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There’s a growing conversation in the church about the direction of modern Christian music, especially when worship songs borrow heavily from the sound and structure of aggressive secular genres. Let me say this clearly: I would not call Skillet’s version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel demonic, nor do I question the sincerity or salvation of the artists. But sincerity alone does not determine whether something is fitting for the worship of a holy God. And while the lyrics may honor Christ, a scream identical to the style of secular heavy metal raises an important question: is this truly reflective of Christian worship, or has the sound of the world quietly shaped our idea of what worship should be?

Scripture gives us a framework to think through this—not with anger, not with arrogance, but with discernment. The Bible consistently ties worship to reverence, holiness, beauty, and spiritual edification. It’s not about being old-fashioned or stodgy; it’s about being biblical.

First, worship is to reflect the nature of God, not the noise of the world. The psalmist said, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psalm 89:7). Paul echoed this when he wrote, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). The issue is not whether the music is “modern,” but whether the sound mirrors a culture known for rage, rebellion, chaos, or aggression. Heavy screams—regardless of the intent—emerge from a musical environment shaped by those very themes. When worship adopts a style indistinguishable from that environment, it unintentionally blurs the separation Scripture expects between God’s holiness and the world’s spirit.

Second, Paul gives us a simple standard for evaluating worship: does it edify? “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Worship should steady the heart, feed the spirit, and draw the mind upward. Screaming, by its very design, stirs adrenaline, heightens tension, and awakens physical excitement. It may fit the emotional vocabulary of metal, but it does not naturally cultivate the peace, joy, and spiritual clarity that Christian worship is meant to produce. The question is not whether it is sinful, but whether it is spiritually helpful.

Third, the Bible repeatedly connects worship with beauty and holiness. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2). God’s character is holy, majestic, orderly, peaceful, wise, beautiful, pure. Worship should reflect those attributes. When a musical style communicates intensity, danger, aggression, or despair, it lives at cross-purposes with the character of the God we are exalting—even if the lyrics are true.

Fourth, the Bible never treats music as neutral. David played his harp and “the evil spirit departed from him” (1 Samuel 16:23). The Israelites danced to the sound of idolatrous revelry at Sinai (Exodus 32:17–19). Elisha requested a musician so “the hand of the LORD came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). Music carries power—spiritual, emotional, psychological. The sound itself matters. When the tone of a Christian song is indistinguishable from a genre formed to express anger, pain, or defiance, we must ask whether the form aligns with the message.

Fifth, Paul warns us about sending the wrong signal to weaker believers. His teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 is not about meat—it’s about association. He urges believers to avoid anything that causes confusion, clouds testimony, or points the immature toward worldliness. A scream that mirrors the sound of godless metal may not violate a clear command, but it certainly risks confusion. Worship should clarify, not complicate.

Finally, Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Truth is in the lyrics. But the spirit of worship is also carried in tone, mood, and musical form. Those elements communicate just as loudly as the words themselves. A song can speak truth yet sing with a spirit that doesn’t belong in the sanctuary.

So, no—Skillet’s arrangement is not demonic. But neither is it the best representation of Christian worship. It’s not about condemning artists. It’s about elevating worship. Christian music should not merely have Christian words; it should carry a Christian spirit. A holy sound. A reverent tone. A beauty that sets the heart on things above and testifies to the nature of the God we adore.

In a world desperate for something truly different, our worship should ring with a sound that is unmistakably heaven-born—not borrowed from the echoes of the world’s chaos.