Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

This morning I next-day-aired my latest paper to Dr. Roland G. Kuhl at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary where I’m currently working on my D.Min. (a degree which a member of my congregation recently noted that, when spoken, has striking similarities to the word “demon”). Within it, I noted seven basic trends that seem integral to the emerging church movement (note: not the “emergent” church movement - which is a sub-section within the great “emerging” church). Essentially, they were:

- A desire for authentic formality
- A focus on justice
- A valuing of diversity (in numerous areas)
- A “Sub-Style” Concept of worship
- An emphasis on the sacraments
- A broad definition of worship
- A recovery of Incarnation

I won’t deal with all of them this evening (although maybe we’ll get there in the next handful of posts), but tonight I would like to comment on the issue of “authentic formality.” The emerging church certainly has it right here.

“Authentic” implies that something be genuine. “Formality” recognizes the necessity of a certain amount of stability and like-ness. Faulty formality turns into a blind allegiance to some kind of status quo. Authentic Formality, on the other hand, recognizes that there is a genuine and appropriate role for stability, order, ritual, and yes, liturgy.

It seems likely that the emerging church, more than any recent movement (except perhaps the so-called “liturgical renewal”) recognizes the importance of these things without blindly accepting them.

This is where most of our church’s could learn something. Seldom can we justify “because it’s always been done that way.” Perhaps, however, we can learn to value the role AUTHENTIC formality plays in the life of the church (and its members!). Perhaps we can embrace things that promote stability, order and good ritual - gaining the benefits without giving into the laziness that such things often promote. (Which leads to why I often suggest that evangelical aren’t mature enough for liturgical worship — but then, that’s a topic for another post!)

Grace and Peace,
`tim

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