Most of the following is from the Frank Viola and George Barna book - "Pagan Christianity"
The Mass was the re-sacrificing of Jesus for sins.
Its liturgy based partly on Judaic Temple service, partly, Greek mystery rituals.
Gregory the Great (540AD): a generous and diplomatic administrator but influenced by paganism.
Processional music, banners, lights, special garments, and seating into which the "priests" would ascend as the singing neared its end, are all characteristics of Greco-Roman paganism.
[please note: people Joy worshiping Jesus with singing and music is the pinnacle, not those acts leading to man worship.]
Martin Luther took the emphasis from Eucharist to the Sermon (the Word) in the liturgy used for centuries, stopped using Latin, used congregational singing, stopped the idea that it was a sacrifice of Jesus, and communion is for the congregation, big changes theologically, but not much else changed in his church liturgy:
Singing
Prayer
Sermon
Admonition to the people.
Lord's Supper
Singing
Post-Communion prayer
Benediction.
Calvin took away musical instruments and choirs and encouraged somber self abasement.
Bucer in Puritan New England fined children who smiled in church.
Calvin added:
Confession,
Collection of alms
to the liturgy, although the pre-sermon prayer could be spontaneous (but became routinely long).
Methodist' sermons and music were focused on winning the lost,
and so included a "mourners bench seat" and then the "Altar call".
Finney called sinners to the front to receive Christ.
He used "pragmatism" (if something works it should be used whether ethical or not, eg emotional manipulation) in his services.
Moody' (~1850) sermons focused on individual salvations and he saw church as a voluntary association of the saved.
He was heavily influenced by Plymouth Brethren view of end times (pre tribulational dispensationalism).
Pentecostalism (~1906) brought more animated worship with more acceptance of manifestations of the Holy Ghost. [People like John G Lake advanced an understanding of our authority in the healing ministry.]
Liturgy hinders spiritual transformation.
Encourages passivity.
Limits ministry.
Promotes an illusion that "going to church" once or twice a week means one is living the life.
[The New Testament has no liturgy per se.
The Corinthians were mixing in a lot of stuff so Paul gave outlines of how it should "look".
The Gathering should "look" dynamic in a culture characterised as the Holy Spirit brings love (affection for others), joy (exuberance about life), peace (serenity), patience (a willingness to stick with things), kindness (a sense of compassion in the heart), goodness (a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people), faithfulness (involved in loyal commitments), gentleness (not needing to force our way in life), self-control (able to marshal and direct our energies wisely); and He especially drenches the Church in Love, Faith and Hope.
Giftings, revelations (visions, dreams included), encouragements, songs, tongues with interpretations, and prophesyings operating within the five fold apostolic, prophetic, evangelic, shepherding and teaching ministries.
"Decent and in order" allows all to participate over time.]
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