Worship And Spiritual Formation

Every aspect of liturgy shapes the faith of the worshiping community, altering its understanding of both God and the Christian life. This article explores some of the ways in which this occurs and suggests ways in which the church's worship can more adequately reflect the fullness of the gospel. Definitions It is a truism that worship has something to do with spiritual formation and direction. Actually defining the relationship between the two, however, involves considering a number of factors not evident upon a surface consideration of the topic. For instance, the term spiritual direction often evokes images of a spiritual mentor counseling a neophyte charge in matters concerning the ascent of God. This individual-centered model of how one grows in God continues today in the ancient contemplative monastic orders of the West and even is beginning to be utilized in various forms in a number of Protestant churches. Within that tradition, there are authors, such as Thomas Merton, who …