Thompson abstract

“Liturgy” does not refer to a particular form or style of worship. It is worship, the “people’s work” of serving God. Baptists have regarded worship as expressive of faith or response to God, and it is both. It is additionally a means by which persons’ identities are formed. This formation takes place regardless of “style” of worship. Due to this fact both formal and informal worship may form persons faithfully in Christian identity, or may form them in less faithful ways. Theological attentiveness to worship is necessary. For Baptists, such attentiveness comes through dialogue with the wider church, and through careful listening to the Baptist heritage itself.