The denominations of
Christianity are pluralistic in many ways, including in their understandings of
worship (Empereur 2004: 15). According to Alvarado (2012: 135), the way people
worship reveals both their understanding of God and contributes to their
spiritual development. Worship therefore ushers adherents into an authentic and
meaningful relationship with God and with each other. However, in contemporary
society, “many people seek deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives”
(Alvarado 2012: 136). Much of the contemporary population desire to experience
worship in their churches in living, active and dynamic ways.
The tenets of
Pentecostal worship which are passionate praise and emotional release make its
expression a transformative, active, vibrant and moving encounter with God and
the Holy Spirit (Alvarado 2012: 139). Pentecostal theology of worship therefore
has much to offer Christianity and its adherents in terms of liturgy and ritual.
According to Alvarado (2012: 135), “a Pentecostal revision of liturgy and
liturgical theology will benefit the Church.” However, many churches are
reluctant to abandon their prepared liturgy in favour of free-flowing worship
like that of Pentecostalism.
Take Hillsong Worship
for example. Hillsong embraces contemporary technological advances and
recognises contemporary society’s needs to form a new practice of worship
through a well-recognised music ministry. The repetition of the lyrics and the
transforming melodies within its songs transform the individual participants so
that they may transcend the normality of life for a special spiritual
experience. It is thus a dynamic, transformational and spiritually formative
event. This is exemplified in the following YouTube clip of a song called This I Believe (The Creed). This Hillsong
Worship song is based on the Apostles Creed and is a unifying bold declaration
of faith in Jesus Christ. Just by listening to and watching this video, the
individual can gain a sense of the feelings one can attain from a new, more encompassing
and active type of worship.
In an increasingly
digital age, youth are becoming no longer interested in attending Church
services as they find them ‘outdated’ or ‘boring.’ So, by adapting elements of
the Pentecostal tradition in order to engage worshippers with the word of God
and the Holy Spirit, it may strengthen the faith and encourage participation
and church attendance in the future of Christianity. This view of liturgical
reformation would revive our Christian hearts and give us the opportunity to be
a worshipping community, like that shown in the above Hillsong video (Alvarado
2012: 151).
As Empereur expounds,
“excellent parishes are like missionary outposts that are in conflict with the
surrounding culture but are trying to sanctify it.” So, in a world overtaken by
technology and secularism, an enlivening of the Christian faith is somewhat
necessary to renew faith within the adherent’s lives. So, is Pentecostalism the
future of Christianity?
References
Alvarado, J. (2012).
Worship in the Spirit: Pentecostal Perspectives on Liturgical Theology and
Praxis. Journal of Pentecostal Theology,
21: 135–151
Empereur, J. (2004).
Worship Wars in the Roman Catholic Church. Liturgy,
19(4): 15-24.
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