Should you sing Bethel songs. Yes. Why are you even asking??

There are a large number of blogs and posts online putting people off using songs from Bethel, Elevation and Hillsong. These are motivated by various things which are likely often well-meaning but also include conservative theology, fear, misunderstanding, distortion and no doubt the occasional self serving motivation.

In answer to the question "should you sing Bethel songs", the answer is very simple. Yes. Followed by my question to you, "why would you even think of not doing so?"

Who Wrote The Song?

Firstly, when people ask about singing 'Bethel songs' (or any other church's songs), the reality is that they are co-written from within Bethel teams but also numerous people outside of Bethel. Are you also 'not singing' the songs of co-writers such as Phil Wickham, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram etc? Are you singing songs that are mainly written by other artists but include people from Bethel?? How far will you take your worship song cancel culture?

Do You Know The Writer?

We all sing multiple worship songs. Do you assess the theology of each individual writer? Perhaps you've invited them round and made sure that they agree with what it is that you think the Bible says about everything? What of the church they attend? Or the previous church they attended? Have you assessed them? 

Do you 'cancel' every single song that you don't like? Say within Bethel, would you not sing any song they have written, despite them being full of Biblical truth and spot-on theology? 

Do you sing 'Living Hope' by Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson? You should. Or 'Holy Forever' which is another anointed worship song - by the Johnsons, but also by Phil Wickham and Chris Tomlin?

Do you stop singing songs by writers who have worked with Bethel independently (or with for example Hillsong independently)? For example do you cancel Jonas Myrin co-written songs because he's worked with people from Hillsong?

Do you not use people who are part of Bethel Music but who don't go to Bethel Church? How far are you willing to take things in this quest of 'banning Bethel' and you being 'correct' but them being 'wrong'? If we act like this, aren't we being a bit arrogant?

I even saw one blog that claimed that 'Spirit Break Out' was wrong, theologically. Yet that was written years ago by four British song writers, including the excellent Tim Hughes who is an ordained Anglican minister who runs Gas Street Church, Birmingham with his wife Rachel.

Another blog claimed a song called 'Who You Say I Am' (by Hillsong) was theologically wrong. Yet the whole song is written from the Bible. Songs from these churches go through checks and balances within the church. They have been an incredible asset to the whole body of Christ, globally.

What of ancient hymn writers? Do you know everything they believed? Are there areas within their theology or lives that exclude their songs? Do you know what their church believed? How far do you take things? Do you, for example, attend a Protestant church that agrees with Martin Luther and his famous transforming belief of being saved by faith alone (what the Bible says). Did you also know that he was a vicious anti-Semite? Do you reject his teaching? What of any songs that came out of his church - do you also reject them?

What Makes You 'Right' and 'Them' Wrong?

Aside from the fundamentals of the truth about Jesus (he alone is the way to God) and the Bible (infallible word of God) etc, there are many things about theology that are debatable. There are things that God (I think deliberately) hasn't made clear, such as when the rapture will happen and in what order. God clearly likes creativity and variety! 

In everything, Bethel etc completely believe in Jesus and the Bible. There is no question or doubt. Beyond that I would suggest it is pride or wrong theology that assumes that someone else is 'wrong' and that you are 'right' and therefore should 'cancel' their music. You are setting yourself up as the 'deputy Holy Spirit' and in danger of acting like the world. "I follow Cephas" and "I follow Paul" etc as 1 Corinthians 1 wartns against.

Is your theology 'perfect'? Do you cancel your own songs or want someone else to cancel them?

Are You Prepared To Be Challenged?

I love new worship songs because they bring out something unique and different. There are more worship songs than ever before. The creativity of God and the richness of the word of God is being put to song globally in extravagant ways. Are you wanting to miss out on the fullness of God and his Word? Are you prepared to miss out on what God is saying and doing? Are you prepared to have your theology challenged and confronted? Is what you believe Biblical or just the result of a denominational church theology that isn't Biblically accurate?

I have read multiple blogs criticising Bethel Church but struggle to find anything said that is wholly accurate or correct. One blog said that Bethel Church don't emphasise repentance (untrue, a whole talk given on repentance in Sept 2025) or that Bethel don't believe the Bible (untrue, as proven by their leaders, songs and statement of belief). 

Could it be that it is your misunderstanding of Bethel that is wrong? Or that you are seeing them through a self-imposed lens that isn't correct? 

Some people limit the singing of Bethel songs for reasons such as their belief in healing. Yet that is in the Bible. They are criticised for saying that Jesus healed all our diseases on the cross. Yet that is what the Bible says. The more you look into the claims against Bethel, the more you see that it is not motivated by love but by fear. That is not from God.

Are you limiting the Holy Spirit by fitting every song to your narrow definition? Are you misrepresenting Bethel, their songwriters and the church? Are you missing out on something God has for you? Is what you're saying even correct? Are you acting in love? Building up the church rather than knocking it down? Are you acting as God? 

Are there things wrong at Bethel? Yes. But there are at your church too. Is there theology in some songs that may not be fully complete? Yes. But there are in yours too. Are there things wrong in some people's lives? Yes. But there are in mine and in yours. 

As for me, I believe in Jesus as the only way to God and believe the Bible is the infallible inspired word of God. And I sing Bethel songs and meet with the real risen Jesus every time. 

Your Songs and What to Look For

Is 'not singing' other songs a helpful way to choose songs anyway? No!

So how do you choose songs? There needs to be a mix between what God has done, what God is doing, what God will do and who God is. Matt Redman suggests there needs to be a balance between the 'classroom' (learning about God) and the 'chapel' (pointing to God and his holiness, in awe of him). Matt Redman is an excellent songwriter and wordsmith, so he also suggests we need to sing great theology. 

It's also good to have feel-good songs and to use and write songs that speak of what is possible, through Jesus. We should have songs declaring the greatness of God, songs that reveal who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us and that connect God to the world around us. 

We want a mix of songs that have a fast tempo, contemplative songs, songs of lament, catchy tunes, singable hooks and that inspire creativity. But we also want songs where lyrics, ability and quality don't become an end in themselves but are a result of Christ in us and who point us to him completely, look back at what he has done, relevantly view what he is doing and exalt him in what he will do as the one and only true King.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Bethel in any way.