how the ancient can renew your present

liturgy [lit-er-jee]
noun, plural lit*ur*gies

• a form of public worship, ritual.

• a collection of formularies for public worship.

• a particular arrangement of services.

• a particular form or type of the Eucharistic service.

I think that Protestants are generally scared of this word, and the reality of it. As if admitting that we have a liturgy would somehow make us something that we are afraid of becoming doctrinally, or stunt our experience of following Jesus.

But the fact is, a liturgy, as you read above, is just a particular way of doing things, a familiar form that you follow. Given that definition, we suddenly realize our lives are made up of all kinds of liturgies, in our own private practice of devotion as well as our gathered worship, regardless of our denominational affiliation.

If that’s true (and it is), then we ought to be intentional about our liturgies, instead of just stumbling into them. And it might be helpful to learn from the rich history of the many saints who have gone before us, in order to enrich our personal and communal liturgies.

This is exactly the aim of Jonathan Gibson’s new book, Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship.

I recently listened to an interview with Mr. Gibson regarding this helpful book, and I highly commend it to you. (Listen here)

Even if you don’t end up purchasing the book and studying further, investing just 40 minutes with him will give you helpful insights to enrich your personal and communal liturgies.

Tolle Lege!