Does your church ever use “secular” songs during worship?

Several years ago I visited a local megachurch that was hosting a sermon series on Love. They opened their worship set by showing a music video for “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles. This was the first time I’d ever seen a church bring in something so decidedly “secular” into a worship service.

The church I attend now sings a few songs that are amalgamations of popular songs and worship songs. For example, this past week we interspersed the chorus from Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” (“Everything’s gonna be alright” x8) into one of the worship songs. It’s interesting how those simple lines take on an entirely different meaning when put in the context of a Christian worship service.

Does your church ever use “secular” songs during worship?

Share your thoughts!

25 Responses to “Does your church ever use “secular” songs during worship?”

  • Mark says:

    I don’t believe it is fitting to use secular music to worship. The two examples given are especially offensive in that both the beatles and bob marley were professed drug abusers. The bible clearly states that we are not to be partakers of evil. Clearly the lives these people led were the essence of evil i.e. rebellion. Remember the churches (congregations)in the book of Revelations particularly the congregation who had lost their first love.

  • claudiu says:

    it’s just wrong and blasphemous to bring
    secular songs into a christ worshiping church?
    Are there not enough pure, holy christian
    songs to sing in a worship meeting? it’s very
    important that we look at the backround
    scenario of a song and lot of times alcohol
    drugs and sex are the ingredients that make
    a secular song what really it is.

  • Fabrizio says:

    In a single word: NO. I think most churchs do not use secular songs, and I am not favorable to doing so. This is my opinion based on the fact that secular song messages seldom are about what the church messages wants to say. Certainly many church songs were writen on a secular/cultural music theme, but they are all intended to say a worship message. Sometimes secular music also brings a good message, but this is not recquired to be a Christian message, and certainly is not a worship message.

    Psalm 145 says that “The LORD is near to all who call on him”, so we can worship Him while doing anything with love, even hearing secular music. But our mission is to bring HIS reign among us, not take our OUR reign into His presence (Mt 6).

    Let us leave the secular music into the secular world, while giving our worship music for Him.

  • Sam says:

    I have no problem with using a secular styles of music, or using a secular well known secular melody set to religious words. The practice of using secular melody with religious words is at least as old as “Amazing Grace.” Given the appropriate context (with only occasional use) secular songs can be an adjunct to worship. As always, regardless of the music used we need to make the “main thing” the main thing…genuine worship of God.

  • Ernie says:

    If the song uplifts, then I say use it. There are some very uplifting “secular” songs, and sometimes, to make a message point, various pop songs can be used.

    Don’t forget that many of our “old standard hymns” were initially sung to tavern songs.

  • Edward says:

    No, it doesn’t. I could understand why other churches would opt to mingle pieces of secular music with worship songs. Secular music, for a lot of people, gives the a sense of familiarity or even belonging. These secular songs tend to bring about an emotional response — hopefully a positive one. It can even bring a sense of comfort especially to those who are new to church, those who are not familiar with worship songs.

    There’s a danger here however. Worship isn’t an attempt for man to concoct his own formula to please God. A church could easily loose focus in this regard and may end up really trying to please people without them knowing. Worship lifts one person only–Jesus. Any deviation from this would be lifting up the flesh, and this is in conflict with the Holy Spirit. An attempt to bring secular music into worship, while it may sound good, have the tendency to make US feel good. But our goal is to magnify and exalt Christ to the highest place, bringing down the Kingdom of God, which brings about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and this is the kind of emotion that comes from above, not within.

  • Yes, we do. We sing “Happy Birthday”, we sing a number of patriotic songs and we sing an occasional “theme” song that is clearly uplifting and in no way distracting from the glory of God but rather a “Joyful Noise” that edifies Him and attributes to His creation.

  • Peggy says:

    Oh yeah our church uses secular songs sometimes. I love it.

  • Mitz says:

    Not always, but there are times when we do. I believe God looks at the heart and the motive. There are tons of pure and holy songs and I love every single one of them. Sometimes my church even just sings old hymns. But I think it brings authenticity to the church when we don’t use “churchy” songs. People do listen to other music outside of the church. Who are we kidding? Those who are not yet Christians feel like maybe they found a place where they can belong. Gen-xers, and the like, they feel like they are less among hypocrites and more with every day people (i.e. sinners just like themselves). When you do anything (anything means anything) unto the Lord He will bless it. That is what my church has done. We’ve even had a Green Day song. The songs always fit the message……..and those who are not right where WE “think” they should be (including my kids) can get “The Message” a little louder. They’re not playing God. They are just trying to be His hands and feet. We are blessing God. And God blesses those who bless HIM.

    As for me….I can and do get emotional with any song. Including my Mom’s favorite. It’s called “Amazing Grace”. One thing is for sure: JESUS is always high and lifted up at my church, in my car, or wherever I am singing because HE is with me wherever I go. That would, I would hope, include church. If Jesus were around today (and I firmly believe He is) He would do the same thing. Where did He go? What did He do? What did He say? Three words could answer that: Well. Stone. Love. (Sounds like it could even be a song).

    At my church we believe in LOVE. I am typing this out of love. Nothing more. Nothing less. It’s just food for thought on how the other half lives. I don’t believe we are losing our love. I believe we are spreading love around to those who truly need it. To the sinners, of which I am one.

  • no…no…no…..i dis agree using secular “songs inspired by unbeliever” in worship service….from the title of event itself,,,”WORSHIP SERVICE”its for God not for men,,,why using worldly songs???? maybe if its a church activity like “LOVE MONTH” celebration! why not? but during worship? NO! NO! NO!

