Theopolitan Liturgy

Theopolis Fundamentals #2

by Peter J. Leithart

Christians agree that worship must be biblical, but too many Christians focus on a handful of texts. To understand and do the Christian liturgy, we need to take account of the whole Bible.

In Theopolitan Liturgy, Peter J. Leithart examines the liturgical features of creation. The world is a temple. History is a dialogue with God. Life and society is sacrificial. Time follows a liturgical pattern.

Because creation is inherently liturgical, the liturgy isn't a retreat from the world. It's a transformation of the world. Church buildings use space as God designed it to be used, as space for worship. In the liturgy, we are trained to respond rightly to God's word, and learn the habit of living sacrifice. The church's calendar Christianizes time, imprinting the gospel on our days and years.

Leithart demonstrates that the liturgy isn't a retreat from engagement with the world. It is the church's primary engagement with the world. The liturgy is the initial Christianization of creation.

The introduction to the Theopolis Fundamentals Series was Leithart's book, Theopolitan Vision. Leithart's Theopolitan Liturgy is the first book in the series.

The early volumes of the Theopolis Fundamentals Series summarize the convictions of the Theopolis Institute in Birmingham, Alabama and James B. Jordan's Biblical Horizons about topics including biblical interpretation, liturgical theology and practice, and the church's cultural and political mission. The Fundamentals will be followed by a collection of Theopolis Explorations volumes that will examine Scripture, liturgy, and culture in more depth and detail.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Church, Ecclesiology, Christian Living

146 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2019

About the author

Peter Leithart received an A.B. in English and History from Hillsdale College in 1981, and a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1986 and 1987. In 1998 he received his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in England. He has served in two pastorates: He was pastor of Reformed Heritage Presbyterian Church (now Trinity Presbyterian Church), Birmingham, Alabama from 1989 to 1995, and was founding pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, Moscow, Idaho, and served on the pastoral staff at Trinity from 2003-2013. From 1998 to 2013 he taught theology and literature at New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho, where he continues to teach as an adjunct Senior Fellow. He now serves as President of Trinity House in Alabama, where is also resident Church Teacher at the local CREC church. He and his wife, Noel, have ten children and five grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jordan B Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book that is packed with Biblical wisdom.

[Jack W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leithart's little work is something of a biblical typological defense on the necessity of liturgy. And as in any typological framework, there will always be dissent as to how far to take it before it becomes speculative. That should not stop the student of Scripture from reading typological interpretations beyond one's own defined limits however, and I find that lesson particularly applicable to the Theopolis universe. This is not a replacement for something like Jeff Meyer's The Lord's Service (or any "why does our church do x?" book), but rather an adorning of its interior. In particular, it is a helpful rejoinder (qualifier?) to Fr. Alexander Schmemann's work on the Sacraments and liturgy, grounding his whole project first in Scripture. Though not unlike Schmemann's "For the Life of the World," there's a certain level of opacity in terminology which leaves followers dazzled and critics suspicious.

At his best (the chapters on Place and Time), Leithart offers profound insight into creation and our role as kings and stewards of it that alone are worth the purchase of the book. Secondarily, in his chapters that feel less than entirely water-tight (Dialog, Sacrifice, Joy), there are still many great observations into the nature of worship that are worth pondering.

[Jose Ovalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I don’t agree with everything Leithart believes but I think he must be read and engaged with.

This book is a great primer and explanation of the need for a thorough dialogical principle in church worship. God speaking & creation answering is the purpose and telos of everything. The liturgy points to the worlds original purpose and to the coming new heavens and new earth. That weekly rhythm shapes a people to be what they were made to be, lovers of God. Thankful that he touched on why a church calendar makes sense as an outflow of this as well. If the Church is a new city, it’s people should follow the rhythms of that city and not the sports/national holiday/school calendar of the city of man. The Church calendar brings us into the grand drama of redemption and this further shapes us as Christians.

