In part 1 of “Worship and Culture”, we looked at the work of Richard Niebuhr on how Christ relates to culture. In that post, we saw several different perspectives on who these interact with, and their impact on worship.
In this examination of how worship relates to culture, we will look through a different lens. In 1996, the Lutheran World Federation’s Study Team on Worship and Culture met in Nairobi and produced a statement known as the “Nairobi Statement on Worship and Culture.” Written by church leaders from around the world, this statement gives us valuable insight.
1. Transcultural
Some parts of worship transcend culture and should be part of our worship practices, regardless of the prevalent culture.
Christ himself is transcultural. Worship practices that would also be transcultural would be scripture reading, prayer, church ordinances, etc.
2. Contextual
At the same time, other elements of our worship practices should reflect the culture in which it is practiced. Examples of this include music and dance, which are practiced more widely in other cultures than in Western countries. Early missionaries sent pipe organs, hymnals, and choir robes to Africa as part of their evangelizing efforts, importing their church while ignoring the context of the culture. This leads to cultural disconnect.
3. Counter-Cultural
Just as we saw in part one of this series, there are ways in which Christ and Christianity are opposed to culture. Romans 12:2 reminds us not to be conformed to this world, and being counter-cultural is a part of this. We are to push back on things that are sinful or ungodly.
4. Cross-Cultural
Cross-cultural worship means we learn from and share worship practices from other cultures. This can happen by having a wider view of the body of Christ, not just your local church, but the church around the world. Ultimately, our worship will be multicultural. Revelation 7:9 paints that vision perfectly: a great multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation, worshiping together before the throne.
Here’s the hard part: most churches lean naturally toward one or two of these dynamics.
If it’s only transcultural, it might start to feel sterile or detached from the surrounding culture.
If worship is only contextual, it can turn inward and lose sight of the global Church, something I fear is happening in many places.
If it’s purely counter-cultural, it risks being about what we are against.
And if it’s all cross-cultural, it may miss what’s most meaningful in our church context.
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