The Struggle to Reclaim the Liturgy in the Lutheran Church: Adiaphora in Historical, Theological and Practical Perspective

by James Alan Waddell

Waddell (religion and philosophy, Concordia U.) argues that forms of contemporary worship in Lutheran churches are adiaphora, or nonessential to the liturgical tradition. He examines adiaphora and considers Liturgical Theology, revisionist readings of sources, the gospel, and the definition of the church in the Lutheran and Melanchthon Confessions. Historic liturgical forms should be adhered to, he says, using for support the liturgy during the Reformation, sources by Martin Chemnitz, in statu confessionis, and teachings about the sacraments, catchesis, and culture. The appendix contains the tenth chapter of Chemnitz's Iudicium. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

448 pages, Hardcover

First published December 28, 2005