7 Indicators of a Christ-Honoring Worship Song
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Sunday’s worship songs prepare our hearts for the pastor's message. Since all of Scripture centers on the Lord Jesus, our worship music and songs should be Christ-honoring. Many of the hymns written in years past fall into the Christ-honoring category, but we can’t assume because a song is old or called a hymn, that it is worthy of use in worship. We also can’t assume modern praise songs aren’t Christ-honoring. Many songs have been written with the purpose of honoring the Lord with a sacrifice of praise.
A church’s worship leader and the pastor ought to be in lockstep regarding the selection of worship songs to accentuate and accompany the sermon. Although some pastors also serve as the church’s worship leader, the same principles apply.
Here then are seven indicators of Christ-honoring worship songs.
1. Christ-Centered
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (Psalm 34:3).
This is pretty straightforward. We wonder how worship songs can be included in our church service that don’t honor the Lord, but it happens all too often. A host of praise lyrics are “me” focused instead of Christ-focused. Some praise music composers conflate worshipping Christ with exalting self and selfish needs. When you regard praise songs, notice how many lyrics include an overabundance of “me,” “I,” what we are, and what we want.
Christ-honoring worship songs are full of, well, Christ. His name is repeated. His character and what He’s done is the epicenter of the song.
Example: “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend
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2. Gospel Oriented
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
The worship music we sing on Sundays (or whenever the church gathers) is a chance to reflect and remind ourselves of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is to be central to our worship because without it, we have no salvation. Focusing on the gospel takes our eyes off ourselves and points them squarely where they need to be, on the gospel of Jesus Christ (which is to be preached as heartfully to the church as it is to unbelievers).
Example: “I Will Boast in the Cross” by Sovereign Grace Music
3. Blended With the Day’s Sermon
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Every worship leader and pastor needs unity and good communication regarding the approaching sermons. Because worship music (both instrumental and with lyrics) tunes our hearts and souls toward the upcoming sermon, it needs to relate to the theme and passages about which the pastor will speak.
To that end, the worship leader, once attuned to the message, is to be prayerful about the music selections.
If necessary or warranted for the congregation, the worship leader can pray and/or say a few words of introduction for the music they’ve chosen. That will add more meaning to the wisdom that directed the song order and choices. The congregation can then prayerfully prepare their own hearts to praise the Lord, and this can help them avoid distractions as they focus on the message of the worship songs.
Example: “Here I Am to Worship” by Tim Hughes
Photo credit: Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto
4. Composed and Promoted with Sound Biblical Doctrine
“The Lord Jesus said, ‘But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers’” (John 4:23).
It’s imperative the worship songs be from biblically solid and reputable composers and publishing houses. The proper worship songs/hymns we sing indeed serve as biblical teaching. If improper songs are offered before the Lord, it’s likened to offering strange fire (for which Nadab and Abihu were stricken and killed by the Lord God, as seen in Leviticus 10:1-2).
I’m not saying the Lord will kill a person for singing a song with wrong doctrine, but the serious nature of what we offer to the Lord is spelled out in Scripture. As our highlighted passage states, we are to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.”
Consider this; each church pays money to an organization which handles the licensing fees for worship songs. In turn, every time a church uses a particular song, some of that licensing fee goes to the songwriters/publishers. When we play music (on a CD or by live musicians) in our services, we are supporting and, in effect, condoning the doctrines of the songwriters and publishers.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
Example: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” by William Cowper (sung by Fernando Ortega).
5. Not Given to Rote Repetition
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7).
Thoughtful, profound lyrics based on the biblical narrative cause those who sing along to worship the Lord because, in essence, worship hymns and songs are prayers — sacrifices of praise. The Bible tells us to not get entangled with or emulate worship as the pagans do, with meaningless rote repetition.
The Psalms encompass one song after another (for a psalm is a song unto the Lord). Yes, there exists some repetition, but it’s for the worshipers to soak themselves in the knowledge and wonder of God’s character (see Isaiah 6:3). The second part of the first four verses of Psalm 118 say, “For His lovingkindness endures forever.” This repetition focuses our hearts and minds on the goodness of God as presented in the beginning of each verse.
A heart of meaningful worship and prayer is pleasing to God and helps us grow in our love for Him.
Example: “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman
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6. Easy For a Congregation to Learn and Sing as a Unified Body
“Praise Yah!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.Praise Him with trumpet blast;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals.Let everything that has breath praise Yah.
Praise Yah!” (Psalm 150, LSB).
One time a pastor had his worship leader use a Christian band’s concert song as part of worship. While the lyrics and melody were somewhat easy, the message was personal to the songwriter and spoke of how he shares songs all over the country. All that is fine and good, but it took the focus off of Christ and placed it on the songwriter’s personal angst.
That same pastor had the congregation try to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. Worshipful and majestic as it exalts Christ? Yes. Easy for a congregation to sing? No.
Both scenarios are somewhat laughable, but lifting the Lord in an ordered fashion is serious. These two examples highlight the subjective nature that can be foisted upon song selections for our weekly worship. What we desire is a collective raising of voices in praise to the Lord using songs that have been penned with the orderly nature of worship in mind. It’s sometimes hard to introduce new songs to a congregation, but when the songs are written in a worshipful and ordered manner, it helps our worship be cohesive and meaningful to those who are singing.
Examples: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” by Martin Luther, “Press On” by Selah
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7. Worshipful
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).
When we come together before the Lord on Sundays, it’s so we can worship the Lord alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. We ought always to thank God for each other (2 Thessalonians 1:3) because Christ has redeemed us, and He is building His church. We are part of a forever family of believers who will worship Christ now and throughout eternity.
For these reasons, we come into the sanctuary ready to praise Him with songs of praise. We don’t sing for the people in the pew next to us; we sing to the King of kings and Lord of lords. If King David praised God with all his strength, so too ought we.
Examples: “Be Thou My Vision,” Ancient Irish hymn, “For the Lord is Good” by All Together Separate
Our worship is an offering to the Lord. Worship is not about us; it’s all about Him and His goodness and mercy and grace, and all He is. Every morning brings praise to Jesus as we thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and what he will do. May your soul find rest in Him alone as you worship Him with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).
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