What Is "Christian Worship" Music?

Are “Christian” Songs That Don’t Glorify God False Worship Songs? Great question and the title of an article by Ethan Renoe back in 2020  (faithit.com).  christianleaders.com reposted it today and it provides some great food for thought when it comes to what we used to call the “singing part” of the Sunday morning services.  Now days we simply call it “Worship!”  With the nomenclature it becomes much more important to drill down on exactly what we are talking about.  Renoe does a great job reminding us that we are all Christians performing, creating and living within certain situations.  There is no such thing as a “Christian” song.  Just as there is no such thing as a “Christian Comedian,” but there are a lot of funny Christians out there.  In the comedy arena the terminology has shifted to simply say a comedian works “clean.”  That normally means they are family friendly or they don’t use foul language.  “Come to my early show” means I don’t swear, but many often follow that up with don’t bring the kids to my “late show.”  What is it about being edgy that some people believe makes them more funny?  Usually it just means they are not as talented and creative and they have to hide that fact by swearing a lot and talking about things that “only adults” talk about.  I have listened to a lot of people “work clean” that are probably not Christians. Ever hear of Jerry Seinfeld? Since Will Smith does not have to cuss in his songs, does that make him a Christian artist?  I don’t know, but Eminem raps about God, calls Jesus his Savior on No. 1 album in US back in 2022. Does that make him a Christian artist?  (www.christianpost.com)
That takes me back to the term “Worship Music.”  The expectation is within the name. If we are going to sing something in the time slot designated as “worship” it better be God honoring and worshipful! Worship singing is an offering! To bring something that is not God honoring is a false sacrifice and should be rejected, because I know that it will be rejected by God!  Think about the times in the Old Testament where God rejects the sacrifices, uses the Prophets to remind the people and then ultimately rejects the people for their false worship through blemished sacrifices.  Malachi 1:6-14

The better question when it comes to worship songs is “are they Biblical?”  Do they seek to glorify God or simply to entertain those in the room?  If the latter is the case, then enjoy the concert, but you can’t call it a time of worship.  Worship is to point us to our Holy God and anything that isn’t should not be brought before Him.

Paul sums it up best here: 1 Corinthians 10:14-24

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.  Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar? Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

So, exercise your freedom and use your best judgment.  If you get a “spiritual experience” by listening to Limp Bizkit on your headphones at the gym, then go for it.  But remember GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out!  

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Serving the Savior,

Bro. Jonathan