Christian Worship: Christianity
Christian Worship: Christianity
Christian Worship: Christianity
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In Christianity, worship is considered the central act of Christian identity, the purpose of which is
to give honor or worth to God.
Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily
liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns , with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the
Scripture particularly the Psalter; this form of sacramental and ceremonial worship is still
practiced by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, as well as some
Protestant denominations such as Lutheranism and Methodism.
Responsorial prayers are a series of petitions read or sung by a leader with responses made by
the congregation. Set times for prayer during the day were established (based substantially on
Jewish models), and a festal cycle throughout the Church year governed the celebration of feasts
and holy days pertaining to the events in the life of Jesus, the lives of the saints, and aspects of
the Church's perception of God.[
Present day
Current Christian worship practices are diverse and reflect the fragmented nature of modern
Christianity, with a range of customs and theological views. Three broad groupings can be
identified, and whilst some elements are universal, style and content varies greatly due to the
history and differing emphases of the various branches of Christianity.
In many Christian traditions, regular public worship is complemented by other forms of worship,
such as individual meditation, prayer and study, small group prayer (often linked with Bible study)
[1], and formal ceremonies on special occasions, including weddings, funerals, baptisms and
events of Church or state.[citation needed]
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Common elements
While differing considerably in form, the following items characterise the worship of virtually all
C
Christian churches.
[
Bible readings[2]
Prayer
Sacramental tradition
orship (variously known as the Mass, Divine Liturgy, Divine Service, Eucharist, or Communion) is
formal and centres on the offering of thanks and praise for the death and resurrection of Christ
over the people's offerings of bread and wine, breaking the bread, and the receiving of the
Eucharist, seen as the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Churches in this group understand
worship as a mystic participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, through which they are
united with him and with each other. Services are structured according to a liturgy and typically
include other elements such as prayers, recitations, hymns, choral music, the reading of
scripture, and some form of teaching or sermon. The service is usually led by a priest who wears
vestments.
Reformation tradition
The emphasis is on the Bible as the ultimate authority in all matters and services therefore focus
on a sermon, which is frequently an exposition of part of the Bible or an exhortation on morality or
faith. Worship in such a context also generally features spoken prayer (either unscripted or
prepared), Scripture readings, and congregational singing of hymns
Firstly, contemporary worship music is now widespread and can be found in many churches,
including those which do not subscribe to a charismatic theology. This music is written in the style
of popular music or folk music and therefore differs considerably from traditional hymns. It is
frequently played on a range of instruments that would not have previously been used in
churches such as guitars (including electric) and drum kits. Use of the pipe organ is therefore less
prevalent.
Secondly, a new music-centred approach to worship, known as contemporary worship, is now
commonplace. The replaces the traditional order of worship based around liturgy or a "hymn-
prayer sandwich" with extended periods of congregational singing sometimes referred to as
"block worship".
Within the Catholic Church, the charismatic movement has had much less influence on the
structure of regular worship, although contemporary worship music is sometimes used in some
parishes, particularly those affected by a movement known as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
Worship practices in the Eastern Churches have largely remained unaffected.
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Anglican devotions
Anglican devotions are private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians to promote
spiritual growth and communion with God. Among members of the Anglican Communion, private
devotional habits vary widely, depending on personal preference, and on their affiliation with low-
church or high-church parishes.
Private prayer and Bible reading are probably the most common religious practices of devout
Anglican Christians when they are not at church. Some base their private prayers on the liturgies
and prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer.
Anglican prayer beads
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Catholic devotions
Catholic devotions are prayer forms which are not part of the official public liturgy of the Church
but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics. Many are officially sanctioned by the
Church as profitable for spiritual growth but not necessary for salvation. Often devotions in the
Church take the form of formalized prayers, sacred objects or sacred images that arise from
private revelations, or personal religious experiences of individuals such as apparitions of Mary or
of Christ. Catholic devotions also include the veneration of the saints. The Church has a tradition
of thorough investigation of such private revelations and the lives of candidates for sainthood to
assure that no natural or scientific explanation can, at the time of investigation, account for any
miracles involved. Often an approved devotion of the Church has a particular prayer form, an
image and sometimes a message or prophecy.
Several examples of Catholic devotions include the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, the Holy Face of Jesus, the various scapulars, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our
Lady of Guadalupe, Seven Sorrows of Mary, Novenas to various saints, pilgrimages and
devotions to the Blessed Sacrament, and the veneration of icons in the Eastern Catholic Rites,
etc.
Worship in Islam
According to the Qur'an, mankind was created only for the purpose to worship God (Qur'an
51:56). Prayer or pilgrimage are just special forms of worship; obedience to God and the attempt
to assume the attributes of God as far as possible (2:138) are forms of worship which should
ideally encompass every human action. See [4].
In general, Worship is all inclusive term for everything one says or does which is pleasing to
God.The concepts and purposes of worship in Islam and Christianity are unparallel to other
religions in existence. Combining the mundane with the spiritual, the individual with the society,
and the internal soul with the external body. Worship has a unique role in Islam, and through
worship, a person is regarded as a true Muslim who accords his entire life to the Will of God.
The importance of worship may be seen in the fact that it has been prescribed by God in all
religions prior to Islam. God said in the Quran: “And assuredly We have sent among every people
a messenger (with the command): worship God…” (Quran 16:36) Worship in Islam has so many
facets that it is difficult to describe them all in words. The most general meaning of worship in
Islam is inclusive of everything which is pleasing to God, whether they deal with issues of belief,
or deeds of the body. It may include everything a person perceives, thinks, intends, feels, says
and does. It also refers to everything that God requires, external, internal or interactive. This
includes rituals as well as beliefs, work, social activities, and personal behavior, as human being
is a whole, such that every part affects every other.
Worship in Buddhism
Worship in Buddha Dharma may take innumerable forms given the doctrine of skillful means.
Worship is evident in Buddhism in such forms as: guru yoga, mandala, thanka, yantra yoga, the
discipline of the fighting monks of Shaolin, panchamrita, mantra recitation, tea ceremony,
ganacakra, amongst others.