What do you think?
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies
Evangelical versus Liturgical?: Defying a Dichotomy (The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies
Why is there such a deep divide between evangelical and liturgical churches, especially when it comes to worship? How did this unfortunate evangelical-liturgical dichotomy develop, and what can be done about it?
In this book Melanie Ross draws on historical analysis, systematic theology, and the worship life of two vibrant congregations to argue that the common ground shared by evangelical and liturgical churches is much more important than the differences than divide them.
As a longtime evangelical church member who is at the same time a teacher of liturgical studies, Ross is well qualified to address this subject, and she does so with passion and intelligence. Evangelical versus Liturgical? is an important addition to the scant literature explaining nondenominational worship practices to those from more historically established liturgical traditions.
In this book Melanie Ross draws on historical analysis, systematic theology, and the worship life of two vibrant congregations to argue that the common ground shared by evangelical and liturgical churches is much more important than the differences than divide them.
As a longtime evangelical church member who is at the same time a teacher of liturgical studies, Ross is well qualified to address this subject, and she does so with passion and intelligence. Evangelical versus Liturgical? is an important addition to the scant literature explaining nondenominational worship practices to those from more historically established liturgical traditions.
- GenresTheology
165 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2018
A smart, welcome book, arguing that liturgical scholars ought to make closer study evangelical worship, and that evangelicals ought to be open to insights from the "liturgical" churches and liturgists. The two case studies are particularly excellent (although, as Ross herself would doubtless agree, not necessarily representative) and the call for more local, granular explorations of and theologizing around decisions about worship is well-taken. However, I can't go as far as she wants me to in her use of John as grounding an evangelical ecclesiology. Without any desire to unchurch my evangelical siblings in faith, baptism, eucharist, and orders are at some level nonnegotiable for me. That said, Ross is right that we in the mainline would do well to remind ourselves that, ex opere operando notwithstanding, without a lively faith (given by the Spirit), the most beautiful and ancient liturgical practice can be of no effect (St. Paul would say, could be an instrument of our damnation!). All in all, a good book.
July 22, 2014
This is a welcome book on ecumenical worship. Melanie Ross seeks to bridge the divide between evangelical and liturgical churches (she aptly points out that Orthodox and Catholics can be "evangelical" and that all worship is "liturgical" in a sense). Ross traces the history of American Christian worship during the days of Edwards, Whitefield and Finney; this is the most fascinating part of the book as these revivalists lay the groundwork for a "pragmatic" method of evangelism (that, Ross notes, declined over time, at least in terms of theological depth - a byproduct perhaps of evangelicalism's "lowest-common-denominator" approach to preaching). Ross studies the practices of two evangelical churches and notes how they worship and how their church operates (i.e. what ministries are offered). It may have been more interesting to either contrast the first evangelical church with a liturgical church (especially for evangelical readers who are not aware of liturgical service structures) or some sort of ecumenical or blended church (perhaps a low-church Anglican service). Ross spends a large part of the book bringing liturgical scholars and theologians together in dialogue as they offer their perspectives on ecclesiology, worship, the Biblical text, etc...Ross writes with a hermeneutic of charity and this is an excellent book on ecumenical, catholic worship.
July 13, 2021
I must admit that I found this book rather disappointing for a few reasons:
1) despite its title, it functions more like an apologetic for Evangelical worship from "liturgical" critique than a desire to actually defy the dichotomy. A defense of the "liturgical" would have been helpful, unless her point was "Evangelical worship is Christian worship, too." I suspect that was closer to the heart of her project, though.
2) She didn't focus on how liturgy forms and shapes people. While the pastors and theologians in both traditions may agree, do differing liturgies form disciples to be different in crucial ways? I'd suggest that they do. (for instance, just because a particular pastor at particular non-denominational church says that they honor infant baptism as legitimate, does that mean that mean that their practices actually cultivate understanding and appreciation in the pews for those who practice infant baptism? Unconvinced)
3) her defense of the Evangelical tradition unduly emphasizes the role of the noetic and propositional at the expense of lived, embodied, more-than-rational aspects of human experience.
4) finally, i didn't really see a compelling way of defying the dichotomy. Instead, it was an appeal to believe that, as Christians, we're all in this together. Is this all we can say?
1) despite its title, it functions more like an apologetic for Evangelical worship from "liturgical" critique than a desire to actually defy the dichotomy. A defense of the "liturgical" would have been helpful, unless her point was "Evangelical worship is Christian worship, too." I suspect that was closer to the heart of her project, though.
2) She didn't focus on how liturgy forms and shapes people. While the pastors and theologians in both traditions may agree, do differing liturgies form disciples to be different in crucial ways? I'd suggest that they do. (for instance, just because a particular pastor at particular non-denominational church says that they honor infant baptism as legitimate, does that mean that mean that their practices actually cultivate understanding and appreciation in the pews for those who practice infant baptism? Unconvinced)
3) her defense of the Evangelical tradition unduly emphasizes the role of the noetic and propositional at the expense of lived, embodied, more-than-rational aspects of human experience.
4) finally, i didn't really see a compelling way of defying the dichotomy. Instead, it was an appeal to believe that, as Christians, we're all in this together. Is this all we can say?
September 21, 2022
One of my more favorite books I've read in seminary. Surprise, surprise that someone at an interdenominational seminary would like a book like this. But I did really enjoy the way she points out how people from either camp can learn from each other.
I especially liked how she related the plurality of the Synoptic gospels and John's gospel to the plurality of thought in ecclesiology.
My only critique is that she did not include a case study of a more liturgical church. Both case studies were of more "low church" models. Which, as someone who is more "low church," I thought it was fine...but I can see where people from more "high church", liturgical traditions would find that frustrating.
Overall a very stimulating book.
I especially liked how she related the plurality of the Synoptic gospels and John's gospel to the plurality of thought in ecclesiology.
My only critique is that she did not include a case study of a more liturgical church. Both case studies were of more "low church" models. Which, as someone who is more "low church," I thought it was fine...but I can see where people from more "high church", liturgical traditions would find that frustrating.
Overall a very stimulating book.
July 31, 2021
Very Helpful
I love the heart of the author. The life of following Jesus is oftentimes more gray than we want to acknowledge. I loved the goal of the author and her heart for meaningful discussion between two sides that are often painted in opposition to one another. Thank you for this book Melanie.
I love the heart of the author. The life of following Jesus is oftentimes more gray than we want to acknowledge. I loved the goal of the author and her heart for meaningful discussion between two sides that are often painted in opposition to one another. Thank you for this book Melanie.
October 4, 2023
Lowest rating I've given in a long time. Sorry, Ross.
August 3, 2016
A very good analysis of the supposed dichotomy between evangelical/free church worship and more liturgical worship. Her analysis and critique of the false suppositions that more traditional liturgists make toward more evangelical worship were spot on. However in seeking to bridge the gap she didn't lay out much of a blueprint. She has two sample evangelical churches that have vibrant worship, that ironically but not surprisingly, is very thoughtful, having a flow to it and being vey theologically rich and informed. However in my opinion she didn't translate her observations into enough constructive action or give a paradigm that can tangibly bridge the supposed dichotomy she was seeking to bridge. At the end of the book she actually cautions against being too formulaic about doing so. But she could have unpacked these cautions even more as well. She had a great vision to bridge a supposed dichotomy but just fell a bit short in the process.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews