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Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service

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Arthur A. Just, Jr. is a professor of New Testament exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition to his seminary teaching, he also directs the deaconess program, co-directs the Good Shepherd Institute of Pastoral Theology and Sacred Music and worked on the lectionary for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's new Lutheran Service Book Hymnal.

Although his training is primarily in New Testament exegetical theology (and considers himself primarily a New Testament scholar), the circumstances of his career have caused him to write, speak, and teach a good deal about the historic liturgy. This book is a summary of his writing on the liturgy to date (7). As such, it reads somewhat like an anthology and somewhat like a traditional book with a unified thesis. That is to say, the chapters are self-contained yet build upon one another toward, each carrying theme throughout.

Just's primary way of presenting the liturgy is that in the Divine Service, something actually happens: 1) God serves us by giving us forgiveness of sins, life, salvation, and a strengthened faith; 2) angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven are united with us in worship, especially in communion; 3) the Body of Christ (the Church) is knit together more tightly; and 4) a nexus between Heaven and Earth exists (that is, worship is an eschatological event).

Just then presents the history and sociology of the Divine Service, viewing them through the windows of these above miracles. He shows the Jewish roots of the Divine Service, the historic use of Psalms in worship, the history and practice of Holy Communion and Baptism, and the relationship between the Divine Service and mission. With a more sociological slant, Just demonstrates that the Christian concept of time is more cyclical than linear; the concept of fellowship, and typology. Just also breaks down the various rites in the Divine Service (e.g. Kyrie, Sanctus), presents their historical development, and their importance in worship.

The singular best chapter is Chapter 11: The Historic Liturgy among Lutherans. Here, Just traces the major shifts in worship. Covered are the Pre-Constantinian Era (where Christianity was illegal and worship was conducted in private residences), the Post-Constantinian Era (where Christians began worshiping in church buildings and the liturgy became more elaborate), the era between the barbarian invasion of the Roman Empire and the Reformation (where Just demonstrates that great damage was done to belief when elaborate rites were introduced to draw in the locals...many parallels with our modern times), the Reformation era (where the Divine Service was purged of its errors), and more current debates. Just uses logic, theology, and historic evidence in this chapter to counter the argument that the Church must adapt its liturgy (or throw it out) to the surrounding culture for the sake of mission.

While the historical development and theology of the Divine Service has been well covered in many books within the past few decades, "Heaven on Earth" makes an excellent contribution to these writings through an emphasis on God's service to us, eschatology, and the problematic positions of many who act in defense of or opposition to the Divine Service. Recommended.

Dr. Just has been a significant servant in the Lutheran church for liturgical renewal. In the midst of the worship wars, he modified his approach to not being on the defensive, but going on the offensive to correct some misunderstandings.

He previously developed an excellent video series on this same topic, which he now in this work refines it even more and makes it even more layperson focused, as well as adding some other materials he had previously written as well as some new insights.

The title is most appropriately chosen, for it explains the Lutheran take on the subject: our worship is Biblical and apocalyptic. Christ invades earth from heaven in His presence in the holy means of grace. This historically is from earliest centuries of church through same major components now in Lutheran Divine Service: historic five-fold shape of Entrance, Word, Preparation, Sacrament, Distribution; surrounded by ordinaries, hymns; all this for Jesus to be present among us offering his gifts of life, salvation through forgiveness of sins.

There is excellent glossary and full resource of notes and bibliographic materials.

To be highly used and studied by the church catholic.

Let me confess I am a big fan of Dr. Just and own all his books. His series on Luke is tremendous. Luke 1:1-9:50 (Concordia Commentary)Luke 9:51-24:53 (Concordia Commentary). With Heaven On Earth Dr. Just has risen to a new level and taken his readers with him.

Heaven On Earth traces the historic Liturgy back to the days of Christ. He shows how the Liturgy has sustained the church through persecution, heresy, wars, famine, plague and even divisions within the church. And then reminds us to take that Body of Christ when we leave the church and share it generously.

I will be buying copies of this book to give as presents.

This is an interesting take on the blessings of the historic liturgy and its place in modern worship. Chapter 11 is especially valuable and should the reader start getting bogged down in details early on, it's worth skipping to that chapter for a read. Dr. Just plays it a little fast and lose with some of his history, but most is accurate as I recall it from my Seminary days, (a long time ago). My lasting impression is that the invasion of Rome by the Barbarians brought an accommodation to their culture by the church which embellished the early, simple liturgy with pomp and flourishes that adulterated it. Good thing that Luther cleaned it up theologically. I'm left with the conclusion that the modern move to simplify the liturgy is, perhaps, a return to its earlier roots and that's not all bad, an impression with which Dr. Just would, no doubt, take exception. Footnote: Agreed that it's unacceptable to compromise principles to accommodate the culture, but if we don't put the Message in a context the culture understands and can embrace, the game is over - and we've struck-out. Why it was OK for Luther to put good theological text in popular tunes but it's not OK to do the same thing today, I never will comprehend.