Date of Award

5-1-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Sacred Theology (STM)

Department

Practical Theology

First Advisor

Kent Burreson

Scripture References in this Resource

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 89:47; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 3:10; Revelation 4:11; Genesis 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Philippians 4:8; Acts 17:28; Galatians 5:16–26; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Luke 18:13; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 14:26-31; Romans 16:16; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; John 17:6–19; Revelation 7:9; 1 Peter 2:9; Mark 16:16; Romans 12:1–2; Psalm 95:6; Psalm 149:2–3; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; Mark 11:25; Matthew 6:5; Luke 18:11, 13; Genesis 24:26, 48; Exodus 4:31; Psalm 35:13; Philippians 2:9–10; Exodus 17:11; John 15:1–8; Revelation 5:6–13; Revelation 19:5–9; Ruth 2:4; Luke 1:28; Judges 6:12; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; John 6:68; John 1:14; John 20:31; Matthew 11:28; James 1:17; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26

Abstract

Roggow, Aaron, W. “BODY-AND-SOUL: EMBODIED PARTICIPATION OF THE LAITY IN THE DIVINE SERVICE.” Master’s thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 96 pp.

Since God has created us as body-and-soul creatures, it follows that worship of Him is not only spiritual but also physical in essence and in practice. The resurrection of Jesus Christ in the flesh points to the holistic nature of our faith; as such, the physicality of our worship is a fruit of this faith in an incarnate Lord. The benefits of bodily movement and gesture associated with the Word in Christian worship are a vitally important part of worship that undergirds the spirituality of the worship. This is demonstrably evident through a review of psychological and social disciplines, an anthropological examination of culturally contextualized bodily movement, the exploration of ecclesiastical postures and gestures, and a consideration of the theology of bodily movement in worship. The movements of our bodies in worship not only enable us to further participate in the Word of God and respond to it but to be formed by it as well. Examination of the cultural context of Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod worship within the American cultural context provides insight into how its ritual actions have been shaped and can be most thoughtfully implemented going forward. Within this context, there are movements that are helpful and beneficial to the formation of those present in worship. Movement in liturgy is not merely symbolic and useful but integral and formative. In this embodied form of worship, we are able to rest in the presence of our creator as his creatures – the body-and-soul persons He created us to be.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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