Praise is an integral part of worship, but it is not the totality of worship. Worship encompasses every aspect of our lives as we submit to God’s lordship (Romans 12:1-2). Praise, however, is a specific act of exalting God—declaring His glory, goodness, and worthiness through words, music, and a thankful heart. Throughout Scripture, we find God’s people offering Him praise in diverse ways, from jubilant songs and instruments to quiet moments of awe-filled adoration. This study will examine the biblical foundation of praise, its expressions, and the heart behind it.
Praise in the Bible
Praise is both commanded by God and a natural response to His greatness and works. In Psalm 150, the psalmist captures the essence of praise:
“Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!”
This passage reveals three key aspects of praise:
The Focus of Praise: It is directed solely to the Lord.
The Reason for Praise: God’s mighty acts and His excellent greatness.
The Expression of Praise: It includes voices, instruments, and physical movement, demonstrating the breadth of acceptable worship.
Instruments and Singing in Praise
From the earliest days, music has been a significant part of praising God. In Exodus 15:1-2, after God parted the Red Sea and delivered Israel from Pharaoh, Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise:
“I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”
This song acknowledges God’s deliverance and proclaims His attributes. Similarly, King David organized music and musicians for temple worship, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 15:16:
“Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers, accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.”
David’s example emphasizes that instruments and singing are tools for expressing joy and reverence to God. However, the tools themselves are secondary to the heart that wields them.
The Heart of Praise
While the Bible encourages various forms of musical expression, the central focus of praise is always the heart. God values the motives behind our worship more than the external forms. In Isaiah 29:13, the Lord rebukes empty praise:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.”
Jesus echoed this in Matthew 15:8-9, warning against vain worship:
“‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
True praise flows from a heart of gratitude and humility. In Hebrews 13:15, we are reminded:
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Old Hymns vs Modern Songs
God’s people have always praised Him through song, whether in ancient psalms, traditional hymns, or modern worship songs. The style or cadence of the music is secondary to its content and focus. Three principles should guide our praise, regardless of era:
Biblical Lyrics: Songs of praise should be rich in God’s Word and grounded in Scripture. Paul instructs in Colossians 3:16:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Exemplify the Fruit of the Spirit: Praise should reflect love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Songs that glorify God will naturally exhibit these qualities.
Focus on God, Not Ourselves: Praise must be directed to God and centered on His character and works. Self-centered lyrics that prioritize our feelings or accomplishments miss the mark. In Psalm 115:1, the psalmist declares:
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”
Whether it’s an ancient hymn like “Holy, Holy, Holy” or a contemporary song like “How Great Is Our God,” the focus must always remain on glorifying God.
Commands to Praise God
The Bible explicitly commands us to praise God. Here are just a few examples:
Psalm 96:1-2: “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.”
Psalm 34:1: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Revelation 19:5: “Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!'”
These commands remind us that praising God is not optional—it is a vital expression of our relationship with Him.
The Eternal Nature of Praise
Praise is not limited to this life; it is an eternal act. In heaven, the saints and angels continuously glorify God. In Revelation 5:11-12, John describes the heavenly worship:
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'”
This glimpse of heaven shows that the praise of God is the ultimate purpose of all creation.
Praise as Part of Worship
While praise is a crucial component of worship, it is not the entirety of it. Worship involves every aspect of our lives as we submit to God’s authority. As Paul writes in Romans 12:1:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Praise flows naturally from a life of worship, but it must be grounded in a heart that seeks to glorify God in all things.
Warnings About Music from Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong: The “Unholy Trinity”
While praise is a vital and beautiful part of worship, it is important to exercise discernment about the music we sing in our churches and listen to in our personal lives. In recent years, churches such as Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong—sometimes referred to as the “unholy trinity”—have produced music that is both popular and emotionally powerful. However, these churches are known for their false theology, which often subtly seeps into their songs. While the music may sound uplifting, it carries risks that Christians and churches must carefully consider.
