Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
The Challenge of Exposing People to Multicultural Worship Abroad, Pt. III
By Luke Bostrom
As a part of outreach to Filipinos, the music worship leader for the middle school has recently introduced a new song for everyone to learn. He taught the students and faculty how to say each word and then added the music after we caught the hang of things. This is 
very similar to my approach in presenting new songs in new languages.
Contrary to when I had introduced a new language to the high school students, those in the middle school were engaged and even eager to sing out the new song they had just been taught. It brought me great joy to be a part of the learning experience with them and also to observe their willingness to try something different. I also pay tribute to the leader who skillfully taught and lead the song.
As I reflected back, I considered the differences that may have affected such varying outcomes of multicultural, multilingual worship. Here are song things I have learned:
1) We can learn from the middle school kids. They were open to being taught a new song in a new language. They were not self-conscious or scared to sing out, even if they didn’t know exactly how to pronounce a word or two. They knew the song was meant for ministering to people other than just themselves.
2) We can learn from the music worship leader. He knew the song he was teaching like the back of his hand. He also knew the language 
he was teaching very well. He used good technique in instructing us how to learn the song. He did part of the song in a language we all understood (English) so that we knew what we were singing. He used repetition to allow us time to get acclimated.
3) We can learn from our mistakes. You can’t know how introducing new songs and new languages will work until you at least attempt it. God has revealed in his Word that multicultural worship will play a pivotal role in eternity, so we need to start practicing now, here on earth.
It is His gift to us, that we might catch a glimpse of heaven. So I may have performed a song poorly. I may have mispronounced some words. I may have taught the new material too quickly. Whatever the case may be it should not obstruct us from pursuing the biblical vision of kingdom worship.
I am praying for guidance and strength from God. The road ahead is paved with trials and a constant reminder of my reliance on His grace is immeasurably necessary. I also pray that through God’s Word, his people would recognize the importance of multicultural worship and the amazing effect it has on reaching out to people from every nation, tribe, people and tongue.
I hope this has acted as an encouragement to you. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at the following address: lukebostrom@yahoo.com
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
The Challenge of Exposing People to Multicultural Worship Abroad, Pt. II
By Luke Bostrom
I teach in a context where each of these students can speak at least two, if not three, different languages. This language I am teaching in the worship song only contains four or five words and the spelling on the PowerPoint is phonetic!
I didn’t understand the resistance.
In general, my early experiences with multicultural and multilingual worship abroad were discouraging. It would be inaccurate of me, however, to say that everyone was in resistance to me pushing the model of worship music in that direction.
I specifically remember having an adult leader of Oasis approach me and say how awesome it was to introduce new languages and styles into the worship setting. This person seemed to grapple with the understanding that worshipping through music is not about always feeling comfortable, but rather striving towards a biblical model of worship.
Worship is about whom we are worshipping, not about what we want (or expect) to get out of it. The beauty of the way God ordained worship is such that when we only focus on giving him all the glory and honor we will also inherently received the gift of benefitting from the experience. It is then a matter of priorities and focus. God’s glory first, with our satisfaction and joy then flowing forth from it.
Across the spectrum of multicultural worship acceptance, it is common to see the two polarities, with neither side capturing the true biblical essence. On the one hand, a church or group of worshippers might readily accept and even encourage multicultural elements. They may even spend a great deal of time and resources on achieving a consistent presence of it in their services.
Problems arise though, because it is viewed as something new, exciting, or even chic. It is a trendy way of doing things that might help 
attendance, bolster racial harmony, and gain relevancy in modern society. Though none of the aforementioned benefits of multicultural worship are bad, they can certainly serve as a distraction from the meaning of worship itself.
Additionally, there is no lasting effect on the way one worships due to the transient treatment of new ideas on forms of music.
Conversely, more akin to my personal experience is the rejection or resistance to multicultural worship. I have already touched on a few issues I ran into abroad, but I noticed that many issues occurred in the United States as well. These included problems like exposing cultural and racial ignorance, integrating multicultural elements gradually (as opposed to dropping the model on a congregation all at once), and translating songs accurately, just to name a few.
Both ends of the spectrum have one major hole in them, causing multicultural worship to suffocate instead of flourish. They both miss the core biblical emphasis and calling for people “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,” to bow before the One who sits on the throne (Rev. 7:9-10).
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.