Alternative worship
Encyclopedia
Alternative Worship is "what happens when people create worship
for themselves," according to Steve Collins. As a phenomenon it began mainly in Europe
, Australia
and New Zealand
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is practiced by Christians
across the age-range, although has a particular following amongst adults in their 20s and 30s.
Alternative Worship usually refers to an approach to Christian worship and worship planning that emphasizes decentralized leadership, congregational participation, multi-sensory experience, ritual and narrative form. It is often discussed in contrast to Contemporary worship
or "Youth" services. In fact it is (arguably) in part a reaction against, or a development beyond evangelical
or charismatic
forms of worship. It tends to use popular (secular) music forms in place of Christian worship songs, and more casual talks in place of the traditional sermon
. Alternative Worship often does not have an obvious leader or stage, and may not involve singing or lecture-style presentations at all.
Alternative worship services often feature elements from ancient Christian spirituality and liturgy, such as a labyrinth
, a kyrie
, candle lighting and the sacrament
s in combination with very new elements, like projected images or video and/or electronic music.
Terms that are more appropriate to the approach used in these services would be Holistic Worship, Multisensory worship
or Creative Worship.
Alternative worship is often associated with the Emerging Church
.
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
for themselves," according to Steve Collins. As a phenomenon it began mainly in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is practiced by Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
across the age-range, although has a particular following amongst adults in their 20s and 30s.
Alternative Worship usually refers to an approach to Christian worship and worship planning that emphasizes decentralized leadership, congregational participation, multi-sensory experience, ritual and narrative form. It is often discussed in contrast to Contemporary worship
Contemporary worship
Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a...
or "Youth" services. In fact it is (arguably) in part a reaction against, or a development beyond evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
or charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
forms of worship. It tends to use popular (secular) music forms in place of Christian worship songs, and more casual talks in place of the traditional sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
. Alternative Worship often does not have an obvious leader or stage, and may not involve singing or lecture-style presentations at all.
Alternative worship services often feature elements from ancient Christian spirituality and liturgy, such as a labyrinth
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos...
, a kyrie
Kyrie
Kyrie, a transliteration of Greek κύριε , vocative case of κύριος , meaning "Lord", is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, which is also called the Kýrie, eléison ....
, candle lighting and the sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
s in combination with very new elements, like projected images or video and/or electronic music.
Terms that are more appropriate to the approach used in these services would be Holistic Worship, Multisensory worship
Multisensory worship
Multisensory worship or multi-sensory worship is a form of alternative worship, which has been associated with the Emerging Church, though one could consider the Early Church and worship in the Old Testament as quite "multisensory". Multisensory worship is part prayer, part worship. It usually...
or Creative Worship.
Alternative worship is often associated with the Emerging Church
Emerging Church
The emerging church is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, post-evangelical, anabaptist, adventist, liberal, post-liberal, reformed, charismatic,...
.