When Worship Loses The Word - The Dangerous Drift Of Progressive Praise

There's a sobering line in the prophet Hosea that echoes with fresh urgency today: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). It's a warning to every generation that when we lose our grounding in the Word of God, we lose far more than clarity--we lose our very identity. Worship is not immune from this erosion. In fact, it may be the front line where the spiritual battle over truth is most quietly fought and dangerously lost.

A recent example of this drift comes from The Well Church in Gilbert, Arizona, which introduced a worship song that's quickly making waves--not because of its beauty, but because of its bold embrace of theological confusion. The song's catch phrase is "We've Got No Idea What We're Doing," and while the theme itself may be unintentionally honest, what follows is a troubling snapshot of what happens when worship untethers itself from biblical truth.

Here are some of the lyrics:

God bless the Christian

God bless the atheist

God bless the Muslim

God bless the rest of us

We've got no idea

What we're doing

Let all our friends in

And all our enemies

All of our children

All of our families

We've got no idea

What we're doing

We've tried to find you

Throughout the centuries

Different religions in

Different countries

We've got no idea

What we're doing

The song can be watched here:

At first glance, this song might sound like a plea for unity, tolerance, or humility. But beneath the surface is a dangerous message: that truth is unknowable, doctrine is divisive, and everyone's "spiritual truth" is equally valid. This is not humility--it's heresy.

Let's be clear. The Christian faith is not a foggy attempt to guess at God's nature. It is the glorious revelation of God in Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The idea that "we've got no idea what we're doing" when it comes to knowing and worshiping God directly contradicts Scripture, which declares that God has made Himself known through His Word, through His Son, and through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

The suggestion that all religions are equally valid paths to God is universalism--a belief soundly rejected by the historic, biblical faith. While we are called to love and pray for people of all backgrounds, it is not loving to pretend that truth is optional or that salvation can be found apart from Jesus Christ.

Worship is not meant to be a sentimental singalong. It is sacred space where we declare the truth of who God is, remember what He has done, and realign our hearts with His will. When worship is grounded in Scripture, it shapes our theology, renews our minds, and strengthens our faith. But when worship becomes theologically shallow or worse--contrary to God's Word--it leads people away from truth under the guise of spiritual experience.

This is not a matter of musical taste. It's not about hymns vs. choruses or organs vs. electric guitars. It's about content. A song that says "God bless the atheist" in the same breath as "God bless the Christian" is not offering a prayer--it's erasing the reality of sin, repentance, and the gospel. And to sing "We've got no idea what we're doing" as a refrain of supposed unity is to confess not humility, but surrender--to the spirit of the age rather than the Spirit of God.

The kind of worship that's emerging from progressive churches like The Well is not merely "different." It's dangerous. It offers a gospel without repentance, a kingdom without a King, and a worship that centers on human experience instead of divine revelation. It places feelings above faith, inclusion above instruction, and doubt above discipleship.

Ironically, the only truthful line in the entire song may be its title. "We've got no idea what we're doing" is exactly what happens when churches abandon Scripture as their authority and trade theological literacy for emotional expression. It's the tragic theme song of a movement that wants the warmth of worship without the fire of truth.

But friends, we are not a people left in the dark. We are not wandering without a map. "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). God has not left us guessing. He has spoken. He has come. And He is worthy of worship that reflects the fullness of His truth and glory.

As worship leaders, songwriters, and pastors, we must be vigilant. Theology matters. Lyrics shape belief. Our songs should echo Scripture, not contradict it. They should lead us to the cross, not away from it. We must resist the temptation to trade clarity for cultural acceptance and be willing to speak--and sing--the truth in love.

Let this be a wake-up call to the Church. Worship is not the place to "figure it out" or blend belief systems. It's the place to proclaim the God who has already revealed Himself. And as for those singing songs of confusion? The most truthful lyric may be the most tragic: "We've got no idea what we're doing."

Let's write and sing songs that show we do.