I want to take a few minutes of your time and talk about music. There is so much bad music out there that is scary. No, I’m not referring to the awful secular music, with its pervasive and perverted language and message. Rap music is horrible and so is Rock, Country, Salsa, Reggae and almost every other musical genre in the world.
There are a growing number of bad Christian songs. In a sense, many Christian bands resemble the secular bands so much, that you can hardly tell the difference anymore. Many of their songs can be called “You” songs, because the name of Jesus or God is never mentioned in them. Most of those songs can be played in the mainstream (secular) radio and they will never offend anybody, because they can easily pass as love songs.
Even many of the so-called worship songs of today are partially or completely incorrect in their theology. Let me give a few examples:
Inside Out —“My heart and my soul, I give you control” We give control to God? Really?
Reckless Love — “Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God” Is God reckless?
Your Presence – “Holy Spirit you are welcomed here, come flood this place…” He is here already
Come, now it’s the time to worship – “Come just as you are to worship” “every knee will bow, but still the greatest treasure remains for those who choose you now” We need to repent before we worship and there is no “treasure for unbelievers”
What a beautiful Name – “You didn’t want heaven without us” This is plain heresy
In the Secret – “I want to touch you; I want to see your face…” Who does he want to touch?
Our worship songs must be songs that worship Christ our Lord openly and biblically. We don’t need to water down our message in order to reach the unbelievers for Christ. The “Jesus” of these and many other songs (if He is even mentioned at all), is not our Lord and Savior but only a generic Christ that saves no one, offends no one and rules no one.
We must worship our Lord in the following ways:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
“Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, Give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:1, 2)
“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7)
Our worship songs then must be spiritual (according to the Holy Spirit) and biblical (according to the truth of the Bible). Worship songs and hymns must glorify the Lord openly and unashamedly and yes, they should be songs full of gladness, joy and thanksgiving (Read Psalm 100), as we proclaim the greatness of our God and celebrate the new life we have in Him.
A. G.
