Worship in Spirit and Truth: Why Lyrics and Their Sources Matter

Worship is powerful. It shapes our hearts, aligns our affections, and teaches us theology, often more than we realize. The songs we sing in church don’t just stir our emotions; they leave a lasting imprint on what we believe about God.

But what happens when those songs aren’t rooted in sound doctrine? What if the artists or churches behind the music regularly teach things that contradict Scripture? Can we just ignore the source and focus on how the song makes us feel?

Some would say yes. I used to think so, too.

In fact, I used to love music from Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong. Hillsong especially played a significant role in cultivating my love for worship. I sang their songs regularly, shared videos from their pastors, and watched sermons that felt inspiring at the time. But as I grew in biblical knowledge, red flags started to show. Over time, I began to discern truth from error and eventually walked away from supporting these ministries.

Do I still have a few of those songs on an old playlist? Sure. But even then, they’re becoming fewer and fewer. Why? Because there is just so much theologically rich, biblically grounded worship music available. Why settle for what’s shallow when we can be formed by what’s true?

This isn’t about legalism or judgment. It’s about worshiping God rightly, in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Common Objections (and Why They Fall Short)

Let’s be honest. This topic invites pushback. I’ve given some of these objections myself in the past, so I get it. But let’s walk through them thoughtfully and biblically.

“But God can still use it.”
Yes, He can. God is sovereign and often meets people in imperfect environments. He certainly met me there. But His ability to work through flawed vessels doesn’t excuse us from using discernment. Scripture calls us to “test everything, hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). God’s mercy isn’t a license to bypass wisdom.

“The lyrics sound fine to me.”
On the surface, some lyrics do seem fine. But often the deeper you look, especially in bridges or refrains, the cracks begin to show. Subtle shifts, like centering man instead of Christ, can slowly reshape our understanding of the gospel. Just because something sounds spiritual doesn’t mean it’s biblical. Emotions can cloud truth, which is why we need the Word as our anchor.

“We’re not singing the church’s theology, just the song.”
I used to say this one, too. But here’s the reality. Songs and the churches behind them are connected. Most churches use licensing platforms like CCLI that send money back to the artists and by extension, the ministries behind them. That means your church could be financially supporting false teaching every time one of these songs is played. We’re not just singing, we’re sustaining.

“No one is perfect.”
That’s true. Every artist and church is flawed. But there’s a difference between being imperfect and persistently promoting false doctrine. Scripture warns against those who lead others astray and refuse correction (2 Peter 2:1-3). This isn’t about nitpicking minor differences. It’s about guarding against consistent, unrepentant theological error.

“David was flawed. Should we throw out the Psalms?”
David sinned, yes, but he was called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and repeatedly repentant. The Psalms are Scripture, not just songs. Comparing Spirit-breathed writings to modern artists who lead global ministries built on distorted gospels is not only flawed logic, it’s a category error. The Psalms exalt God’s character. Many modern songs, sadly, exalt man’s worth.

“Saying people are led by emotion is judgmental.”
I’ve heard this, and I understand why it can sting. It may feel like a personal accusation, but it’s not. I’m not saying I know every heart or motive. I’m simply saying we need to be aware that emotions are powerful and often deceptive. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” That includes mine. This isn’t a judgment. It’s a loving caution to test not just what we feel, but what we’re feeding our souls.

“Aren’t all songs written by sinners?”
Yes. Every worship leader is a sinner. But the issue isn’t sin, it’s doctrine. There’s a vast difference between someone who sins and repents versus someone who persistently teaches false doctrine and remains uncorrected. Just because someone is a sinner doesn’t mean we ignore what they teach or the fruit of their ministry (Matthew 7:15-20).

Why the Source Matters

When we talk about avoiding worship songs from churches like Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong, it’s not about guilt by association. It’s about recognizing their influence. These ministries have a documented history of promoting dangerous teachings, including the Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith theology, New Apostolic Reformation, and a man-centered approach to worship.

And let’s not pretend songs are neutral.

Worship is often the doorway. Someone hears a powerful song, looks up the church, and before long, they’re watching sermon clips or following their leaders. That’s what happened to me. And many others. When the music draws you in, so does the message behind it.

Romans 16:17-18 is clear. We’re to avoid those who create divisions and teach contrary to sound doctrine. This isn’t about personal preference. It’s about spiritual protection.

Let’s Be Bereans: A Look at “What a Beautiful Name”

Let’s take one popular song and examine it honestly. I used to love “What a Beautiful Name.” The melody is stunning, and the opening lyrics affirm Christ’s deity:

🎵 “You were the Word at the beginning / One with God the Lord Most High”
✔️ John 1:1-2 approved.

🎵 “Your hidden glory in creation / Now revealed in You our Christ”
✔️ Yes. Colossians 1:15-17.

🎵 “What a beautiful name it is…”
✔️ Amen. Philippians 2:9-11 says His name is above every name.

🎵 “You didn’t want heaven without us / So Jesus, You brought heaven down”
⚠️ This is the line that should make us pause.

On the surface, it sounds poetic. But beneath that poetry is dangerous theology. It implies that heaven was somehow incomplete without us. That Jesus came because He didn’t want to be without us.

But God is not lacking. He is perfectly complete in Himself (Acts 17:24-25). Salvation is for His glory, not because He needed us (Ephesians 1:4-6). This lyric shifts the focus of redemption from God’s glory to our worth, and that’s not the gospel.

🎵 “My sin was great, Your love was greater…”
✔️ Yes. Romans 5:20-21.

🎵 “Death could not hold You / The veil tore before You…”
✔️ Beautiful celebration of resurrection (Matthew 27:51).

So, should we toss the whole song? That’s up to your conscience and your church’s convictions. But we do need to be honest about the impact even one line can have, especially when it’s sung repeatedly and embedded in our hearts through worship. I can already hear the pushback: “Really? Just because of one sentence? Isn’t that a bit nitpicky?” But let’s pause and consider. If a pastor said something theologically off in the middle of a sermon, we’d take it seriously. We’d test it, weigh it, and hopefully address it. Why would we be less discerning with music, which shapes our theology just as much, if not more, because of how often we repeat it? Worship isn’t background noise. It’s formative. That’s why truth matters, even in a single line.

This Isn’t Legalism. It’s Love.

We’re not talking about salvation here. But we are talking about sanctification, about growing in discernment and maturity. Ephesians 5:10 says, “Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” That includes what we sing.

This is about love for:

• God, who deserves worship that reflects His holiness and truth
• The Church, especially newer believers still learning what is true
• Our own hearts, which are constantly being shaped, either by truth or by subtle error

Letting go of certain songs is hard. I know. But what we gain in return is deeper, richer, more accurate worship. And that is so worth it.

We’re not limited to what’s popular. We have access to a wealth of biblically grounded artists. Here are just a few:

• CityAlight
• Sovereign Grace Music
• Matt Boswell & Matt Papa
• Keith & Kristyn Getty
• Grace Community Church (John MacArthur
• Shane & Shane / The Worship Initiative 

As with anything, I encourage you to hold these up to Scripture. While much of Shane & Shane’s original music is spot on and beautifully rooted in truth, they do occasionally cover songs from churches I’ve cautioned against in this post. So, even with solid artists, be discerning. Just because a song sounds good or is performed by someone you trust doesn’t mean it’s exempt from testing. Be a Berean in your worship, always.

Let’s pursue worship that exalts God, not us. Let’s sing songs that deepen our theology, not just our feelings. Because truth isn’t just worth singing. It’s worth everything.