  • Nanyaro says:

    It is very absurd to think of mixing christianity with any other things during worship; absolutely unchristianity. The problem is churches which have fallen short of vision and revelation. Instead they want to appear liberal, modern etc. The result – no power of God is exhibited. Imagine churches which proclaim to be Christian while they have gone to the point of accepting homosexuality; IT IS A SIN that leaves curse hovering above them! Let them call themselves western, modern and the likes but can’t run away from the wrath of God; He doesn’t count on majority or else. Please look back and REPENT, you have lost the course, secular songs can’t be sung in worships. AMEN

    • Charles says:

      So homosexuals, because of life decisions, in your eyes are NOT allowed to attend church? Aren’t we supposed to love all of God’s people? Saying that someone has sinned and therefore can not attend church is passing judgement. That is not our responsibility. Sin is judgable by God only. We should love everyone regardless of their sin. Jesus did not condemn the prostitute. I can not call a church home that condemns homosexuals, or anyone for that matter.

      • Jerry says:

        Charles, I don’t think Nanyaro is saying gay people cannot attend church. There is a big difference between reaching out to the gay community as Christians, and embracing/affirming/condoning the lifestyle. If my sin is adultery, pray that a church would draw me in and God’s word would turn my heart from that sin. Same with homosexuality. Christ died for me, for you, and for every homosexual. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom 12:2) That is true for every sinner trapped in every sin, including the sin of homosexuality. Blessings to you brother.

  • Shelley says:

    No, my pastor would never have us sing a secular song in our worship services, but I have heard secular songs used at other churches.

    I believe it is what is in your heart, you can sing praise songs but if your heart is not with God praise or not he knows.

  • malagasy says:

    According to me, CHRISTIAN churches at the worship do not need to sing bob marley’s songs or beatles songs or jackson’s song etc.. Christians have many many many beautiful songs! Why do we have to use worldpopular songs? No!!!!! We don’t have !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To glorify our Powerful GOD just let us sing Christian songs!!! Praise our LORD with our own songs! Malagasy people (From Madagascar Fouth big island in the world located east of africa in the indian ocean) we took the protestant english songs since 1890 and translated the words into malagasy, sang beautiful songs in malagasy, composed malagasy songs and now we have plenty of Beautiful Malagasy Christian Songs! Don’T need to take jackson or bob or beat or whitney or tang sitao songs to worship or to praise THE LORD !!

  • Stacey Cranmer says:

    worship is about praising god.
    with all your heart mind and soul.
    i praise god to various genres of Christian music.
    who cares what beat its too? or who wrote it? as long as its for god and from your heart.
    god just wants you to praise him.

  • Jason says:

    I think God is okay with us having a little fun with a James Taylor song.

  • Kristen says:

    I see nothing wrong with altering secular songs for worship. Music has been perverted by Satan and frankly, it’s about time we took some of it back.

  • Victoria Zimmerman says:

    Who makes up these divisions of music? Good music is “good music”. I look for the message in the music. It’s either good or bad lyrics that make a song either or!

  • Charles says:

    First of all, choices made by the artist regarding how they lived their lives have absolutely NO bearing on the meaning behind the song. A drug addict that expresses love does not make the love less meaningfull because he is a drug addict. Love is love. Secondly, it is our responsibility as Christians to bring God out into the world, and in many cases, the world can not be reached by singing traditional worship songs. Sometimes you need to use secular music to create a road for non believers to travel down that will eventually lead them to God. As a Christian and a musician, I can honestly say that my road to God started with “The World I Know” by Collective Soul. Not a Christian song, but it began in me a journey that has led to me giving my life to God.

  • Jerry says:

    Chris, I would say no. I love a lot of secular music. But worship music is borne of deep meditation on God’s Word. I believe that most worship music is inspired by God, not in the direct sense that scriptures were, but by close communion with our Lord through His scriptures. I sincerely doubt that was the case with Lennon, McCartney or Marley. There is a sense of the inappropriate using music in “worship” that was not borne of humble devotion. We are not in church to have fun or to be entertained, but to make an offering of devotion and worship to the Almighty. God bless you brother.

  • rey says:

    I understand that there are “churches” who sings secular songs in their worship, but in our church it’s a No..No.., Maybe they do it to make the unbelievers feel an atmosphere of belongingness and make them feel comfortable so as not to offend them, but hey, worship is not for these people, it is for our God who died for all sinners like us, and this is what the apostle Paul is saying about the unstoppable message that must be preached to the world, and we as the unstoppable messengers must stand firm, never bend, backed down or compromise by conforming to the ways of these world by playing secular music in worship. they need to understand the message deep down that they need Jesus in their life and not playing games to them thru secular music.

  • helen. w.b says:

    i’m 15 and i think that music should inspire the soul. what is the difference between the secular and non secular, really what is,how is praise suppose to be fun if people dont enjoy it(just because you do doesn’t mean every body else does)would it matter if the artist was christian and his music is secular. i think its bad that people limit there views to only what they’ve been told because i limits the views of the people around them.my parent tried to shield me from secular music because i was depressed but it turns out( according to a professional therapist) my ‘secular’ music was the only reason i didnt kill myself

  • Josh says:

    I also praised God in any genre, the important is your heart and to glorify God, speaking to secular songs, how about the Switchfoot, Casting Crown, etc. We must look on the message, and its inspires, continue…. and not to look on the style of music or drums, pop, and contemporary music, the important is to sing for the Lord. Godbless

  • Josh says:

    Continuation from my last message, on the secular songs, If the message of the song is all about God or about to live as a Christians like us, about Faith and Patriotism (Thats why America & Asian countries today excels and used to meet excellence for their country and to the glory of God).. no problem