Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.”

You probably know the rest of the lyrics by heart. It’s amazing what we can remember when words are put to music.

From an early age, churchgoers learn the fundamentals of faith through songs. In fact, every time a congregation sings, such discipleship is continuing. Whether we realize it or not, lyrics are shaping the faith and theology of those in the room.

Most sermons last only a short time, but a song can endure for centuries. That’s because few things stir our emotions and lodge in our memories like music.

Unfortunately, church leaders often fail to appreciate this reality. They view music as a precursor to the sermon, not a part of the gospel presentation.

If our songs lack theological depth, however, we risk producing disciples with inaccurate views of God. In fact, when I consider the dearth of biblical knowledge among many Christians today, I can’t help but wonder whether our music is partly to blame.

Virtually every song I hear on Christian radio is about overcoming problems with a little bit of Jesus. The messages are alarmingly shallow, and I worry they are inoculating believers against a deeper understanding of God’s profound truths.

I have the same concern about some of the songs showing up in churches. It’s not that the lyrics are unbiblical per se, but they are often unbalanced — continually emphasizing self, with the attributes of God playing more of a supporting role.

As a worship pastor, I wrestle with these issues while choosing songs. I regularly ask myself whether the lyrics in our services are more about what people are experiencing or the eternal truths of Scripture.

To be sure, there is a place for both kinds of expressions during worship. But finding the right balance and maintaining good theology takes intentionality.

The apostle Paul admonished the church in Ephesus, “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18–19).

Notice that as the Ephesians were making music to the Lord, they were also ministering to one another.

Like other parts of the worship service, singing has a communal purpose. Even as we lift our praises to God, we can encourage, inform, and teach those around us. In other words, songs are powerful tools for discipleship.

Congregational singing is an opportunity to exalt Jesus and exhort the body of Christ. To make the most of our time together, we should choose songs that strike the right personal and theological tones.

Personal Prayers

As a songwriter, I often put prayers to music. A scriptural pattern for this type of song is found in the Book of Psalms.

Lyrics rooted in
Scripture teach
truths congregants
will not discover
through emotional
expressions alone.

One of my favorites is Psalm 42:

As the deer pants for streams of water,
          so my soul pants for you, my God. …
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
          Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
          for I will yet praise him,
         my Savior and my God. …
By day the Lord directs his love,
         at night his song is with me —
         a prayer to the God of my life (verses 1,5,8).

Psalms connect us to God. They are sincere, heartfelt, and honest. They are personal prayers of surrender and gratitude. This is why we love them so much.

Many modern worship songs follow in this tradition. They can create an atmosphere for intimate expressions of praise. However, an overemphasis on our experiences can also lead to an egocentric view of worship.

If Psalms were the only biblical book we read, we would miss out on many of the truths of Scripture. Likewise, if we sing only prayers, we can overlook some important facets of worship.

Therefore, at least some of the songs we sing in church should explore deeper theological truths.

Theological Truths

Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is a classic example of a theological statement in a hymn. It lays a foundation for understanding God’s omnipotence.

I try to include at least one song in each service that is thoroughly theological. Lyrics rooted in Scripture teach truths congregants will not discover through emotional expressions alone.

Recently, our congregation has been singing a song called “My Testimony”:

By Jesus Christ the Righteous
I’m justified
This is my testimony …
Bought with blood
And washed in water
Sing the praises of the Spirit,
Son and Father

These are complex theological concepts. Expressed concisely and set to music, they are easy to memorize. Worshippers need to encounter lyrics with spiritual depth, even if they don’t understand the full meaning in the moment.

We shouldn’t assume the congregation can’t handle theological complexities. Rather, we should raise the level of everyone’s understanding. As a worship leader, take a moment to explain an obscure word to help people grasp its significance.

No worship song should contradict Scripture or veer from sound theology. People will remember the line of the song better than a teaching explaining why it is theologically incorrect. If something about a song doesn’t ring true, either change it or don’t use it.

It can sometimes be difficult for worship leaders to identify subtle errors in the writing. Perhaps a thought or phrase creates uneasiness for reasons that aren’t immediately obvious.

When that happens, take the time to analyze the song closely. Talk with someone with more theological training, and ask for his or her impression.

While studying music at North Central University, I trained under Dave Pedde, a music professor with a gift for evaluating the theology of songs. A prolific songwriter himself, Pedde sometimes said of a lyric, “That doesn’t represent the character of Christ.”

Initially, I didn’t understand what this meant. But over time, Pedde’s critiques began to impact the way I examined song lyrics.

Like those who preach the Word, worship leaders have a responsibility to guard the integrity of the gospel message. We must uphold biblical truths and teach good doctrine, ensuring everything we do reflects the character of Christ. When we are intentional about these things, discipleship can happen even through singing.

Authentically seeking God and offering Him our praise is a vital part of corporate worship. So is accurately representing who God is.

Through music, we can lead people to a deeper relationship with — and understanding of — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s discipleship.

This article appears in the Spring 2023 issue of Influence magazine.