Didn’t agree with everything here, I thought his exegesis of Adam & Eve was weird and his comparing the liturgy to… uh… nvm.. was even more odd. Also paedocomnunion bad, etc etc

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Not a comprehensive “how to” manual, nor designed as a comprehensive apology for liturgy, but rather a persuasive explanation of liturgy. Leithart shows that creation and culture are inherently liturgical, and that Christian liturgy orientates both to their proper ends.

[J. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liturgy is not merely what happens on Sunday mornings between the church pews. The complaint I often receive from folks about liturgical churches is that liturgy is “dangerous” and becomes just mindless routine. Peter Leithart dismantles this idea in a clear, concise, and Biblical way. All of life is truly liturgical; the sun rises and the sun sets, days come and go, six days we work and the seventh is Holy and restful, our year cycles in four season and 12 month structures. Day by day you set a liturgy and follow it (at least nominally). Leithart does a great job displaying that grafted into creation is liturgy and patterns that we follow. Our Sabbath day sets the pattern that our day by day liturgies should be structured by. So yes between the pews we confess sin, sing Psalms and Hymns, are washed by the Word, and feast to Gods glory; we too in our day to day liturgies are most blessed for doing the same. My own speculation here but families who worship at churches that don’t confess sin corporately likely don’t confess sin frequently within the home to loved ones, imprisoning confession to your personal devotional times “with Jesus”. If they don’t sing doctrinally sound songs at church they likely aren’t singing robust and reverent worship in the home. If you aren’t flooded with the Word between the church walls you likely grow dust on your Bible Monday through Saturday. By God’s grace, liturgy drives a healthy home and we all need much Bibline wisdom in tinkering with our familial patterns where necessary. Peter Leithart really provokes much thought on a Biblically based liturgical pattern and I was most blessed from this book. Highly recommend!

[Jesse Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most thought-provoking books I’ve ever read.

[Michael Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book (the second book I’ve read in the Theopolis Fundamental series). Leithart does a beautiful job of breaking down the liturgical reality of creation and what biblical (right) liturgy truly is and does.

I especially enjoyed his chapter on liturgy as dialog and how because God is always preaching to us through creation, we are always in constant dialogue with Him; always responding.

A couple quotes from it:

“There's no more fundamental reason for the existence of the world than God's Word. There isn't some more basic ‘essence’ or ‘nature’ that determines that the world is and what it is. God's word is the foundation.

It's not quite accurate to say things exist to respond to God. More profoundly, we exist as response to God's almighty summons. Light doesn't have the power to be light on its own. Without the divine ‘Let there be,’ light isn't. It doesn't exist and then respond to God. Its very existence is a dialogic response that is possible only because of the Creator's word. God's first word enables creation to respond.

Now that things exist, things respond to God's word. But they
are what they are and continue to be what they are because they are engaged in a dialogue with the Creator.” (pg. 26-27)

“Every moment of life and our final destiny in life are determined by our response to the Lord in the liturgy of the world. It's determined by how we answer the word of the Lord. It's determined by our performance in the dialogue of life.

That doesn't just apply to individual men and women. It applies to families, nations, and churches too. The future of a
nation depends on whether or not it responds rightly to the word of God. Rulers should honor the King, and He shatters the ones who don't (Psa 2). The same goes for churches. In His messages to the churches of Asia (Rev 2-3), Jesus warns He will remove the lampstand from unrepentant churches. The future of a church depends on its responsiveness to God's word.

This is the liturgical movement of history, the liturgy of the world: God speaks, human beings and communities respond faithfully or not, and their future is determined by that response.

