What should the focus of worship music be?

I discovered NPR’s Tiny Desk series on YouTube a few years ago when I was obsessed with Snarky Puppy and striving to become a jazz musician. Live, unpolished performances without autotune or much prep time are the true test of accomplished artists. That is why when I chanced upon Maverick City Music’s Tiny Desk Concert, they had me playing the 19-minute video on a loop for weeks. However, Mav. City’s 2.7 million views since June 2022 pales in comparison to Justin Timberlake’s 10 million views amassed in just two months. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Why is it that these wildly talented Christian artists get so overlooked? With over 2.38 billion Christians in the world, some recognition should not be so hard to come by, should it? Should recognition be what Christian artists aim for? The answer to that, I believe, is that it doesn’t matter. Christian music should nonetheless prioritize glorifying God through its lyrics rather than trying to gain widespread fame with its melodic appeal. 

My working definition of worship music is any melodic sound that brings glory to God’s name, hence Psalm 100: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (KJV). Note that the verse says “noise,” and not “song heard among the masses.” One must first understand that worship music is not designed to appease song critics or Spotify listeners; the music is purely a medium to accompany the lyrics. If the musicality is top-notch, that is just a bonus. Not all worship music is inherently high quality by modern standards – but it does not have to be. Worship music is not about the quality of the melody; it’s about the words. Worship is a medium of communication between its performers, listeners and God. That is why there is often a drone synthesizer in the background of contemporary worship songs, invoking that sense of detachment from one’s surroundings. Worshipping with music is about transcending into a place where only the message, the words sung, are present. 

An article by the United Press International highlights churches in the United States using Irish rock band U2’s music as worship: “the music is suited for church audiences because of the way the lyrics combine biblical themes with a message to help those in need around the world.” This then presents the question: Is any music with relevant lyrics and themes worthy to be used to elevate God or unite his followers? Is there a set of criteria that worship music should have to meet, or are there dealbreakers? Take Hillsong, for example, whose music is almost unanimously loved among the Christian community. . . should we still sing worship songs written by a pastor of poor character?

It all depends on who you ask! In an interview with author and Pastor John Piper titled, “When Worship Lyrics Miss the Mark,” he explores the many perspectives of whether modern worship music carries enough weight with its lyrics to convey the gospel. While contemporary Christian music is growing to be increasingly self-centered, Piper says, “God has been at work in history, and he’s been at work wonderfully in the last thirty years, to produce hundreds and hundreds of solid, gospel-rich, doctrinally faithful, Christ-exalting, big-God songs — so many that we don’t have to use the ones that seem theologically skewed and that may mislead our people.” The songs we sing at church matter.

Worship music holds a unique and transformative power that transcends mere melody and lyrics. It fosters a sense of community, evokes profound emotional responses, and serves as a spiritual tool for many individuals. While many Christian artists are profoundly musically talented, be sure to focus on the words being sung above all else. Christian artists’ main hope should not be to gain a following but to embody the spirit of someone far greater than themselves.