The Worshiping Community And Its Cultural Context
The very expression of worship is shaped by the culture that shapes those who worship. Every person inherits styles of language and music, conventions of communication and greeting, and patterns of thinking and feeling from the culture in which he or she lives. These are inevitably reflected in countless ways in worship: The style of language of hymns and prayers, the ways worshipers greet each other or pass the peace, and the types of physical expression deemed appropriate are all shaped by culture. As Christianity moves into new cultural settings or as culture changes in settings where Christianity has had a long history, worship leaders and planners must consider how liturgical texts and actions can remain faithful to the Scriptures and be authentic expressions of worship from within culture. This challenging task, which is often described by the term inculturation, demands that liturgists be thoroughly knowledgeable about what is essential in Christian worship and what is authentic for a given culture. This section will introduce readers to the fascinating subject of liturgical inculturation and provide some basic guidelines for thinking about this important subject.