God.
Across the liturgies of the Orthodox, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Reformed churches, Wolterstorff highlights theologically neglected elements of God, such as an implicit liturgical understanding of God as listener. A dissection of liturgy is not only interesting, Wolterstorff argues, but crucial for reconciling differences between the God studied by theologians and the God worshiped by churchgoers on Sunday.
For more by Nicholas Wolterstorff, see Eerdmans Nicholas Wolterstorff Collection (2 vols.).
Key Features
- Examines the theological understanding implicit in Christian liturgy
- Offers insight into how liturgy reveals the depths of historical theology
- Discover historically neglected elements about God regardless of liturgical tradition
Top Highlights
“I suggest that Christian worship is liturgical when it is—to repeat—the scripted performance of acts of worship.” (Page 8)
“A liturgical text exists not for its own sake but for the sake of enactments of the liturgy. The text guides enactments, in the same way that the text for a drama guides performances of the drama and the score for a musical work guides performances of the work. When Schmemann speaks of liturgy as actualizing the church, it is enactments of the liturgy that he has in mind.” (Page 4)
“Worship: Its Theology and Practice, von Allmen offers three distinct ‘takes’ on the Christian liturgy.4 The Christian liturgy, he says, is the recapitulation of the history of salvation, it is the epiphany of the church, and it is the end and future of the world.” (Pages 9–10)
“‘by its worship the Church becomes itself, becomes conscious of itself, and confesses itself as a distinct entity’ (42).” (Page 10)
“No one who has composed a liturgy has ever done anything more than compose a revision of liturgies that were themselves not composed but developed organically under a multiplicity of influences from many different quarters.” (Page 13)
This book is a flood of light. It has all the Wolterstorff marks, including brilliant clarity and powerful illumination of his subject.
—Cornelius Plantinga Jr., senior research fellow, Calvin Theological Seminary
In his usual graceful way Wolterstorff leads the reader to see what is implicit in Christian liturgy, and to find there a God who listens and hears, who is vulnerable to being wronged and resisted. . . . A major contribution to liturgical theology.
—William Dyrness, professor of theology and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary
For many years, Nicholas Wolterstorff has helped us penetrate the character of worship, combining the acuity of a philosopher and the wisdom of a lifelong practitioner. Now he brings all this to a head in a superbly written study.
—Jeremy Begbie, Thomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology, Duke University
Nicholas Wolterstorff here gives us a true liturgical theology—not a theology about liturgy but, rather, the explicit and implicit theology in the actions and order of worship. The ripple effects are profound, implicating understandings of God, persons, time, prayer, lament, and much more. There is little doubt that this book will be a landmark in the terrain of liturgical theology.
—Leanne Van Dyk, professor of Reformed theology, Western Theological Seminary
In this timely study Wolterstorff brings his sharp philosophical and theological mind to bear on specific liturgical texts and explores how the church, in enacting the liturgy, hands on its implicit understanding of God. This work will be a crucial text for any serious study of liturgical theology.
—Bryan Spinks, Bishop F. Percy Goddard Professor Liturgical Studies and Pastoral Theology, Yale Divinity School
- Title: The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology
- Author: Nicholas Wolterstorff
- Series: The Kantzer Lectures in Revealed Theology
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 192
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: God (Christianity) › Worship and love
- ISBNs: 9780802872494, 0802872492
- Resource ID: LLS:GDWWRSHLTRGCLTH
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:14:39Z