That destiny is the result of a further word from God. He initiates the liturgy of history by speaking. He ends the liturgy of history with a word of final judgment. History—and every segment of the history—is suspended between God’s first and final word.” (pg. 28-29)

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s interesting what’s in the ark of the covenant, food, word, and a shepherd, all sealed away even from the high priest, then Jesus comes and as the eternal high priest who has gone through the firmament to enter the original sanctuary, on the Lord’s day and through the Spirit, we received the true manna from heaven, the body and blood of the Lord Jesus. Through the Spirit, God speaks His word and reveals his Word. Through the Spirit, the minister guides us with the rod and staff of the good Shepherd. Through the Spirit, he gives life, wisdom, and glory. This is Christian liturgy. We’re no longer at a distance, out in the court. We gather in the throne room. Jesus is with us by his Spirit, and Jesus gives away his gifts. He girds Himself as he did in the upper room and He serves us. Through the Spirit, he gives a gift of bread, the gift of the word, the gift of a shepherd. in, with, and under all these gifts, the Spirit gives us the gift of joy. Food, word, Shepherd: these gifts are joy incarnate. The world is liturgical, going from glory to glory, from creation to consummation, Christian liturgy transforms the world so they become a foretaste of the kingdom. I commend this work very much!

[Scott Moonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. The chapter on joy alone is worth the price of admission. A small excerpt: https://scottmoonen.com/2020/01/25/jo...

[Lukas Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a bit about "interpretive maximalism" and biblical symbolism in this one. Tightly written and thought provoking.

[Andreas Jongeneel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stimuleert het denken over liturgie, mag wel een tikkie gereformeerder. Het is in ieder geval een fijne afwisseling met NL-talige boeken over liturgie, die presenteren liturgie alleen vanuit historisch oogpunt. Leithart veronderstelt de liturgiegeschiedenis maar voert terug naar de Bijbelse theologie. Dat maakt liturgie minder willekeurig en steriel.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a short introduction and defense of liturgy as, not only a way of formal worship, but a way to approach all of life and culture. Worship is not wrapped up on its own, but is the center of life itself. Rather thank pivot on key text and proof-points, Leithart takes a more expansive and whole-Scripture view of the call to worship, grounding the form and meaning of worship in creation, the liturgy of the tabernacle/temple, the meaning of the church and the heavenly vision of Revelation.

[Nathan Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of 2020! Ha! That's not saying much (yet), but it's probably my favorite book from 2019 as well.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leithart does a great job of shaping creation and our lives through a liturgical lens. The section on the Levitical sacrificial system and how it relates to modern worship and liturgy was my favorite.

Something that really stuck with me is how, like Jacob, we wear the skin of our older Brother to receive the blessing from our Father. Think about that for a second. Leithart is always good for jaw dropping meditation like that.

Another point that really stuck with me is how time is not moving toward death. It moves toward resurrection. As a Christian I know I will be raised one day, Lord willing. That is the Christian hope after all. But I realized when I read that that I do perceive time passing and my getting older as approaching death. I don't really view time passing as my approaching resurrection, but that is exactly how a Christian should be thinking. Death is swallowed up by life. So, with each passing day we ought to rejoice that our end in this life is drawing nearer, because we are approaching glory. That is a magnificent hope indeed.

I also really enjoyed how Leithart pointed out the items that are contained in the Ark of the Covenant: the tablets, manna, and Aaron's rod. The Ark of the Covenant was located in the Most Holy Place. It was where God sat on His throne above the cherubim. The priests weren't even allowed in this room. But we are. Today, we enter divine liturgy; church. As we come in we see a podium with a Bible resting on it (tablets). We see a table with bread and wine for the Eucharist (manna). Lastly, a pastor (Aaron's rod).

We are instructed, fed, and shepherded by God and the fullness of this is manifested most gloriously during the assembling of saints on Sunday as we all participate in the divine nature together in the liturgy of the Church.

Highly recommend!

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[Grant Van Brimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a rich and deep understanding of liturgical worship, this is it. It's not a how-to or resource book, it is a quite comprehensive biblical theology of liturgy. Some may disagree with me, that's fine. This was a great little book.

[RyanG37 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just a book about set prayers, collars and service order.

