14 February 2010

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

Or, in English, you are what you sing.

5 comments:

Bryce P Wandrey said...

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say "You are what you pray"?

Bryce P Wandrey said...

William,
It is also interesting that you post this today as I have posted Robert Jenson's thoughts on what the Reformation's lex is on the Lutheran Theology site.

William Weedon said...

Interesting, Bryce.

About sing as opposed to pray, I was thinking particularly of the Lutheran hymn corpus as part of the greater Western and greater Christian hymn corpus.

Bryce P Wandrey said...

William,
I wouldn't deny that corpus as part of the life of pray but also, of course, wouldn't limit it to that and hence, would not limit the lex orandi to the Lutheran hymn corpus nor to the Christian hymn corpus.

Rev. Josh Sullivan said...

I agree. This is the answer I give to folks when they ask "how come you never let us sing How Great Thou Art?" Because you digest what you sing. And what you sing you should be praying. And what you pray should come from Scripture and say back to God what He has said to us. If you sing methodist hymns, eventually you'll believe like a Methodist. I'll try your line on my parishioner next time she says something. I'm sure it will make her think. . or pray. . or sing. . .