True worship is nothing more than “heaven on earth.” True worship is nothing less that God dwelling among his people. It is an embracement of two worlds into one world, much like a husband and wife becoming one: a ‘kairos’ moment where time stands still, where unity stands out, and the love of God, for God, and for one another is overwhelming. – Fr. Tony Baron, Rector, The Way Anglican Fellowship, Vista, Calif.
I. The Historical Marks of the Early Church (Early Followers of Jesus)
- Inescapably Ritualistic
- Uncompromisingly Moral
- Unmistakably Intellectual
- Unapologetically Trinitarian
- Unquestionably Scriptural
- Impressively Loving
- Undeniably Eucharistic
The Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship, and its communal celebration each Sunday set the rhythm of Christian life. In the early church there was no Christianity without an altar!
II. A Detailed Description of Christian Worship (Eucharistic Service, 150 A.D.)
- The Two Key Parts of the Eucharistic Worship
- Liturgy of the Word: Centered on the Bible (series of biblical readings interspersed with prayers and psalms, followed by the exposition of the text) – Deacon Kirsten will teach on the Liturgy of the Word next week.
The early Christian writings and thoughts centered on the Bible. Their writings were scriptural in language and inspiration. The goal for all followers of Christ was not only for understanding but love! Faithfulness, not originality, was the distinctive mark of a good teacher of God’s Word.
Evagrius “A theologian is one who prays, and one who prays is a theologian”
- Liturgy of Holy Communion (Great Thanksgiving)
- The Distinctives of Holy Communion
- A Distinctive Narrative Biblical Structure that Praises God for His Mighty Deeds in the Past, Present, and Future
The biblical story is from creation, through the giving of the Law to the people of Israel to the Coming of Christ, his death and Resurrection, and the expectation of His coming again. The liturgy kept intact the biblical narrative by recounting the story of Israel and Christ in ritual form. God’s fullest revelation came through historical events.
- A Distinctive Liturgy that is explicitly Trinitarian
Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus (190—210 A.D. approx..)
- A Distinctive “Remembrance” of Christ life-giving Sufferings
Anamnesis (Gk): Usually translated “remembrance,” which in this context means “recall by making present.” The past becomes a present presence that opens a new future.
In the Mishnah, the collection of Jewish law from the early third century, it is reported that Rabbi Gamaliel (teacher of St. Paul) used to say, “Whosoever has not said these three things at Passover has not fulfilled his obligation. And they are these: Passover, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.
Passover because God passed over the houses of our father in Egypt, bitter herbs because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our father in Egypt.
“In every generation you must so regard himself as if he came forth himself out of Egypt, for it is written, And you shall tell your son on that day saying, “It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.” Those who celebrate Pesach are not spectators, they are participants. It is I who came forth out of Egypt.
John Chrysostom “Do we not offer the sacrifice daily? Indeed we do offer it daily, re-presenting his death. How then is it one sacrifice and not many?… We offer the same person, not one sheep one day and tomorrow a different one, but always the same offering . . . . There is one sacrifice and one high priest who offered the sacrifice that cleanses us. Today we offer that which was once offered a sacrifice that is inexhaustible. This is done as a remembrance (anamnesis) of that which was done then, for he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” We do not offer another sacrifice as the priest offered of old, but we always offer the same sacrifice. Or rather we re-present the sacrifice.(Homily on Hebrews 9:24-26).
- A Distinctive Belief in the “Real Presence” of Christ
Bishop Ignatius of Antioch (martyred between 98 A.D.-110 A.D.) “The Eucharist is the flesh of our savior Jesus Christ who suffered for us”
Ireaneus, Bishop of Lyon (martyred 202 A.D.) “the bread over which thanks given is the body of the Lord and the cup is the blood”have been
Justin Marytr, 150 A.D. This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins for rebirth, and who lives as Christ taught us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink, but as Jesus Christ our Savior who became incarnation by God’s word and took flesh and blood for our salvation. So also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by being renewed, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus.
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D. (sermon on Psalm 22): Makes present what took place in time past, and in this way it moves us as if we were actually watching our Lord hanging on the cross.
How is this possible? The Eucharist is the sacrament of unity and the moment of truth: here we see the world in Christ, as it really is.
Heaven is the immediate presence of God’s glory and can be present simultaneously anywhere and everywhere on earth. Since Jesus is in heaven, the risen Jesus continues to work on this earth in the Church and through the Holy Spirit. Heaven transcends us as a greater, truer, more splendid reality. The distance between God and humanity is fully and finally spanned in Christ.
In the Holy Spirit, time is collapsed in that we presently possess eternal life, although we await its full experience at the consummation. In the Holy Spirit, time is collapsed in that the presence of the risen Christ is available everywhere, although we await the time when we will see him face to face. In the Holy Spirit, matter is collapsed in that the presence of the risen Christ is experienced in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, although we await the final marriage feast of the Lamb.
Views Christian Body Is Christ Present? How?
Transubstantiation Catholic, Orthodox Real Presence Change Substance
Pious Silence Anglican, Orthodox Real Presence Unknown
Consubstantiation Lutherans (Luther) Real Presence Substance Remain
Body/Blood Present
Spiritual Presence Presbyterians (Calvin) Real Presence Substance Remain
Spiritual feeding
Mere Symbolism Zwingli/Baptist/Evangelicals Not Present Memorial
Non-literal Quakers/Salvation Army Not Present No celebration
Leo the Great, bishop of Rome in the fifth century: “Everything the Son of God did and taught for the reconciliation of the world, we know not only as an historical account of things now past, but we also experience them in the power of the works that are present.”
August 14, 2011, The Way Anglican Fellowship, www.findtheway.org.