As we look at the concept of pursuing culturally sensitive worship, we must first of all define the terms ?®culture' and ?®worship.' This applies particularly to multicultural or ethnic bodies but has implications even for Caucasian western congregations.
Culture: We are creatures of culture. We cannot talk about human beings in the abstract because we do not exist in the abstract. Just as we cannot live without the earth's atmosphere, we cannot live apart from culture. Culture is inextricably bound up with who we are.
We are creatures of culture. We cannot talk about human beings in the abstract because we do not exist in the abstract. Just as we cannot live without the earth's atmosphere, we cannot live apart from culture. Culture is inextricably bound up with who we are.
Culture is the way of life of a people??the sum total of the actions and experiences of a people and a person. And culture is the means by which individuals or a group of human beings orient, organize and conduct themselves cognitively, affectively and behaviourally in a given time and place.
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Worshipping in their native language and in a familiar style and form provides an oasis to such individuals |
Worship: Corporate worship can be defined as the self-expression of a particular church community in a public celebration of the Christian faith. So when people go to church, they bring their culture with them because culture is their essential selves. Therefore, worship, in order to be relevant and meaningful, has to be an integral part of people's lives and culture.
Corporate worship can be defined as the self-expression of a particular church community in a public celebration of the Christian faith. So when people go to church, they bring their culture with them because culture is their essential selves. Therefore, worship, in order to be relevant and meaningful, has to be an integral part of people's lives and culture.
It is not surprising, then, that most First-Generation immigrants tend to seek out a congregation composed of people from their homeland or those who share their native language. Worshipping in their native language and in a familiar style and form provides an oasis to such individuals as they integrate into their new environment. Cultural familiarity and a homogenous faith community are essentials to anchor and support the immigrants in a foreign land during times of transition and, often, turmoil.
People from diverse cultures bring multiple expectations to the worship service because of their cultural, theological, denominational and national heritage. What follows is a helpful list of questions one may ponder on the multiple dimensions of corporate worship that may be considered very significant in various cultures.
Not all questions apply to any one ethnic congregation, but certainly the questions are appropriate for any church??western Caucasian, second generation or new immigrant??to examine and answer as they seek to create a sensitive worship experience for their congregation's cultural context.
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