Frankly, I'm not sure what to make of those Evangelical-Lutherans, and especially Evangelical-Lutheran Pastors, who are not in some sense moved, or at least impressed, by the ceremony surrounding the burial of a king. For much of the ceremony of the Evangelical-Lutheran Liturgy is built on court ceremonial.
Court ceremonial is something Americans have a hard time understanding. Our history and our political theory plants in our nature a deep-seated suspicion of court ceremonial. At best, it appears quaint and exotic to us. But for the most part, we not only find it foreign but repulsive--for it is "un-American."
No doubt, on a purely sociological (anthropological) level, this explains not only the natural American dislike for liturgical worship but also the lack of good liturgical instincts or (to say it unkindly) the 'klutziness' by many Pastors who sincerely desire to uphold reverent decorum in church. Even the historically more ceremonial or 'high church' churches have, in their American versions, lost much in terms of good liturgical decorum.
The funeral of the Islamic King Hussein can teach the courtly demeanor that underlies liturgical worship. Watching the groups of dignitaries pay their respects demonstrates courtliness. That the American presidents are stiff and almost militaristic is not surprising--dress-blue parade-review Marine conduct is what approaches court ceremony in America. The Europeans, however, demonstrate a solemn but also comfortable familiarity with court protocol.
Most impressive of all, however, is the demeanor demonstrated by Crown Prince Abdullah. Standing motionless and straight for several minutes before the life-size portrait of the deceased King showed not only the history and tradition, but also the respect and reverence for in the office of monarch resident in the person of the king. This was more than a son properly outdoing the dignitaries in honoring his world-respected father. This was a subject realizing the God-givenness of the government embodied in the King coupled with a profound humility that he, as Crown Prince, now stands within the tradition (or 'on the shoulders') of that divinely mandated governmental authority.
What is good for the office of the Law should be exceeded in the office of the Gospel. The ceremony employed in the presence of the liturgist/minister of the Law (cf. Rom 13.4) can inform the beginnings of the ceremony employed in the presence of the liturgist/minister of the Gospel. If the court employs a ceremony aimed at one they hope is benevolent but who ultimately can rise no higher than the fear engendered by the ultimate punishment, how much more should the church employ a ceremony aimed at the one who gives and inspires godly love and trust?
© Copyright Rev. Fr. John W. Fenton 1999
Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church
4305 N Military
Detroit MI 48210-2451
2/8/99
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