Christian Worship in Transition, Essay Example

A Discourse of James White’s Christian Worship in Transition

Like never before in the annals of the Christian church of contemporary times have there ever being a massive wind of change blowing through. Indeed, the factors that have necessitated the craving for change must be gauged within the paradigm of discerning the motivation alongside the navigation of the change blaze. What is seen in James White’s Christian Worship in Transition is comprehensive analytical chronicling of events that heralded the pinnacle of the dynamism that the church has being going through, particularly within the spheres of liturgical structure. In White’s own words he says “without precedent in the history of the church” (p. 126)[1]. What is also striking about the work done by White is that it can be likened to the Biblical double-edged sword that cuts through all sides. In other words all the diverse Christian denominations and faiths are assured of getting a bite from the pie.

One cannot help but wonder why the first chapter takes a firm and definite immediate stance in support of freedom. It is my guess that his choice of calling the first chapter “You Are Free-If,” is more of a product of intellectual design instead of an accident. Covertly or overtly, this first chapter sets the foundational orientation that ushers in the message White is presenting to his readers.[2] It may not be farfetched for a casual reader to associate this move with an intention of prejudice by the writer. But is there any element of prejudice in this? I don’t think so. On the contrary, my conviction is that it only presents a tentative chronicling of real liturgical events that are clear for all discerning minds.

Suffice to say that, White has made the freedom theme a recurring matter that runs through the entire book for justifiable reasons. Failure to do so would have inadvertently made him culpable of failing to highlight all the contending issues within the liturgical terrain. By his attribution to the Apostle Paul, without mentioning it, it is inferred that the cradle of everything that James White is pointing to the reader is that freedom in Christ is exclusive on condition that is usage does not become the object of arbitrary abuse as he is quoted as saying “we have extraordinary latitude as long as we are sure what is essential. Our liberty is in Christ, who has set us free. It is up to us to use this freedom creatively and responsibly. You are free-if you know what you are doing and why” (p. 31). Much as freedom is touted in the Christian faith, then White turns to bring the subject of worship to the spot by telling the reader that it is also an area that cannot be left out. Its inclusion therefore means an inherent accommodation of transitions and changes that are carved along the patterns of the overall freedom in Christ Jesus.

Beyond all the contentions, White is skillful enough to initiate a sober reflection on the basis of the sacraments of theology within this whole Christian worship transition. What will be the place of sacraments in this evolving age of worship? He does not extract the details out in plain language which may appear somewhat clumsy as contained the following words “the canon of sacraments, in theory at least, still ought to be open” (p. 51). Naturally, all these developments did not just appear from nowhere; consequently his writing makes every effort to provide tracing evidences that will explain the immediate as well as remote factors that informed this massive wave that characterized worship transformation in the history of the Christian church. It must be noted that in attempting to do so, what James White does not do is provide a one-answer-fits-all response to the diverse issues. He does acknowledge that the pace and response of the influx of the transition came with varying degrees to the various denominations he identifies in the book. By this provision, what the reader is able to benefit from is the awareness that the transition is a product of internally nurtured quests that struggled to be synchronized with prevailing circumstances of the day.

Remarkably, the reader gets to realize that White does not make his accounts of the liturgical changes on the account of solely theological praxis but strenuously creates the link between all these historical happenings and their respective connection to the wider socio-cultural demarcations that defines the limits of the American people.

In Essence, James White is hailed for cumulative painstaking account of a delicate facet of church and liturgical history that seems to have been subsumed under the grand scheme of events. Albeit, clearly an integral part of the Christian faith today. The implications of the transition still resonates in our day and age thus providing further impetus for deeper theological inquest just as James White has done, in other to provide the Christian faithful the direction of the navigating bearing of where the church is headed to from where we are currently.

[1] The period in question as referred to by James White is between AD 1966-1975; it also serves as a major turning point in contemporary liturgical history. By this much of the thesis contained in the book trace their source to it.

[2] James White in making reference to freedom here cannot be treated in isolation to the core message of Christian freedom in Christ Jesus as espoused by Apostle Paul in his writings to the Corinthian church in his first letter spanning from Chapter 11 to 14.