Has Anyone Else Started Questioning the Worship Music We Sing?

By Deborah Martin
This is something I’ve been quietly wrestling with lately... There’s something that’s been weighing on me and I have a feeling I’m not the only one. I spend a lot of time in my car for work, which means Christian radio is often my companion throughout the day. And many times, a song will come on that sounds beautiful, uplifting, even powerful. But then I feel something I can only describe as a quiet check in my spirit. A pause. A discernment.

What I’ve come to recognize is that not all worship music is created equally. Over time, I’ve noticed that some of these songs are connected to movements or teachings that don’t fully align with a biblically grounded worldview particularly those associated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). And for me, that matters. Because worship isn’t just music it’s theology set to melody. And what we repeatedly sing has a way of shaping what we believe. 

The tension many of us are quietly navigating

I genuinely appreciate my local Christian radio station. I listen often. I’m grateful it exists. And when they run their listener support campaigns, I want to support them. But I also find myself hesitating. Because mixed in with songs that are deeply rooted in Scripture are others that raise questions for me songs like “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury (released through Bethel Music), along with music from other groups whose teachings I’m not fully aligned with.

And it creates a tension:

- Can I support something that also promotes music I don’t fully align with?

- Do I just “enjoy the song” and overlook the source?

- Or does discernment call for something deeper?

When it becomes personal.

This isn’t just something I notice on the radio, it shows up in real-life moments too. At my Thursday night ladies Bible study, our leader will often play a worship song at the beginning to create a calm, reflective atmosphere. And there have been a few times where that same internal check comes up for me.

In those moments, I find myself wrestling internally:

- Do I say something?

- Do I quietly sit through it?

- Do I get up and leave?

It’s awkward. And honestly, it’s not something I take lightly. because I care about the group and the relationships.The same thing has come up on Monday nights at another group I attend and really enjoy. I don’t attend the church itself, but I value the community.

At one point, I even reached out directly to the church to ask about “Reckless Love” and was given an alternative perspective on the song. And I appreciated the response. But it also highlighted something important:

- Even within the same faith, there can be very different interpretations of what is acceptable in worship.

- A quiet sadness I didn’t expect.

- Another layer to this one I didn’t expect is the sense of sadness.

There are artists I grew up listening to, voices that were part of my early faith journey, whose music meant something deeply personal to me. And over time, I’ve watched some of them shift in ways that no longer align with my beliefs. Artists like Amy Grant come to mind—and while I won’t list others, it’s been difficult to reconcile. Not from a place of judgment, but from a place of loss.Because when something that once felt spiritually grounding begins to feel uncertain, it changes how you engage with it.

Why discernment matters in worship

The Bible is clear about guarding what we take in: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

In today’s world, that doesn’t just apply to sermons or books, it applies to music too.Worship music isn’t neutral. It teaches. It influences. It embeds ideas into our hearts. And while not every song tied to a questionable movement is inherently “wrong,” I personally feel a responsibility to be mindful of what I’m repeatedly singing and internalizing.

A return to simplicity

Because of this, I’ve found myself going back to older worship music—artists like Keith Green—along with traditional hymns that have stood the test of time—where the message is clear, Scripture-centered, and uncompromising.There’s a simplicity there. A purity. It’s not about production quality or popularity, it’s about truth.

Giving credit where is due

This isn’t something I came to on my own.I’ve learned a lot through voices who are willing to speak openly about these concerns, including Holly Pivec and the work of Olive Tree Ministries, who have helped bring greater awareness to these issues. Whether someone agrees or not, I think it’s important that these conversations are happening.

So... is anyone else feeling this? This is where I’m genuinely curious.Have you ever found yourself listening to a worship song and pausing, feeling like something just isn’t quite right? Have you ever sat in a room where a song is playing and wrestled internally with what to do? Do you navigate this quietly, or have you found a way to speak about it? I’d genuinely love to hear how others are navigating this.

Final thought

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about discernment. And maybe, in a time where everything is more accessible than ever, discernment matters more than ever too.