Recovering Symbolism In Worship

The concern of this article is to focus on symbolism as a medium through which the gospel of reconciliation may be communicated within the Christian community through worship. The Place of Symbolism in Worship It is generally recognized that a symbol both points beyond itself and participates in that which it symbolizes. In this sense the church itself is a symbol of the kingdom. It is not the kingdom itself, but it points to the kingdom and participates in the kingdom. The church is the presence of the kingdom in the world. The church is the visible expression of the restored creation. It is not a mere ghostlike apparition but a visible, tangible society of people who have been born into the kingdom and whose new lives are taking shape in the midst of the world. This society of people, bound as they are by time, space, and history, are nevertheless the people of the "new heavens and the new earth. " For this reason, the church's life and worship in this world has symbolic signifi…