Page 59 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Contrasting Western and African modes of worship
Edited from Madalitso Kalinde and Rev. Bernard Mwepu

There are many similarities and many differences between how people worship God in the Western Hemisphere
as compared to Africa.

It is important to understand that you cannot separate worship from culture. While biblical truths are the same,
the expression of those truths differs.

Western versus African church worship

Time orientation
Westerners are more of time-oriented while Africans we are more event-oriented. In Africa, the believers can
spend the whole day worshipping without complaint. In the West, church events start at a certain time and end
at a certain time. In Africa, the service begins when everyone gets there and concludes when they feel they
have truly worshipped the Lord.

Expression of Worship – Singing
The Western church service is less expressive than the African service. You might see people raising their hand
in the West as in Africa, but seldom will you see people dancing and moving to the music. That is why in Africa,
we always stand up to sing while in the West, they may sing a song seated. Also, in Africa people, when blessed
by a thought or message, may make a joyful noise, whereas in the West, this would not be allowed.

Dedication of Worship
The Western church service seems to be optional for some of the attenders. They drive to their church and
generally are passive through the entire process of the service. It seems like it’s something they do out of habit
or obligation, rather than from a real desire to worship the Lord. In the West, a pastor in California shortened
the church service so that those attending could get back home to watch a football game on the television. Such
a thing would never be practiced in Africa. Africans go to church to encounter God and His power.

Dressing for Worship
It has been my observation that in Western churches, people dress in a much more casual manner than in Africa.
It is even hard to identify who the pastor is as he pretty much blends with the dress of the congregation.
Westerners take a pretty much casual attitude when they gather to worship.

In Africa, the pastors dress as the leader of the worship in their very best clothes. Most pastors wear ties and
suits in the pulpit. The people try to wear their very best to honor the Lord when they come to worship Him. In
Africa, coming to worship is a special privilege, greatly valued by each worshipper. That attitude is
communicated by their dress.

Pastor’s Support
In the West, most pastors are supported by the church with a very good salary, sometimes in excess of the
typical amount most of the congregation make. In Africa, most pastors are not salaried but receive a portion of
the offering each week and any other gifts people may give them. In the West, the pastors make very little
sacrifice to lead the sheep, whereas in Africa, most pastors are very poor, yet they often care for orphans of
relatives beside their own children. Many people in Africa look to the pastor to help them in great need. The
financial pressures on pastors in Africa far exceed those in the West.

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