Leithart argues that liturgy is far more than the way we organise a church service. He suggests, in fact, that creation itself is liturgical - 'space is created as a temple, language exists for dialogue with God and one another, life is a sacrificial movement of death and resurrection, time is choreographed for lutrugical dance, and the world exists to give us a share in the joy of the Father'. And that everyone practises liturgy, whether Christian or idolatrous - 'we're litrugical girls and boys living in a liturgical world'.

In each chapter he takes one of these elements of the created order, expounds how it is litrugical, shows how a sinful world distorts it in its culture, and shows how Christian liturgy corrects and redirects these features toward their true end - the worship of God. So when he does speak about the particulars of a church service, it is with this big, whole-Bible picture in mind.

I found some chapters more convincing than others. The chapters on time, language and space were particular highlights, but the chapter on sacrifice for example seemed overly speculative in places, and a little loose in its argument.

I would like to have seen a slightly more robust defence of his view of the significant continuity between Israel's worship and that of the Church.

My main criticism, however, is that Leithart uses words like 'liturgy' and 'sacrifice' in an overly ambiguous way. They seem to be slippery words that morph in meaning throughout his argument, and this dampens the clarity of the book.

Despite these criticisms, this book has given me much to ponder, a much bigger concept of liturgy, has opened up unfamiliar ways of thinking, and has elevated my view of the church service.

Probably really a 3.5 star book, but I went for on the generous side and gave it 4 stars because there really was much that was eye opening and helpful despite its weaknesses.

[Emeth Lumen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It switches inconsistently back and forth between different sense of all the key words in it, especially "liturgy", "dialog", and "sacrifice". It seems to be more focused on making the reader associate a bunch of words in their head than on forming a good idea of what liturgy is and should be.

Content-wise, it leaves out basically any discussion of the Last Supper (though it has plenty to say about the Eucharist). Since so much of Christian liturgy comes from the Last Supper this is a major mistake, especially because it seemingly contradicts a number of the author's theses.

That said, it's clearer than these books tend to be, and because of that not unpleasant to read.

[Cole Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many Christian living books published every year, and you don’t have to do more than skim a few pages for their shallow, hollow character to reveal itself. On the other hand Leithart is writing books like this that will probably never be appreciated by evangelicals today as they should. This is the kind of rich Christian living book that is worth your time. Although it’s a book on Liturgy, which strikes many Christians as dead and traditional, Leithart’s work is faithful to Scripture, ironically even more than most churches that have the word Bible in their name.

[Jason Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone that desires to understand--not liturgy in the usual sense of the word--but the liturgical "sway" of all creation.

Leithart argues convincingly that all of life is liturgical, from Place to Dialog to Sacrifice to Time and finally, to Joy. These are, in fact, the subjects of his chapters, and he reasons winsomely from scripture and history throughout.

I would give it six stars if Goodreads had the good sense to offer that many for books of this import.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the joy chapter. I loved the imagery of walking into church seeing the Word, the bread, and the pastor/shepherd as representations of the tablets, the manna, and Aaron's staff in the ark. I have definitely never thought of that or heard anyone talk about that before. We are able to see and participate in the liturgy in a way that the people were not allowed and protected from in the Old Covenant. That's amazing.

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from Leithart. In some ways its his most theoretical book, and his most idiosyncratic. But there are some real pearls in it and the entire series is excellent and this book was no exception.

[Jonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch. A wonderful expression of the truth that Jesus is Lord of all.

[Tyler Turdici · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that can help you make the most out of your Sunday service, even if you aren't a Presbyterian or under a high church model.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Discussion and teaching regarding liturgy that is mind expanding! Highly recommended.

[Zach McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Leithart. Insightful in a lot of places, trying too hard in others. Super accessible. Recommend it overall.

[David Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the best book I’ve ever read.

[Douglas Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good.

[Seth Goodale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. So much in here.

[Josh Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t agree with everything here (of course not!) but this second volume of the series is FILLED with profound insight. I dropped my jaw a lot reading this little book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books that I've read on the subject of liturgy, but more importantly how it impacts our culture and particularly our lives.