Asian Worship

The following article briefly describes a variety of worship practices on the Asian continent that have grown out of a desire to be both faithful to the Christian tradition and reflective of local culture. Each of these examples provides a thought-provoking case study regarding the interplay of Christianity and culture, giving readers both a window into worship on the Asian continent and a perspective from which to evaluate their own worship practices. Readers should bear in mind that the Asian churches represent many cultural and denominational traditions and that specific examples should not be taken as representative of worship on the whole continent. Many Asian liturgies and forms of worship are replicas or imitations of those practiced in their mother churches in Europe and the West. Although there are vast national and denominational differences in liturgical practices in Asia, one may group Asian liturgies into four traditions: the Mar Thomas tradition in South India, the high…