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“Brandon Lake, an award-winning Christian music artist who recently swept the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House, drew attention on social media this week for suggesting worship songs threaten to alienate non-Christians if they are too overtly biblical.” - CPost

Discussion

Fri, 06/06/25

Lake says that he wants to appeal to a hypothetical "Bubba" (no relation to my blogging nom de guerre Bike Bubba!) by removing Biblical language from some songs, but something in me thinks that a real Bubba from the South might not be so keen on Lake's "man-bun". Just sayin'.

OK, teasing aside, I would agree with Lake if he were referring, per another thread here, if he'd rebuked CCM musicians and worship leaders for using "Christianese" outside of Biblical context, I'd be 100% with him. I think, however, that he speaks a bit more broadly, and in doing so, he gets on the wrong side of one of the key reasons I think we sing; to impart the Word of God to the people of God in lyric form. To help our memory, more or less--what we see in the Psalms. So let's just say I think his hypothesis needs a bit of work.

On a side note, musically he's a step or two above most CCM musicians, which is nice to hear.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Mon, 06/09/25

Why is he surprised that unbelievers would be offended by the Christian message? When Jesus spoke, he alienated many unbelievers. So did the prophets and the apostles. Our job is to do like Jesus and to bring grace and truth. If we water down the truth because people do not like it or if we are ungracious as we bring the truth, then we should be worried.

For evangelism purposes, the truth must be there, but Christian music should be about more than just evangelism. It should be about praising God. As I praise God, I do not want to water down what I say either. Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

It is not just semi famous entertainers that have this problem. I believe far too many Christians are afraid to talk about Jesus and the scriptures with the unsaved. We need to get over it.