Like O-negative blood types, the universal theological donors are American Evangelicals. This universal donor is always translating books into other languages, planting churches in other countries, setting up seminaries on other continents, sending professors to teach global Christians. We don’t have the same intentionality to receive from our global family. The North American church is in need of a remedy to the blind spots in our theology that are shaped by our practices and ultimately impact our formation as Christ followers. We need to be formed by the liturgical practices of the Global Church, but first we must find churches that have not merely adopted our forms. We must ask, why are there so many churches around the world that just want to mimic Hillsong?

Decolonizing worship is the work of asking why Christian practices from the Global South mirror both western liturgical forms and modern contemporary Christian expressions, and acknowledging the impact of that reality on the whole church. Reflection, acknowledgement, and repentance of the oppressive ways worship has been imposed on Christians around the world historically will ultimately also result in our liberation. We will be able to see what we have and what we are missing.

The American Evangelical Church witnesses the growth of the church in Latina America, Africa, and Asia, as it hopes for a for a vibrant revival at home. Churches of color in Urban settings as well as immigrant churches also show huge promise to be the future of the church in America. Worship has been at the root of the growth in the non-Western, non-white settings. Pentecostal prayer forms, revival and reclaiming of indigenous instruments and dancing find their way to our ears. The de-Westernization and breaking free of the shackles of forms of worship that were used as forms of colonization and oppression are in full force. We in the West are in need of the spiritual practices of our southern brothers and sisters.