Music is a great way to share the gospel. Sometimes, I find it difficult to come right out and say, “Hey, I’m a Christian. Want to know more about God?”. So, one method I use to share God with others is to play Christian music.
Some people think of Christian music as an outdated relic: old-fashioned sounds and hymns that only grandparents listen to. This couldn't be more incorrect. During a visit to my parents, I was playing Christian music for my brother. He knew I was a Christian. And, when he heard the music, he asked, “Is this Christian?” You bet.
Today’s rock, pop, hip-hop, and contemporary music with God-filled truth sounds similar to much of today’s mainstream music. This makes it easier for Christians to share the gospel in a very non-preachy way.
There’s a caveat here. I’ll often play Christian songs with the hope that my friends or family will “see the light” and come to Christ when they hear the lyrics. Or, that they’ll like the song so much that they’ll want to listen to the artist or band on their own accord. This doesn’t always happen.
And, even as I write this, I’m given a humbling reminder that it’s God’s job to reveal Himself to others. All we’re called to do is to share the gospel with others, not beat people over the head with the Bible.
So, here are a few songs that you can use to share the gospel with others.
Austin French “Wake Up Sleeper”
Austin’s catchy pop song is a testimony. The artist sings that he spent a long time in the dark. But, was more than happy to wake up to a brand new heart. From there, Austin empowers the listener to leave the past behind, walk through the door, and live free in Christ. Sounds like a winner to me.
"Wake up sleeper/Open your eyes/Oh sinner, arise/Leave your past at the door/Wake up sleeper/Come to the light/Christ is alive/Death don't live here anymore"
Cain (feat. Zach Williams) "Rise Up (Lazarus)"
This song screams the call to action: come to Christ. It doesn't say it passively, it screams the message from the rooftop. "Rise Up (Lazarus)" is a foot-stomper with singalong effects. Many times, we play songs without knowing the lyrics. Positive, truth-filled songs like this one give us something to enjoy without listening to something negative.
"Come on and rise up, take a breath, you're alive now/Can't you hear the voice of Jesus calling us"
Matthew West “Truth Be Told”
Once, I believed the lie that I needed to be perfect before I came to Christ, that I needed to have it all together. Or, he wouldn’t accept me. Unfortunately, this lie keeps us away from the cross, not coming to it.
Another more potent lie I believe is that I should keep my messes, my wounds, and my secrets behind closed doors. Unfortunately, this also keeps us—believers and non-believers—away from God. In “Truth Be Told,” Matthew West blows both of these lies out of the water.
Matthew emphasizes honesty, not secrecy, can heal hounds. He compares the church to a hospital: “A safe place for the sick and the sinner and sick and the scarred and the prodigal.” “Truth Be Told” is great for those running from God or others because of hurt.
"Can I really stand here unashamed?/Knowin' that you love for me won't change?/Oh God if that's really true/Then let the truth be told"
We The Kingdom "For God So Loved"
We The Kingdom have become a popular force in Christian music in the past two years. “For God So Loved,” a song from their 2019 offering, Live At The Wheelhouse, is an energetic piece that praises Jesus and invites all to the cross—all at the same time.
“Come all you weary/Come all you thirsty/Come to the well/That never runs dry/Drink of the water/Come and thirst no more”
Jordan Feliz “Next to Me”
God uses Christians to spread the good news of the gospel to those who don’t know Him. A foreign concept—even to Christians—is giving God control of our lives. Just the mere mention of it might start some unpleasant conversations. Emphasizing that freedom is found at the cross to non-believers is a much easier conversation starter.
Giving our baggage, ego, and control in the core message of “Next to Me.” And, as I said, it’s a message for all of us—not just non-believers.
"I get this feeling in my spirit when I'm low/I hear it calling like a compass to my soul/Saying, child, come on back now/You've been gone too long/Let me lead you back where you belong"
Bizzle “The Gospel”
Bizzle’s “The Gospel” is Bible 101 in song form—absolutely brilliant. Before coming to Christ, those interested in the cross have so many questions about God and Christianity.
To me, answering questions is an intricate part of a person’s journey to accepting Christ. “The Gospel” uses a number of Bible stories to describe God and Jesus: who He is and what He’s done. By the song's midway, the narrative switches from third-person storytelling to God talking about His character and values, faith, and freedom to the listener.
If you’re in the evangelizing business, then this is the perfect song to use for your ministry. If your listeners aren’t hip-hop fans, then the lyrics themselves are more than enough to minister with.
“So, there's a death penalty, and someone has to pay that/The moment that you sin, your life has been indebted/And His mercy is the only reason He ain't yet collected/So, that's why they would sacrifice lambs in their place/But it didn't clear the debt, it was just a partial payment”
Ryan Stevenson “The Gospel”
In “The Gospel,” Ryan emphasizes one solid truth: There's only one way to the Father and he's calling out to us. Ryan then cleverly describes what it means to go to Christ through the world’s eyes. But, emphasizes that “it’s the gospel that makes a way.” More great evangelism to bring more soldiers to the cross.
“It's the cure for our condition/It's the good news for us all/It's greater than religion/It's the power of the cross”
Paul Phillips is a Canadian journalist with over 10 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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