Should The Church Dumb Down Worship To Reach The Lost?

By all accounts, Brandon Lake's music has played a role in stirring hearts toward God. But his recent comments about tailoring worship services to be more accessible to unchurched visitors--like the hypothetical "Bubba" dragged to church by his wife--raise a question far larger than Lake's own platform: Are we compromising the sacred to make it more palatable?

Lake's suggestion, shared in a podcast interview, is that perhaps worship music should be "toned down" for the sake of the outsider. The argument goes something like this: if a man like Bubba doesn't understand words like "holy" or "hallelujah," perhaps we should lead with something a bit more accessible. Maybe start with a Coldplay-esque anthem that avoids "Christianese," so he doesn't feel out of place.

But here's the problem: church was never supposed to feel comfortable for the unconverted.

At its core, Christian worship is not an outreach strategy. It's not a seeker-friendly concert. It's not a spiritual TED Talk. It is, and always has been, the holy act of God's people gathering to proclaim His worth.

We gather not to reflect our image but to behold His. That's why Revelation shows heaven's throne room echoing with "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" (Revelation 4:8), not "Here's a tune you'll relate to."

Church isn't supposed to mirror the culture--it's supposed to contrast it. When we center worship around what an unbeliever feels, we dethrone God from the center of our gathering and replace Him with man.

And while intentions may be sincere, the implications are catastrophic.

Lake's concerns aren't new. Church growth models for decades have emphasized making services less intimidating--dim the lights, sing songs that sound like pop radio, keep the language "relevant." But somewhere along the way, relevance replaced reverence.

We began to ask, What will draw a crowd? rather than What honors a holy God?

But here's the truth: "Bubba" isn't transformed by catchy choruses. He's changed by Christ. And that transformation doesn't require us to dumb down the message. It requires us to lift up the Savior.

Scripture never shies away from mystery. Words like sanctification, atonement, and glory are dense, sacred, and sometimes hard to grasp. But the answer isn't to water them down--it's to teach them. Disciple. Explain. Repeat. The Spirit does the heart work; we just need to be faithful stewards of truth.

Modern worship often confuses emotional resonance with spiritual impact. That's why many churches lean toward songs that feel like ballads, with lyrics designed for catharsis rather than conviction.

Of course, God gave us emotion. Passion matters. But worship isn't about feeling something--it's about declaring Someone.

That's why lyrical depth matters. That's why the Psalms, the Church's original hymnbook, are filled with theological richness, not shallow slogans. When our songs echo Scripture, they don't alienate--they elevate. They invite even the unchurched man into something larger than himself.

Let's speak plainly. Churches have been hemorrhaging men for years. Not because the worship is too traditional or the language too lofty. But because we stopped challenging them. We traded in awe for accessibility.

Men don't need dumbed-down lyrics. They need a high call. They need a God who isn't like them. A God who demands repentance, commands allegiance, and offers redemption. A God worth surrendering to.

You don't get that from songs that sound like breakup anthems. You get that from worship rooted in Scripture, lifted by voices that fear God more than they fear awkwardness.

To be clear, we should absolutely welcome unbelievers. We should be hospitable, kind, and willing to explain what we're doing and why. But we must never center our gatherings around them.

The Sunday service isn't meant to be a spiritual on-ramp. It's a holy meeting between God and His people. Visitors are welcome to observe, participate, and even be changed by what they see--but they are not the primary audience.

God is.

And that's where Brandon Lake's comments--though likely well-meant--veer dangerously off course. Worship isn't about finding ourselves. It's about fixing our eyes on Him. It's not about crafting the perfect emotional moment. It's about proclaiming eternal truths, even if Bubba doesn't understand them--yet.

We don't disciple unbelievers by giving them a mirror. We disciple them by giving them a throne--and inviting them to bow.

So no, the answer isn't dumbing down worship. The answer is lifting up Christ--clearly, boldly, biblically. And trusting that when Bubba hears men and women sing of holiness, righteousness, mercy, and majesty--not as metaphors, but as divine realities--it might not sound familiar.

But it might awaken his soul.

Let worship remain sacred. Let the Church sound like Heaven. Let "Bubba" be amazed--not at how normal we've made God--but how glorious He truly is.