Why We Sing to God, Not Just About God
By Ellis White, Senior Pastor
If you’ve been around church for a while, you’ve probably noticed that the songs our younger generation sing today sound a bit different from the ones we grew up with. Some are louder. Some repeat more. Some feel more like personal prayers than corporate declarations.
And maybe, if you’re honest, some of it feels… unsettling.
I understand. Change in worship can be disorienting—especially when the songs that shaped our faith are no longer sung as often. But I’d like to offer a little perspective that might help bridge the gap between the hymns we cherish and the songs we’re learning to sing.
Songs About God vs. Songs to God
If you open a hymnal, you’ll find that some songs are written about God—songs that declare truths about who he is and what he’s done. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a good example. It’s rich, theological, and rooted in Scripture. It teaches. It proclaims.
But others are written to God—songs that speak directly to him. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” for example, says:
“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.”
That’s not just a statement about God; it’s a conversation with him.
In recent years, many (although, not all) of the songs written for the church have shifted in this direction. They’re not primarily written to describe God but to address Him—to express love, gratitude, confession, or dependence. They’re written for prayer as much as proclamation.
The Psalms Did It First
This isn’t a new idea. The earliest songbook of the people of God—the Psalms—models it beautifully.
Think about Psalm 23:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
That’s a song about God. But just a few psalms later, we read:
“Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!” (Psalm 27:7)
Now David’s singing to God.
In fact, more than half of the Psalms are prayers or laments addressed directly to Him. “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1) “Have mercy on me, O God.” (Psalm 51:1) “You have been to me a fortress and a refuge.” (Psalm 59:16) The Psalms are filled with songs that invite the worshiper into dialogue—not just recital.
So when we sing song with lyrics such as, “Be the gardener of my heart,” or “I will sing of all you’ve done,” or “You shine in the shadows, you win every battle,” we’re joining the same pattern of worship God’s people have practiced for millennia.
Holding Both Together
Of course, we need both kinds of songs.
We need songs about God that declare timeless truths and teach sound doctrine. These shape our minds. They help us remember who he is and what he’s done.
And we need songs to God that give voice to our hearts—songs of intimacy, honesty, and love. These shape our souls. They remind us that worship isn’t just an idea to believe; it’s a relationship to enjoy.
Healthy worship holds both together—truth and intimacy, doctrine and devotion, proclamation and prayer.
A Word for This Moment
As our worship continues to evolve at Chapel Hill, my hope is that we never lose either voice. I want our younger generations to discover the deep wells of hymnody that have nourished the church for centuries. And I want our senior saints to see that many of the new songs echo the same heart as the Psalms—personal, prayerful, and passionate toward God.
At its best, worship unites the generations. One group reminds us that truth matters; the other reminds us that love must be expressed. Together, we bring the full song of the church—mind and heart, old and new—before our faithful God.
So next time you sing a song that feels unfamiliar, try addressing it to him. Picture the Lord listening, smiling, receiving your words as worship.
Because that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Pastor Ellis