by Pastor Justin
When we talk about “why we do what we do in worship,” what we´re really discussing is what does liturgy mean for our lives today and how do our gestures, responses, movements, and presence in worship point to what we believe about God. There once was a fifth century author and student of Augustine who said, “The prayer of the supplicant shall be the measuring stick of theological doctrine,” that is to say, what a person prays for is what she or he believes. His or her beliefs, then, are influenced by the teachings of the Church. This phrase highlights the idea that all the teachings of the Church, or rather, what we believe (lex credendi), are manifested, expressed, and taught in our worship and liturgy, that is, in what we pray for (lex orandi). Prosper´s quote has been paraphrase: Lex orandi, lex credendi. This article explores what we believe about the Holy Spirit as understood through how we worship, following the pattern or movement in our Lutheran liturgy. If you have any questions or would like further conversation, please contact Pastor Justin.
