Brandon Lake Receives Backlash for Warning Worship Music May Alienate Outsiders
An award-winning Christian music artist, Brandon Lake, sparked outrage on social media after suggesting that worship songs that are too overtly biblical may alienate non-Christians. In an April interview on the "Bryce Crawford" Podcast, Lake argued that using "Christianese" language, such as referencing God's holiness, may be off-putting to those who are not familiar with Christian terminology.
Using a hypothetical character named "Bubba" as someone who has been dragged to church unwillingly, Lake said worship songs should not alienate such individuals, The Christian Post reported.
"Last thing I'll say is, I'd love to see more worship sets, more churches kind of keep Bubba in mind. We call him Bubba: the guy who's in the back of the room and he got dragged there by his wife," Lake, who serves as worship pastor at the multi-site megachurch Seacoast Church based in Charleston, South Carolina, said.
"And I just don't know if, when your opening song or the most of your songs have so much Christianese language, I think he has a hard time going like, 'Can I sing that? Like, I'm not there yet," he added.
Referencing his own song "Hard Fought Hallelujah" featuring rapper Jelly Roll, Lake said that Bubba would have an easier understanding of God compared to some classic hymns.
"I think [Bubba] hears a 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' — and I'm not saying 'Hard Fought' is the answer — but I love when your first song is like, 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,' I think he's going like, 'What does 'holy' mean? Like, holy crap? What?' I don't know," he said.
Prominent Christian musician Brandon Lake criticizes church worship songs for having too much "Christianese' language in them, citing the phrase 'Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty' as one example.
— Protestia (@Protestia) June 3, 2025
See the story at https://t.co/L4zsxiSEyk pic.twitter.com/potNu7fDB1
According to Lake, songs like his could help close the gap and eventually enable people like Bubba to sing more theologically complex tunes.
"Obviously, that's where we want to get to in a worship set — it's just every eye is fixated on Him, right? And it's just like everyone — it's, like, vertical. But, like, give Bubba some language. He can be like, 'Alright, I find myself in that song. I feel like that,' you know? And hopefully, that's what some of my music can continue to do."
In response to Lake's comments, which surfaced on social media this week, Christian cultural commentator Jon Root warned that it is reflective of the seeker-sensitive movement and Bethel Church.
"This is the fruit of Bethel church [and] the seeker-sensitive movement — watering down the Gospel to make it more 'digestible' for unbelievers," Root said. "Brandon Lake would rather entertain [and] compromise, than disciple [and] present theologically rich, Jesus-focused music."
This is the fruit of Bethel church & the seeker-sensitive movement - watering down the Gospel to make it more “digestible” for unbelievers
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) June 3, 2025
Brandon Lake would rather entertain & compromise, than disciple & present theologically rich, Jesus-focused music
pic.twitter.com/RExOXrw85W
John Mason, host of Living God's Truth podcast, criticized the music industry and accused it of being run by Satan.
"This trend almost never seems to fail. Singer/songwriter makes worship music and wins grammys and accolades from the music industry, he wrote, noting that they make more ambiguous songs that are Christian-like in order to "reach a wider audience."
He added. "I've seen it over and over again. Name the artist that has "made it," and they've done it. It's their formula for success."
"The entire music industry is run by Satan," Mason argued.
This trend almost never seems to fail. Singer/songwriter makes worship music and wins grammys and accolades from the music industry. Then they realize that in order to keep acending as an artist, their songs need to reach a wider audience, so they come out against the bible…
— John Mason (@LivingGodsTruth) June 3, 2025
Lake, who recently swept the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House, was formerly a member of Bethel Music and Maverick City Music. Some of his well-known songs include "Gratitude," "That's Who I Praise," "Graves into Gardens," Praise You Anywhere," "This is a Move," and "Rattle."
WATCH: The Brandon Lake Interview (EP 93)
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Bryce Crawford Podcast
Originally published June 05, 2025.
