The Beautiful Gospel According to Hillsong

Last updated on: April 16, 2020 at 9:56 am by Josh Daffern

The Beautiful Gospel According to Hillsong 2020-04-16T09:56:42-06:00 Josh Daffern

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I’m privileged to serve at a church that has two modern services (i.e. Hillsong, Elevation) and two hymn services (i.e. ancient hymns). Both sets of services create an environment of worship and both touch the worship heart language of passionate believers. But preferring one style doesn’t mean the other style is devoid of value. This past Sunday I had a conversation with an older saint who loves hymns (and rightfully so) but believes that modern worship songs are devoid of rich theology. On that point I would respectfully disagree.

Take as Exhibit A the newly released single by Hillsong Worship: King of Kings. Described by songwriter Brooke Ligertwood, “King of Kings is packed full of theology — theology releases praise. When we believe correctly about God, when we understand and get a greater revelation of who God is and what He’s done, we can’t help but respond in worship.”

Here are the lyrics to King of Kings. With a beautifully accompanied musical score, here is the gospel:

VERSE 1⁣
In the darkness we were waiting⁣
Without hope without light⁣
’Til from Heaven You came running⁣
There was mercy in Your eyes⁣
⁣
To fulfill the law and prophets ⁣
To a virgin came the Word⁣
From a throne of endless glory⁣
To a cradle in the dirt⁣
⁣
CHORUS⁣
Praise the Father⁣
Praise the Son⁣
Praise the Spirit, three in one⁣
God of Glory⁣
Majesty⁣
Praise forever to the King of Kings⁣
⁣
VERSE 2⁣
To reveal the kingdom coming⁣
And to reconcile the lost⁣
To redeem the whole creation⁣
You did not despise the cross⁣
⁣
For even in Your suffering⁣
You saw to the other side⁣
Knowing this was our salvation ⁣
Jesus for our sake You died⁣
⁣
CHORUS⁣
Praise the Father⁣
Praise the Son⁣
Praise the Spirit, three in one⁣
God of Glory⁣
Majesty⁣
Praise forever to the King of Kings⁣
⁣
VERSE 3⁣
And the morning that You rose⁣
All of heaven held its breath⁣
Til that stone was moved for good⁣
For the Lamb had conquered death⁣
⁣
And the dead rose from their tombs⁣
And the angels stood in awe⁣
For the souls of all who’d come⁣
To the Father are restored⁣
⁣
VERSE 4⁣
And the Church of Christ was born⁣
Then the Spirit lit the flame⁣
Now this Gospel truth of old⁣
Shall not kneel, shall not faint⁣
⁣
By His blood and in His Name⁣
In His freedom I am free⁣
For the love of Jesus Christ⁣
Who has resurrected me⁣
⁣
CHORUS⁣
Praise the Father⁣
Praise the Son⁣
Praise the Spirit, three in one⁣
God of Glory⁣
Majesty⁣
Praise forever to the King of Kings⁣

To make a blanket statement about modern worship that it is devoid of the rich theology of ancient hymns is to cast judgment on an entire generation of Christian songwriters who are passing on the gospel through song to the next generation in the same way Isaac Watts and Fanny Crosby did.

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