This page gives the fuller explanation behind our convictions on worship music. Return to Our Convictions on Worship Music.
Why the Source Matters
Some argue that a song can be judged on its lyrics alone, apart from where it came from. We understand that instinct, but we do not believe it holds up under Scripture. Paul warned that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). When a church regularly platforms music from a ministry, it does more than borrow a melody. It builds familiarity, trust, and often financial support for that ministry, and it can quietly open the door for members to explore its teaching, books, and conferences.
That is why, after careful thought and prayer, FBCG has chosen not to use music produced by Hillsong, Bethel Music, Elevation Worship, Jesus Music, or Maverick City, or by similar organizations that share their theological stances or viewpoints, in our services.
This standard also covers secondary association. A song may sound theologically sound on its own, and the person who wrote it may not be a member of any of these organizations, but if that person co wrote the specific song together with someone who is, we treat the song the same way. Co creation is still a partnership, and it is not one we are willing to build our worship on, even when the lyrics themselves would otherwise pass.
What Concerns Us
Our concern is not with individual song lyrics that may, on their own, sound biblically accurate. Our concern is with the theology and practices of the ministries behind the music.
Bethel Church (Redding, CA) teaches and practices things that depart significantly from historic, biblical Christianity, including claims of visits to heaven, face to face conversations with Jesus apart from Scripture, and other charismatic practices that cannot be verified or tested against God's revealed Word.
Hillsong Church has faced repeated leadership scandal and moral failure at the highest levels, and its broader theological framework leans heavily toward prosperity and experience driven worship rather than the sober, Word centered worship Scripture calls us to.
Elevation Worship, tied closely to Pastor Steven Furtick, has promoted teaching that blurs the line between the believer and the divine and has leaned into a personality driven ministry model that we believe distorts what healthy, biblical church leadership looks like.
Jesus Music, Maverick City, and similar organizations share close relational, financial, or theological ties to the ministries above. Where a group's roots, leadership, or teaching line up with the same concerns we hold about Hillsong, Bethel, or Elevation, we apply the same conviction, regardless of how the group brands itself.
In each case, the concern is the same. These are ministries whose theology, in significant ways, does not align with the gospel we are called to guard and pass on faithfully (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
A Matter of Conscience and Love
Paul's teaching on food offered to idols in 1 Corinthians 8-10 gives us a helpful framework. Some believers may feel a liberty of conscience here that others do not, and we want to be gracious toward those still working through this issue. But love for the flock means we will not knowingly platform music that could confuse a young believer, validate a ministry we believe teaches error, or quietly draw someone toward teaching that departs from Scripture.
Why We Still Sing Hymns from Flawed Authors
Someone may reasonably ask if this stance is inconsistent. Many older hymn writers held theology that was also flawed in places. Why draw a line at Hillsong or Bethel and not at them?
The difference is not the writer's perfection. It is ongoing influence. No writer, living or dead, has ever gotten every doctrine right. A hymn writer who has been in the ground for a hundred years is not leading anyone into error today. That writer is not touring, publishing new teaching, building a platform, or shaping what a congregation expects worship to look like. The influence of that writer is finished, and the songs can be sung, weighed against Scripture, and where needed, quietly set aside, without lending momentum to anything currently active.
Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation are not finished. They are active. These ministries are still teaching, still growing their platforms, and still shaping how millions of Christians think about God. When we sing their songs, we do more than borrow a melody. We add our congregation's trust and attention to something happening right now, something we believe is actively leading people astray.
Social media makes living influence far stronger than it was 200 years ago. In the past, a living teacher's reach was limited by distance and by what could be printed. Today a single ministry reaches millions of people every day through streaming, social media, and conferences, and a song sung in our service can lead a member into that world with one tap. This is why it really does matter whether a ministry is living and active.
As elders and shepherds of this flock, our calling is not only to feed the sheep but to guard them (Acts 20:28-29). We will not knowingly hand our people something that could quietly draw them toward a ministry we believe teaches error, no matter how good the song sounds.
This is a living document. We will be coming back to add to it.