Monday, September 20, 2010

Dyrness - A Primer on Christian Worship


Dyrness, William A. A Primer on Christian Worship: Where we’ve been, where we are, where we can go. Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009.






With great craft, Dyrness successfully braids historical worship, modern culture and theological discussion in his book A Primer on Christian Worship. His goal; to inform the reader that modern and historical worship differences, “style,” are more cultural, and subsequently the root of them all may very well be the beauty of the diverse members of Christ’s body, the Church, which will actually be reunited in the eschaton.


From the perspective of a Protestant Reformed tradition, Dyrness flies through the historical Medieval and Reformation church to modern worship styles, exploring the benefits of these streams of church history. This brings him to his definition of worship, “Christians believe that worship is (1) a set of culturally embedded and corporate practices (2) through which God forms them into the likeness of Christ, (3) in and through the story of Jesus Christ, (4) by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order that (5) they might live their lives to the glory of God”(45). Though lengthy, it is important since he frames the rest of his work around this definition.


Practical aspects follow for my teaching situation in three specific areas: First, the celebration of diversity in other cultural demographics. Since Dyrness suggests that the four fold patterns of worship should be at the heart of communal worship, any other cultural adaptations of worship actually enhance the larger community of saints. It is here we can start to taste the flavors, celebrating diversity, and further, worship knowing that we are celebrating the hospitality of God when we engage and worship together (125). Second, the praxis of Trinitarian worship individually and as a community is, “… a central means by which God forms us according to the story of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit” (73). Dyrness reminds the reader that worshiping is just as essential to our development as eating and sleeping. (114). Further, Trinitarian worship recognizes the “emanation” of God, his self giving desire manifested in various ways including Christ, the mediator of our faith, and through the Holy Spirit, the renewing person who allows the perichoresis (love) of God to be instilled in us. Finally, God will direct the theodramitic life in His great narrative. This breaks down the individualistic mindset of many Americans and shapes us as we dance, harmonizing our individual melodies with the melodies of God (107).

1 comment:

  1. The perichoretic relationship always excites me! Being welcomed into the "divine dance"...beautiful. And to guide others to enter that dance...even better!

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