I have a confession to make, my friend, regarding something that many of us are likely to give little thought to. Over the last few years, the Lord has prompted me to take some time to seriously consider the “praise and worship” music that I listen to. After watching two “Worship Wars” videos from Olive Tree Ministries and a couple videos of Alistair Begg on the subject, I realized that I had rarely actually carefully considered or examined the worship, praise, and Christian music I listen to.
Honesty compels me to confess, I used to just listen to what was popular, what sounded good to me. After being reminded by my dear friend Melinda how very important worship is, I wanted to know more about it. I was reminded of some very important truths that I would like to share with you. Worship is extremely important and is actually part of spiritual warfare. In 2 Chronicles 20, God literally fought their battle for them when the Israelites began to sing and praise Him.
I nearly gave myself a headache as I spent time looking up Scriptures about praise and worship in the Bible. It is mentioned a lot, my friend. In fact, it is mentioned so much that it confirmed just how important this issue is to Him. This prompted me to ask some very important questions. Does it matter to Him how I worship Him? How important are the words to Him? Does it matter who I listen to when it comes to praise and worship music? Should worship be based on feelings or facts?
How important is it to carefully consider the songs I sing in worship to Him? How important is it to carefully consider the people I listen to and thereby support, when it comes to “worship” music? (I want to preface the rest of what I say in the words that follow by saying this. I ask only that you prayerfully consider what I say as I endeavor to share what is on my heart, dear one.) I want to begin my search for answers to the questions I have raised by going to the words of Jesus.
In John 4:23, Jesus told the woman at the well that the hour was coming and now here, when true worshippers would “worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.” The Amplified Bible explains that it means people will worship from the heart, the inner self and in truth. I take this to mean that we are to worship from the heart and in truth. Meaning it should come from the heart and be based in and focused on Truth.
So, my worship should come from the heart, but it should also always be based on Truth, which means what I am saying/singing matters. The words I sing in worship should be based on Truth. They should always be Scripturally accurate. It should be based on facts, not my feelings. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts and music/songs go right to our hearts. It only makes sense that we should carefully consider the songs we are choosing to be the worship coming from our hearts.
I have to confess that I found myself completely appalled and somewhat embarrassed when it was pointed out how many songs I loved that were in fact, not Scripturally accurate. I was totally shocked by another realization, my friend. Many of the songs are based more upon my feelings than actual Biblical truth. Many of the worship songs I often sang were feelings based rather than genuine worship of Him. Worship should be focused on Him; it should be magnifying His name, His attributes.
Would you like to hear how I further had my toes stepped on? It was pointed out to me the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter six, right before He taught the disciples how to pray. He urged them not to use vain repetitions like the heathens do. Idol worshippers had the habit of repeating words and phrases over and over again. Ouch! I had to cringe just a little when I realized how many worship songs that I so often sang did this very thing.
I was already struggling to digest the information I was being confronted and challenged with when I found myself completely dismayed by another important fact to consider. (I will not be naming names here. I will leave it up to the Holy Spirit to be the One to prompt you to further searching if need be.) Many of the BIG names in worship music today have some serious issues that need to be taken into account. They have some seriously concerning things going on.
Beloved, I confess, I had to do some serious thinking about all of this. (Hence this story, as I do my best “working through things” while writing and studying.) I saw some videos that completely shocked me. I saw and read things said by the “leaders” of the biggest names in Christian worship that really grieved my heart. I could really go into detail here but I’m not because, here’s what matters. If I continue to listen to their music, am I not, in fact, supporting them? Am I not supporting their choices?
While I was thinking through this the last few days, something else was pointed out that I had never considered before. I already knew how important worship is. I knew that it is literally part of the way we show our love and obedience to God. I knew it was part of spiritual warfare. I knew it had the power to lift our eyes off our circumstances and on our Mighty God who is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. I knew that it was something we are repeatedly told to do.
I had forgotten something else though. Scriptures tell us that angels always worship God (Is. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Satan was once a part of the angels worshipping God. He has now made it his mission to get as many people as possible to worship him as he possibly can. In Luke 4:6-7, he tried to get Jesus to worship him. If satan cannot get people to worship him, he will then do what he does best. From his first words in the garden of Eden, we see that he likes to twist up the words of God.
Satan was called “the father of lies” by Jesus in John 8:44. If worship is so important then it would only make sense to consider the fact that the enemy would likely do his absolute best to interfere with it in every way possible. It would only make sense to consider the possibility that if he can’t stop worship, he would do his best to make us sing songs that were not Scripturally accurate, were feelings based rather than truth based, and/or were as far from Biblical worship as possible.
It seems so logical to think about this now, but I confess, I had not previously considered this. I know that the enemy hates God and does not want to see anyone truly worshipping Him. I know that the enemy is evil and relentless. I know that he is wicked and scheming. Why had I not seriously considered how he might be trying to negatively affect our worship of God? These last few years have found me seriously reconsidering a lot of the people and songs that I have listened to.
I keep going back to the words of Jesus in John 4:23 where He said that God was looking for people to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He said God is looking for worshippers. I want to be one. He said God is looking for people willing to worship Him in spirit, or in other words, people willing to worship from their hearts. I want to be one. He also said He was looking for people willing to worship Him in truth. I want to be one. I want to worship Him in Truth.
I want to worship Him in a way that truly honors Him. You see; that’s what it all boils down to. It’s not about me. It’s not about what I like. It’s about worshipping Him in a way that truly honors and glorifies Him. This is why this has stirred my heart like it has. I want to know that I am worshipping Him the way He wants me to. I want to know that I am worshipping Him in a way that honors and pleases Him. Have I been doing that when I listen to and sing songs without truly considering what is being said?
Am I honoring Him by “supporting” worship leaders, singers, producers, etc. that are not truly honoring and glorifying Him? Am I honoring Him when I fail to ask Him to reveal whether or not I should be supporting a singer/group/church because “everyone loves them” and millions of people are listening to them? Beloved, perhaps you think I am a bit crazy if you have read this far but may I share one last but extremely important piece of my heart with you?
I truly believe that we are living in the last of the last days. If that is indeed the case, isn’t it important to be diligently seeking to do all we can to draw closer to Him? Shouldn’t we be doing all we can to make sure we are choosing to honor Him in every area of our heart and lives? When darkness grows steadily darker all around us, shouldn’t we be carefully examining everything to first make sure it really is Scripturally accurate before we partake of it?
Therefore, if worship is such an important part of the Christian life, if it is such an important part of our warfare, shouldn’t we be certain that it is indeed genuine Biblical worship? These are the thoughts going through my mind lately, dear heart, and I confess, I have already found myself carefully and prayerfully considering what I call praise and worship music. I have definitely begun to make some changes to the playlists that I listen to on a regular basis.
Dear friends, I acknowledge the fact that not everyone will agree with what I have said here today. What I do hope is that you will prayerfully consider what I have shared here. I pray that you too have been challenged to think about some of these things. As always, I am just sharing with you what the Lord has put on my heart and mind in hopes that it helps, encourages, or challenges someone who might read it. May the Lord use these words to speak what He would have you to hear, beloved.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:24
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Psalm 29:2
O, LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. Isaiah 25:1
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth! Psalm 96:9
Exalt the LORD our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He! Psalm 99:5.
Katrina Douglas