Subtle Theological Dangers in Their Lyrics
The lyrics of many songs from these churches often contain subtle fallacies about God’s character and His relationship with humanity. While some songs may appear biblically sound on the surface, others present a distorted view of God that emphasizes His love and mercy while neglecting His justice, holiness, and authority. This creates a version of God that is softer, weaker, and more feminine—one who does not judge sin and exists primarily to meet human desires.
For example:
Exaggerated Focus on Feelings: Many songs lean heavily on emotionalism, encouraging worship that is based on personal experience rather than the truth of Scripture. Worship becomes about how we feel instead of Who God is. This contrasts with biblical praise, which focuses on God’s glory, not our emotions (Psalm 96:4-6).
Man-Centered Lyrics: Songs from these sources often use language that subtly shifts the focus from God to man. Phrases like “God’s love chasing me down” can imply that God’s primary concern is catering to human desires, rather than calling sinners to repentance and submission to His will. Biblical praise always exalts God as the central figure, as seen in Revelation 4:11:
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
Misrepresentation of God’s Nature: These songs can omit essential aspects of God’s nature, such as His wrath against sin and His righteous judgment. This omission gives a false view of God’s character, which can lead people away from a true understanding of who He is.
The Danger of Association
Even when a specific song from these churches is doctrinally sound, singing or using their music in worship can create unintended consequences. Here are two primary dangers:
Endorsing False Theology
When a church uses music from Bethel, Elevation, or Hillsong, it can give the impression that the church endorses the theology of these organizations. Visitors or new believers may assume that because we sing their songs, we agree with their teachings. This creates a risk of leading others into false theology, which is heavily promoted by these churches.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, Paul warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers:
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
While these organizations may not be “unbelievers” in the strict sense, their distorted teachings about God’s character and the gospel place them dangerously close to heresy.
Feeding the Machine
Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong often use their music as a form of “bait” to draw people into their ministries. Their revenue from music sales and streaming directly funds their operations, including the promotion of false doctrines. By singing their songs, churches and individuals inadvertently support their ministries and expand their influence.
Biblical Warnings About False Teachers
Scripture repeatedly warns us about the dangers of false teachers and the importance of guarding the purity of our worship:
2 Peter 2:1: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
These warnings call us to be vigilant in ensuring that our worship is rooted in truth and directed toward God alone.
A Call for Discernment in Praise
It is essential to understand that singing a song from one of these churches will not cause a believer to lose their salvation. However, it can lead to being a poor witness, potentially causing others to stumble. In 1 Corinthians 8:9, Paul writes:
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
The goal of praise is to glorify God and to edify the body of Christ. Using music from sources that promote false theology undermines both purposes.
Guidelines for Choosing Praise Music
When selecting songs for corporate worship or personal devotion, consider the following:
Are the Lyrics Biblically Sound? Songs should align with the truth of Scripture and avoid vague or misleading language. As Colossians 3:16 instructs, our songs should be rich with the Word of Christ.
Is the Focus on God? Praise should always exalt God’s character and works, not our own feelings or experiences. In Psalm 115:1, the psalmist declares:
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”
Does It Exemplify the Fruit of the Spirit? Praise should reflect the qualities of love, joy, peace, and other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), drawing believers closer to God and encouraging a spirit of unity.
Is the Source Trustworthy? Consider the theological integrity of the source. While it is possible to use an individual song without endorsing the source, doing so requires careful discernment to avoid misleading others.
My Final Thoughts
Praise is a beautiful gift that allows us to glorify God with our voices, instruments, and lives. It is not about style, cadence, or musical tradition—it is about a heart filled with thankfulness, humility, and awe for our Creator. Whether we sing ancient hymns or modern worship songs, the focus must always be on God and His greatness.
Let us continually offer Him the sacrifice of praise, ensuring that our songs and words are biblically rich, Spirit-filled, and centered on His glory. As Psalm 29:2 declares:
“Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”