I heard a new, fantastic worship song. It has a striking hymn feel, and doesn’t have the swelling bridge that I do love, but the lyrical depth and content is just so rich. Give it a listen:
As I listened to this, I started to wonder – how do I decide what is a “good” worship song? What are the criteria I implicitly use when I decide which songs I like to sing – or which ones I’d rather skip? Here are some thoughts:
God Focused: This is my first evaluative lens, when I’m thinking about whether I want to sign a song as worship: is the focus or subject of the song God, or myself? It is too easy to find songs that are focused on our experience, or that speak of “me” or “us” as a focus. I want my worship music to exalt God and focus on Him above all else. I want to proclaim who He is and what He has done. I want the verses and chorus of Build My Life without the bridge!
Subtly, I think Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), by Hillsong (and maybe much of Hillsong’s repertoire) falls into this trap. The song is about what we’ll do – how we’ll respond. Yes, it’s in light of who God is and what He’ll do, but it’s still “us” focused. It’s not a bad worship song, it’s just not one that I will love.
That said, just because I song talks about “us,” doesn’t mean it’ll fall into this trap. I Set My Hope on Jesus by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, is an example of a song that speaks our actions while still exalting God above everything else.
Lyrical Depth: This isn’t too surprising, but I long for depth. When a lyric can capture thick truths with simplicity or profundity, I love it. I think of verse 3 of A Mighty Fortress, which boldly proclaims, “The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.” What depth and challenging truth! The building up of our enemy (even in verse 2), to simply proclaim, “One little word shall fell him.” Now there is a worship lyric I can stand behind!
Naturally, this often means that I prefer songs with more words and less repetition. I’m not opposed to repetition! Revelation 4 describes an eternal worship service with a single worship song of only 15 words. No problem with repetition of truth! But declaring complex truths often takes more words, and I appreciate that.
Genuine/Real: I value worship music that acknowledges the trouble and hardship of life without tritely minimizing it or trying to brush it under a rug of Christian platitudes.
Interesting to Sing, Without Being Weird: Is this subjective? Sure. But I prefer a song that is unique without being surprising, and is fun without being difficult. I think it’s easy for songwriters to get too cute and make singing difficult – even on repeat sing throughs. But if a song is fun, while also being unique, I’m totally for it. Maverick City Music probably does this as well as anyone. Promises and I Thank God are both fun to sing, while also total ear worms.
Scriptural Lyrics: I love it when songs proclaim the words of Scripture – if they can incorporate direct verses and passages, I appreciate it.
Not Emotionally Manipulative: Music is implicitly emotional – there is something profound and right about emotional expressions of truth, and that shouldn’t be shied away from at all. But we should do everything we can to avoid empty emotionalism. I’ve thought of this before when I’ve been at non-Christian concerts – and been faced with some very same emotions – evoked by the music – as I have at Christian worship concerts. That speaks to the power of music! But in worship, I want to be moved by the truths, not simply the music.
I’ve seen this fall off in the third verse of King of Kings, by Hillsong – and this is a song I love! The swelling lyrics say, “For the lamb had conquered death! And the dead rose from their tombs…” and at that moment I’ve seen a lot of hands go into the air. But it’s a weird lyric, focused on a relatively obscure text in only one gospel (Matthew 27:51-53), and certainly not a profoundly expectant worship moment. It’s true – but it’s also a line that fits well in the musical build, but maybe not the worshipful moment. The next is like it – in a bit, “and the church of Christ was born…” again, true! And a good lyric. But not necessarily as worshipful as the truths in Holy, Holy, Holy. I see people responding to the emotional moment, rather than the truth’s in the lyrics. It’s a danger to guard against.
A Remarkable Bridge: I’m just a sucker for a good bridge. While the above point holds, I’m still going to love a song with a bridge that just crushes it. Christ be Magnified by Cody Carnes might take the cake here. For a song that is… ok (it’s a good song, just not my absolute favorite), it probably has the best bridge in modern worship.
Declarative Truths: This is a hard thing to quantify, but I appreciate my worship music when I can declare or proclaim things that I need to be reminded are true. Firm Foundation (He Won’t) is the current title contender for this. Do we always find it easy to declare that God will never fail? Not at all. Do we need to do so boldly, and regularly? Absolutely.
Songs that Are Tied to People: This is a growing, personal category for me. They’re songs that I have watched terminal cancer patients sing (Living Hope), or grieving spouses proclaim (King of My Heart). They’re songs that I can’t sing without thinking of friends who have suffered loss, or songs that have been sung at funerals or in moments of profound need. They’re songs that have depth beyond the lyrics, because they’ve been tied to my life. I will love these songs with a profound weight.
Worship Albums I Love (will add to this):
- His Mercy is More (the Hymns of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa)
- Literally Anything (not an album – just a description) by Shane and Shane
- Chapel Sessions I & II (I Am They)
- Alive Again (Matt Maher)
- Take the World, But Give Me Jesus (Ascend the Hill)