Ellen G. White’s Theology of Worship and Liturgy

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Publication Date

2016

Keywords

Ellen G. White, Theology, Worship, Liturgy, Ecclesiology, Seventh-day Adventism

Abstract

One major handicap, however, faces a study of Ellen White’s principles of worship—and for that matter biblical principles as well. In recent years, a postmodern hermeneutics of personal and cultural preferences has dominated any discussion of worship. Often veiled under the pretense of finding the only true and valid principles of worship, many studies have been biased as well by cultural and personal preferences. Hence, most Adventists today have resigned themselves to accept the notion that worship is primarily a personal matter, that no uniform, one-size-fit-all format and understanding of the meaning of worship are to be imposed on all people, and that worship style is a subject of congregational and cultural choices and preferences. And it is doubtful whether such an entrenched mind set can objectively consider the validity of external and transcendent norms of worship as found in the Scripture and the writings of Ellen White. Given that Ellen White lived and wrote in an era of Adventism that valued the traditional Protestant hymn-based form of worship, can a postmodern person who favors and acknowledges the intrinsic value of diversity and personal and cultural preferences accept to be bound by norms and principles of another era? Hopefully, the ideas, basic principles and concepts presented in this study will be helpful in providing insights to shape how we should understand and practice Adventist worship anywhere regardless of age or culture. [Excerpt]

First Page

81

Last Page

101

Book Title

Worship, Ministry, and the Authority of the Church

Editor

Angel Manuel Rodriguez

Publisher

Biblical Research Institute

City

Silver Spring, MD

Series

Studies in Adventist Ecclesiology - 3

ISBN

0925675296

First Department

Theology and Christian Philosophy

Link to Full Text

@ the James White Library

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