Theology of Worship

Definition and Meaning

The theology of worship is the discipline that studies the nature, grounds, and constituent elements of worship. It asks to whom worship is offered, why, and by what means, and it explains the significance within worship of preaching, prayer, hymnody, and the sacraments (holy rites, such as baptism and the Lord's Supper, believed to have been instituted by Christ). In theological education it is commonly treated as a field within practical theology. The practical question of determining the order of worship also falls within its scope.

Biblical and Historical Background

In the Old Testament, the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem stood at the center of worship. After the Exile, synagogue gatherings devoted to the reading of Scripture and prayer emerged. In the New Testament, frequently cited passages include John 4:20-23, where Jesus speaks of worship offered "in spirit and in truth," and Romans 12:1, which calls believers to present their whole lives as a "living sacrifice." Acts 2:42-47 reports that the early church gathered for the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

During the Reformation, the Reformers revised the medieval Mass, emphasizing the proclamation of the Word and the participation of the congregation. The extent of reform, however, varied among them. Martin Luther held that traditional elements not forbidden by Scripture could be retained. By contrast, the tradition associated with John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli sought to admit into worship only those elements grounded in Scripture. This position is commonly called the "regulative principle" and is reflected in chapter 21 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Lutheran and Anglican position, by comparison, is sometimes called the "normative principle."

Practice in Korean Churches

Korean Protestant worship generally gives great weight to preaching, and many Korean churches reportedly celebrate the Lord's Supper only a few times a year. The following tendencies can be observed among denominations in Korea:

• Presbyterian: Emphasizes Word-centered worship. Some conservative denominations strictly evaluate the elements of worship on the basis of the regulative principle.
• Methodist: Places comparatively greater emphasis on the church year and on liturgy (set forms of worship).
• Anglican: Places the Eucharist at the center of worship and, as a rule, celebrates it weekly.
• Pentecostal and Full Gospel: Emphasizes praise, simultaneous audible prayer, and the experience of the Holy Spirit.
• Baptist: Forms of worship vary in keeping with the autonomy of each local church.

Since the 1990s, the spread of "open worship" services and praise teams in Korea has fueled ongoing discussion of traditional and contemporary worship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean denominations expressed a range of views on whether online worship is legitimate as worship and on the significance of the congregation gathering together.