A hallmark of society in the last 40 years is the sense of fragmentation. Especially in the church is the sense of fragmentation more noticeable. The unfortunate result is that we think we can piece meal together aspects of the church and its worship life as if it does not matter. But fragmentation of who God is and who we are is never healthy. Paul Althaus wrote — consider the totality of the church’s witness, especially insightful for us who struggle with the fragmented view of church:
The Word and its embodiment belong together, not only in the individual preacher, but also in the church as a whole. The preaching church is at the same time the serving church, which takes upon itself the need of people and in every way seeks to set up signs of the love of Christ in the world. It is intended to be understood as witness.
It is in this comprehensive context that the preaching of the church’s ministry stands. And there is still more to be said. Preaching also belongs in the totality of the church’s “worship of God,” all its forms and structures. This totality bears witness along with the preaching and thus sustains it. So it is with the liturgy, above all the word of the Bible in it, the songs of the church, its prayers, and hymns, the order of every service of worship and the church year, the whole of the church’s order and custom. But also the building, pictures and sculpture, liturgical music, the whole of Christian art, insofar as all this has had its impulse from the encounter with the gospel and is born of the Spirit of God, can become a witness that builds the the church.
Paul Althaus in The Minister’s Prayer Book: An Order of Prayers and Readings, edited with an introduction by John W. Doberstein, London: Collins Liturgical Publications, 1986 (Fortress Press, 1986), p. 263.
“believe, teach, and confess” 