Word, Water, Wine, and Bread

In the book Word, Water, Wine, and Bread: How Worship Has changed Over the Years by William H. Willimon, different types on worshiped on many different levels. In the chapters of this book, Willimon goes into great detail of different reforms of worship, including reformation in the sixteenth century, revivalists after the reformation, and how worship was during the Bible times. He discusses how Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-five Thesis on the church doors ordering reform of the church and the people. Luther said that during communion “the congregation should receive both the bread and the wine at each celebration” (65). Willimon states on page 109 that reform of worship did not come mainly from Europe but the United States. Baptism was also said to be one of the least reformed symbols of worship. One of the major differences now is that we do not take it as literal as it was in the Biblical times.
This book was a very interesting book. It showed me, not just how worship has reformed, but went into depth of how it use to be and how it has changed step by step. I got a good feel of how it was to be a Christian in the Biblical days and even in the sixteenth century with Martin Luther. This book gave the right information for someone who really wanted to learn more how it use to be.
The only thing that I did not like about this book is that, because William Wilimon went into so much detail, he did not descuss recent changes in worship. The research I did described more changes recently. I was looking forward to reading more about them. Although this was not the best book, it gave me a great insight into worship reform and why people wanted it to be reformed. If it had more information about more recent reforms, it would be an amazing book.

Willimon, William. Word, Water, Wine, and Bread: How worship has changed over the years. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1980. Print.