Criticisms at Hillsong Church, though, include elements of Pentecostalism and prosperity gospel teachings as well as demurring on issues such as sexuality. Brian Houston, who was a co-founding pastor alongside his wife, Bobbie, resigned last year due to inappropriate behavior with two women. Houston is currently on trial for allegedly concealing the confession given to him by his father, Frank, five years before the latter’s death in 2004 that as a pastor in the 1970s Frank Houston had abused a young boy.
Shepherd considers it “a non-negotiable that every song we sing should be theologically sound.” But are songs automatically tainted or polluted by the source?
Many know the background of “It is Well with My Soul.” Already having lost everything in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Horatio Spafford wrote the lyrics as his own ship neared the site where his four daughters had died during an Atlantic shipwreck in 1873. However, Spafford would later proclaim beliefs in line with Universalism.
He isn’t alone. The faith of Robert Robinson, author of “Come, Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing,” seemed prone to wander in his later years. Isaac Watts (“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”) is questioned for his views on the Trinity.
“If churches only sing songs written by perfect Christians with flawless theology and impeccable ethics, we’d have no songs left to sing,” Shepherd said. “I lean toward the viewpoint of what a song proclaims, not the rabbit trail about the source.”
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That said, he has “a deep respect for those who feel differently” about the worship song “Reckless Love,” produced by Bethel Music out of Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. However, Shepherd wrote recently why he could not recommend the song over its inaccurate portrayal of God’s love.
“God knew (and knows) precisely the consequences of His actions,” Shepherd said. “He never acts rashly, carelessly or thoughtlessly.”
Kenny Lamm, worship consultant for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, is writing a yet-to-be-released book on the subject. In an excerpt he provided to Baptist Press, Lamm spoke on the importance of worship music being theologically sound and aligning with a church’s doctrine.
“When the church talks about discipleship today, it seems so often the conversation goes to small groups, triads, one-on-one mentoring, or perhaps a discipleship class. The fact is that the greatest tool for discipleship in the church is worship.
“Think about it; if you look at all the people that attend your church and their involvement in the life of the church, I believe you will see that the vast majority do not attend any of the small groups, triads, mentoring, or classes. The majority focus on coming to worship. That indicates that the worship service may be the only time we can really speak into the lives of these church members to form them to be more like Christ. Indeed, we have seen throughout Christian history that the church has considered the worship service to be the primary means of discipleship. Unfortunately, it seems that many churches have lost sight of this and no longer plan worship with intentionality to disciple our people. Worship should bring spiritual formation to the forefront.”
“If we aren’t intentional and careful in selecting the music we put in the hearts of the people, we are dropping the ball on the calling God has placed on our lives as worship pastors,” he said in separate comments to BP. “Most people memorize many more songs than they do Bible verses, and that further shows us the critical nature of providing theologically sound texts to the music we have them sing each week.”
