Let it be a settled principle in our minds that the first and chief business of the Church of Christ is to preach the Gospel. The words of Paul ought to be constantly remembered – “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). When the Gospel of Christ is faithfully and fully preached we need not fear that the sacraments will be undervalued. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will always be most truly reverenced in those churches where the truth of Jesus is most fully taught and known.
~ J.C. Ryle
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 1, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 193.
I joined the Eastern Orthodox Church nearly 20 years ago, and have grown with the congregation for many years, but I sense that certain trends are moving us in fact further away from the Simplicity in Christ, towards ever more outward show, drama and ritual.
While the Eastern Orthodox are a ‘liturgical’ church, there are degrees to which a local Priest may or may not choose to embellish on the service. Sadly my own Priest is seemingly enamored with the high church drama and I’ve seen the order of services take on ever more levels of drama and choreography.
This all appeals to the Aesthetic Church crowd, but I find the trend very unsavory.