Matt Redman Says Modern Worship Needs Scriptural Content
By Movieguide® Contributor
Singer and songwriter Matt Redman recently shared what he thinks modern worship does well and what it lacks compared to older music.
“I think that I’ve seen so much progress in the music community” as far as “production levels, commitment to the craft of songwriting, and the increasing culture of co-writing,” the writer of “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)” said. “We’re always better together, and most things in the kingdom of God we’re going to be doing together, not on our own.”
Redman is a multi-Grammy award-winning artist. His “best songs include The Heart of Worship, Blessed Be Your Name, Our God – and the double-Grammy winning 10,000 Reasons,” his bio reads. “More recent co-writes include Do It Again and Build my Life. Beyond music, he is an author and also launched a successful podcast in 2021, ‘Redman & Riddle’, which he co-hosts with worship artist Jeremy Riddle. He recently announced his fourteenth full-length album, set to release in mid-2023, which is introduced by debut single ‘Son of Suffering’.”
Redman told Relevant Magazine, “The one thing I will say is the area that we still need the growth in is really the content of the songs. The lyrical weightiness of the songs…Sometimes people say ‘Oh, hymns are better are than the new songs’ you know, and that’s not actually…a fair comparison.”
He pointed out that thousands and thousands of hymns were created throughout the years, and people think of only a handful of popular hymns when they say these things.
Content is “the area that hasn’t been at the speed of the production and the music. And the external…growth has been a lot better than the internal growth. And so that might be something that we need to keep focusing on,” he said.
He had been taught that “people’s worship theology can influence their thinking.” So, Redman always tries to take lyrics seriously. He explained that the lyrics are more important than the rest of the song’s production. So, Christian artists need to surround themselves with scripture and theologians, in addition to good music producers and others in the music industry.
“It’s got to be more purposeful, its got to be more visionary, and it’s like, ‘Hey, where are the theological gaps?’…Let’s try to plug a few of those,” he said.
He emphasized that the songs need to have a good balance—they don’t need to be overly complex, and “simple doesn’t have to mean shallow.” Basic lyrics can still hold a lot of meaning.
He added that he feels inspired by Fanny Crosby and Charles Wesley, who both wrote thousands of hymns. In his book, “10,000 Reasons,” Redman also names Horatio Spafford, author of “It Is Well With My Soul,” as a favorite hymnist.
Movieguide® previously reported on one of Redman’s songwriting projects:
Life.Church Worship recently released their newest EP, “Grace Upon Grace,” on April 22, 2022.
The new album features seven tracks that celebrate gratitude in the truth of God’s faithfulness and mercy.
The Life.Church Worship team also co-wrote “Finished Work of Christ,” with Matt Redman, and “Inheritance” with Matt Maher.
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