Luther - Works of Martin Luther Vol. 6 - Righteousness is Love

9Luther had a native sense both of the fitness of things liturgical and of theirhonest purpose; and, deeply spiritual man that he was, he could not helpbut follow the feel for the loftiest and holiest in expressing his ownworship, and what was an intense desire on his part, in desiring to providefor the expression of the worship of the common people as well. Thesethings were life, — the practical in church-, spiritual-, worship-, life; butthey must express the true faith; there must be complete harmony there;this must be the glorious dress of the more glorious Jewel; the Suprememust have the supremacy, of its very essence, dominate, radiate, diffuse,infuse, give and receive. With the Word primary, evidential, all embracing,here is the vehicle of the Word and the Way to it.So, rightly judged, the one all-controlling principle in every liturgicalreform and application is the centralization of and approach to the Word.That which he and they possessed, in which they were expressing theirworship-life, which had become part and parcel of their life, was not to bethrown aside ruthlessly either as inadequate or worthless; for that it wasnot: life had proved, and was still proving, otherwise. But it was to bemeasured by, and treasured for, the life it had found in and through thisWord and only as it had served this Word. Only such elements as met thisstandard could be retained, Here reformation meant cleansing and retentionof the pure and true, and not necessarily rejection or revolution or a newbuilding; rather a restoration on the foundation of the ancient holiness andsingleness and simplicity.Luther’s liturgical reform must be considered as dealing with a body ofmaterial already existing and in present, common use; likewise admittingthat in this body of material is the expression of essential, pure worship inancient simplicity and in harmony with the Word of God. This is capable ofdiscovery; more, it is patent. Therefore, the purpose is not so much toabrogate or to east aside the existing, but to retain, preserve, and continueit, in whole or in part, — much as is expressive of pristine teaching,simplicity, and purity. The essential of the Reformation is perpetuation ofthe true, not abrogation; renewal, not invention and fabrication de novo.“It is not our intention to discontinue the Liturgy, but to restore itagain to proper and correct usage.” — Von ordenung.Now there are two ways of viewing Luther’s activities and interest inliturgical reform and of attempting to evaluate the results.