CHURCH LEADERS recently published an article about the domination and continuing selection of songs resulting from a handful of megachurches, such as Christian worship “hits” Goodness Of God, What A Beautiful Name and Graves Into Gardens.
Despite reported scandals or controversies, a recent study based upon Christian Copyright Licensing International (“CCLI”) and PraiseCharts statistics from 2010 to 2020 revealed that 36 of the 38 most sung worship songs were produced by musicians with ties to Bethel Church, Elevation Church, Hillsong Church and Passion City Church.
The CHURCH LEADERS article may be read HERE.
FGGAM previously reported on this topic in a recent article titled Megachurches Have A Monopoly On Most Popular Contemporary Worship Music that may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, this writer is one who greatly appreciates the power of traditional hymns and cherishes worship music written by and for members of our own churches!
That said, allowing highly anointed music with an undeniable record of touching hundreds of thousands of lives for Christ worldwide to be rejected out-of-hand simply because the music originated or has a connection with a large church that has highly-skilled and well-paid musicians or writers seems a bit illogical!
There will always be failings when humans are involved, but as some say, let’s be careful not to “throw out the baby with the bath water.” As believers, we’re going through the process of sanctification every single day and not one of us has yet attained a full likeness to Christ – although this should be the goal of all born-again Christians!
If we insist that our worship music needs to be a “second sermon” devoid of human emotion or personal impact with lyrics solely taken directly from scripture, with every song written in the last hundred years automatically suspect, with the requirement for specific and absolute doctrinal adherence to the individual church’s or denomination’s minor or non-salvational beliefs, then there would be no highly popular worship music. It would be sectarian. I’m conceptually reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 1 Corinthians 10:27-28 (see the scriptures below).
Please understand, I’m not suggesting that songs with heretical, bible-contradicting lyrics should be embraced! I’m not even saying that music from the world’s most popular Christian musicians, writers and churches needs to be used. I’m simply saying that we should, perhaps, avoid the divisive view that anything touching some of today’s most dominant (and impactful) churches is automatically “tainted” and ineligible for use in the church. That perspective seems short-sighted or perhaps even a bit high-minded. Unity of the faith is key!
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NKJV)
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”
1 Corinthians 10:27-28 (NKJV)
“If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “[t]his was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake…”.
Praise Jesus forevermore!
