The New Worship War

If you have been paying attention the past couple of decades, you would notice there is a worship war that was happening in the church. This war was over the style of worship. Some were arguing over that use of hymns versus newer worship songs. Some wars were over whether the instruments should be piano and organ only versus full praise band. These worship wars have died down over the past few years, but there is a new worship war happening in the church that might be more devastating than the previous one. This is new worship war is over from where did the song come from.

At this point you might be scratching your head wondering what I am talking about. What I am saying is the new worship war is over whether or not we should use songs from churches with questionable theological beliefs. I am not talking about disagreements over secondary issues such as their views on eschatology or whether the church believes in continualism or cessationism. I am not talking about churches who have perfect theology. Lets fact it, no one on this side of Heaven has perfect theology not even Calvinists.

What I am talking about is songs from churches that preach a false gospel. Three churches that come to mind are Hillsong, Elevation, and Bethel. All three of these churches have questionable theological beliefs. Granted, some of the songs from these churches sound good. As I read the lyrics to them, they sound Biblical, but it also causes me to shake my head because I don't get it. They sing that Christ has died from them yet they preach a gospel that is contrary to the one in the Bible. I believe a church's worship and preaching should match in regards to truth. If we sing about the true gospel, we should sing about the gospel. If we preach the word of Christ, we sing the word of Christ. Colossians 3:16 says:

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.

We are to let Christ's word dwell in us and teach one another. As we teach one another with the word of Christ, we are also to teach one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, which is done through corporate worship. A study note from the ESV Study Bible says, "Corporate worship has a teaching function through the lyrics of its songs." What do your songs teach in your church? What about the use of them? Are the songs you are singing based on the gospel or emotions? Most of the modern worship songs are based on emotion rather than Biblical truth.

Some of you attend a church where it is okay to use songs from Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation, which your elders have probably said it is okay because there is truth in them. Does that teach the church hypocrisy since you believe they preach a false gospel yet it okay to use their songs? I know a church that sings "Reckless Love," but has changed the word to "Relentless Love," but it is still the same song that is based a poor understanding of the gospel.

As I said, this is going to be the new worship war. I hope I am wrong, but it seems this will not be going away anytime soon.