Photo by Arnaud Jaegers
Thank you for voting on my second July poll! The results were really close together, but only the following made it:
- Cory Asbury – Endless Alleluia
- Lauren Daigle – First
- Elevation Worship – Jesus I Come
Below is a new poll for August reviews. As usual, pick up to three. This poll will close at the end of July 6, 2019. If you don’t like these picks, consider submitting a song for review.
August - Which songs would you like me to review? Pick up to three.
- All Son's and Daughters - Great Are You Lord 30%, 29 votes29 votes 30%29 votes - 30% of all votes
- Shane & Shane - Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy) 15%, 15 votes15 votes 15%15 votes - 15% of all votes
- Bethel Music - Extravagant 14%, 14 votes14 votes 14%14 votes - 14% of all votes
- Jesus Culture - In the River 10%, 10 votes10 votes 10%10 votes - 10% of all votes
- The Afters - Well Done 9%, 9 votes9 votes 9%9 votes - 9% of all votes
- Bryan & Katie Torwalt - When You Walk into the Room 8%, 8 votes8 votes 8%8 votes - 8% of all votes
- Selah - More and More of You 7%, 7 votes7 votes 7%7 votes - 7% of all votes
- Lacrae - Cry for You 5%, 5 votes5 votes 5%5 votes - 5% of all votes
Comments
Carry Noel
Hi there,
I wanted to thank you for the excellent work you are doing. We have adopted the questions “The Berean Test” poses and are using them to evaluate the songs we choose to use in our worship gatherings. We find it a very comprehensive way to evaluate what we bring to our congregation. So thank you again! I wanted to ask if you are familiar with the Gospel Coalition? They just recently published an article on a topic that is in the same vein (evaluating worship music), I was hoping you might read it and share any comments you may have on what they have to say….
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/use-bethel-songs-worship-4-diagnostic-questions/
Thanks for your time, attention and excellent work in this area!
tastywallet
Carry,
I am humbled, thank you for letting me know!
This is an excellent article! Below are my thoughts on each question.
The first aligns with my second section, to ensure that lyrics align with Scripture.
The second, I believe, overlaps my intent in section one. Clarity is an important aspect of reviewing the song’s exhibited message, regardless of intent.
The third is important to consider, but I chose not to think about it for an independent review of the lyrics. This avoid committing the logical fallacy guilt by association.
The fourth is also important, but also outside my review process for the same reasons as I stated for three. I have links to Amazon to purchase products from artists and, perhaps, should consider ending the practice to avoid supporting false teachers. I’ve given a lot of Hillsong songs the green light, but they have a heavy association with the Word of Faith movement.
-TastyWallet
David Brandt
Hello! Thank you for this website! You do an excellent job on your song reviews, and I believe this site fills a very specific need in the Church!
I’m sorry that I’m also only seeing this thread 7 months later and responding now.
In regards to your response about TGC’s question #3: I understand your desire to avoid the ‘guilt by association’ fallacy. But isn’t that fallacy irrelevant here (at least when we think about the theology of a band)? Because in this case, the worship team of a given ministry (whether it be Hillsong or Bethel) *must* subscribe to the teaching of its parent church. So in this case, we are not blindly making an assumption about a band’s theological association with their church. Rather, it is a safe assumption that any official teaching of the parent church is subscribed to by the worship team (otherwise they would not be permitted to represent the church in that way).
Vince Wright
David,
Thank you for your response!
Allow me to clarify. The “guilt by association” piece was in regard to the songs that I review in comparison to the megachurches’ false theology associated with them, not necessarily the songwriters or artists associated with those churches. I won’t want to get into the practice of rating Hillsong songs 1/10, 3/10, 2.5/10, etc. because of their false teachings. I maintain that #3 ought to be considered in an overall approach to decide if a church should sing, for example, Hillsong music. This website only offers one piece of the puzzle as an independent review, examining its message, Scriptural accuracy, outsider interpretation, and inherent glorification of God.
I may have misunderstood Carry’s original question, responding based on my website evaluation and not the intent of the article. In short, I think it offers sound considerations when deciding on songs to lead a congregation to worship.
Does that help?
-Vince Wright