“Have you heard this song yet? It’s amazing!”
I find myself becoming a little reticent whenever I hear that—even when it comes from other worship leaders or pastors. I’m not sure exactly where the disconnect has happened, but sometimes it seems that new, catchy, and interesting have become primary litmus tests for determining whether a worship song is “good.”
And, at the risk of revealing some of my own cynicism, I wonder if songs that make us feel particularly good about ourselves—or emphasize what God is going to do for us—have an easier path toward popularity as well.
Hear me carefully: I’m not suggesting that worship leaders, pastors, or people who love worship music are intentionally self-serving in what we enjoy. I love discovering new music too. There are wonderful new worship songs being written, and popularity certainly doesn’t make a song bad.
But I wonder if we’ve become complacent in how carefully we evaluate the music we consume—and especially the music we put on the lips of our churches.
Popularity tells us that a song connects with people. It doesn’t necessarily tell us that a song is good for forming people.
So rather than naming particular songs or artists, I want to suggest five questions worth asking before we decide that a popular worship song is a good worship song.
1. Does this song point me to Christ—or primarily to what Christ can do for me?
There is certainly nothing wrong with singing about what God has done for us. The gospel itself is good news precisely because of what Christ has done on our behalf!
But there is a difference between marveling at the grace of Christ and treating Christ primarily as the means to the life I want.
Who is the hero of the song? What is its ultimate object? Am I being led to treasure Christ, or merely the blessings I hope Christ will give me?
2. Does this song reduce the presence of God or the Holy Spirit to something I feel?
God graciously engages our emotions. Worship should affect our hearts! But God’s presence isn’t established by whether I get goosebumps, cry during the bridge, or experience a particular emotional sensation.
Jesus promised His presence with His people. The Spirit dwells within believers. These are objective realities before they are subjective experiences.
Our songs should help us respond emotionally to truth, not teach us to use our emotions as evidence that the truth is real.
3. Does this song address a holy God with the reverence and beauty He deserves?
Intimacy with God is an incredible gift of the gospel. Through Christ, we have been brought near. We cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15).
But intimacy is not the same thing as casualness.
The God we call Father is still the God before whom angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3). Biblical worship holds nearness and transcendence together. We shouldn’t have to make God smaller in order to make Him approachable.
Do the words we sing reflect both the intimacy we have been given and the majesty of the One who gave it?
4. Does this song merely make me feel good about myself—or help me see myself correctly so that I see God more clearly?
Scripture gives human beings tremendous dignity. We are made in God’s image. Believers are loved, adopted, redeemed, and called children of God.
But the Bible’s story isn’t ultimately about discovering how remarkable we are. It’s about discovering how remarkable God is.
Good worship should help me understand myself truthfully: created in God’s image, corrupted by sin, utterly dependent upon grace, redeemed through Christ, and being transformed for His glory.
The clearer that picture becomes, the more astonishing God’s grace becomes.
5. Does this song use Scripture faithfully—or borrow biblical language to say something Scripture isn’t saying?
Perhaps this deserves our greatest attention.
A lyric can sound biblical because it uses biblical phrases while actually removing those phrases from their context. We should ask more than, “Can I find these words somewhere in the Bible?”
We should ask, “Is this what that passage actually means?”
Colossians 3:16 tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” and immediately connects that command with “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”
When we choose songs for the gathered church, we’re choosing words people may remember long after they’ve forgotten the sermon.
That deserves careful attention.
Popular Isn’t the Enemy
None of this means we should become suspicious of a song simply because everyone loves it. Some songs become popular because they’re genuinely excellent—biblically faithful, musically beautiful, congregationally accessible, and centered upon Christ.
Nor does an old hymn get a free pass simply because it’s old. Every song deserves discernment.
The point is simply this:
Popular doesn’t always mean best.
“Everyone is singing it” isn’t enough.
“It gave me chills” isn’t enough.
“The bridge is incredible” isn’t enough.
“It’s number one on the worship charts” isn’t enough.
When we choose songs for God’s people, we’re doing more than building a setlist. We’re putting theology in people’s mouths. We’re helping shape what they believe about God, themselves, the gospel, and the Christian life.
So, yes—send me that new worship song you’re excited about.
Just don’t be surprised when my first question isn’t, “Do I like it?”
I want to know: Is it true? And is it good for God’s people to sing?
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