(Blog) Hymnal Replacement Theology - Ep. 948 - July 21, 2026

Hymnal Replacement Theology: When Worship Changes Doctrine

What your church sings can shape what you believe. In Episode 948 of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine changes in worship, church teaching, and Christian identity.

Our central concern is biblical authority, including whether churches preserve Scripture's teaching when they adopt messages shaped by modern identity politics. The conversation begins with rap music and faith in public life, because artistic expression raises a different question than changing Christian doctrine.

Tom MacDonald and Faith Expressed Through Music

The episode opens with playful "Hip Hop of America" sponsor banter and a story about a conference, Tom MacDonald, and the phrase "Remember who you are, white boy." Beneath the humor is a discussion about an artist whose music crosses boundaries between cultural commentary, patriotism, and religious expression.

Alan says he only began listening to MacDonald within the previous few days. Jeff's familiarity is even more limited, so neither presents himself as an authority on the rapper's whole catalog.

Alan describes MacDonald's message as unusually direct. He jokes that if preachers were as plain about their message as MacDonald is in his rap songs, "the whole world would be saved."

Acknowledging Growth Without Endorsing Every Song

Alan also makes an important distinction: some earlier songs contain strong language, and his praise doesn't extend to everything MacDonald has recorded. However, he believes more recent songs show growing religious conviction and signs that the Holy Spirit is working in the artist's life.

During the conversation, Alan reads an AI-generated description of MacDonald's music. It describes earlier themes of addiction and frustration with the music industry, followed by releases that emphasize patriotism, faith, and personal religious conviction.

The hosts' comments about MacDonald's spiritual condition remain their impressions. Their larger point is that a person can begin expressing faith while still growing in his relationship with Christ.

Authentic Faith Belongs in the Marketplace

Jeff compares a musician speaking about faith with an athlete publicly discussing belief in Christ. Both are people expressing their convictions through the work they already do.

That comparison leads to a question raised in the episode: should Christians become different people when they enter a church building?

Our answer is that believers should remain authentic. A person who has been born again brings that testimony into music, sports, work, and other parts of public life. Spiritual growth continues, but a believer doesn't need to adopt a religious persona before becoming a witness.

When Jeff says "be authentic," Alan clarifies that he means being real rather than operating through a religious spirit. The emphasis is on expressing who someone is in Christ at the stage of growth that person has reached.

Jeff also applies the point to podcasters. He suggests that a genuine encounter with Christ might move some of them toward proclaiming the gospel instead of spending their time judging everyone else.

Talent and "Performance" in the Church

Another concern is the way churches sometimes treat artistic skill as evidence of pride.

Jeff describes a familiar contradiction: a strong singer may face criticism for "performing" or drawing attention to himself, while a poor singer receives praise for being "anointed." He argues that, in some settings, the word anointed becomes a way to excuse a lack of ability.

Alan agrees that churches can discourage their most talented people from using their gifts. Jeff jokingly connects that rejection with Nashville, suggesting that artists find an outlet elsewhere when the church won't welcome their ability.

Our position is that offering our best to the Lord includes using the skills we have. Excellence doesn't automatically prove pride, and limited ability doesn't automatically prove humility.

The same principle applies beyond music. Whatever believers bring before God should come from who they genuinely are, with the best they can offer.

The Gospel Can Rock or Rap

Jeff recalls a statement from Andy Elliott that challenged assumptions he had carried out of his independent, fundamental, premillennial Baptist upbringing. That background included a KJV-only approach and strict expectations about appearance.

Elliott told him there was no place in the Bible that said the gospel couldn't rock. Jeff says the observation stopped him in his tracks because he recognized the point.

He applies the same reasoning to rap. Although rap isn't his favorite musical expression, he would support it in church if the lyrics brought glory to God. He even jokes that he might clap out of time while cheering the artist on.

Alan and Jeff also remember rhythmic preaching in the hills of Kentucky. They called those preachers "double clutchers," but the delivery had qualities they now compare with rap.

The distinction throughout this discussion concerns what the music says. A contemporary musical form can carry a biblical message. Our objection to the practices discussed later in the episode concerns the teaching they communicate.

Faith, Patriotism, and Political Identity

The MacDonald discussion also raises the relationship between Christian faith, patriotism, and political persuasion.

Alan describes MacDonald as someone who loves America. He also says Trump has included MacDonald's music on his playlist. These observations lead Jeff to ask whether a closer connection is forming between people's faith and their political identity.

Alan points to the controversy surrounding the phrase "Remember who you are, white boy." He argues that cultural responses to racial self-expression differ depending on whose identity receives the emphasis. His point is that MacDonald's music enters arguments about race and national identity as well as religion.

However, the hosts don't treat cultural influence as something found only in churches they oppose. Alan calls MacDonald a cultural phenomenon too.

The distinction they draw is doctrinal. They believe rap can express biblical truth, while they reject LGBTQ-affirming church practices that they see as contradicting Scripture. Their acceptance of a musical style doesn't mean they accept every message presented through it.

This connection between belief and political identity remains part of the episode's larger concern: churches need a scriptural basis for the cultural positions they adopt.

Rainbow Symbols and Changes Inside the Sanctuary

The discussion then turns to the article introduced with the headline "Pride themed hymns now fill the sanctuaries of woke churches."

The article describes some mainline churches displaying rainbow flags, decorating the chancel in pride colors, and having clergy wear rainbow stoles or vestments. Its argument is that a sanctuary can retain its stained glass, pews, and familiar architecture while communicating a different message.

These examples come from the article read during the episode. Our discussion focuses on what the article says those symbols express and how they relate to the teaching that follows.

One sentence becomes a central point:

"This transformation did not happen overnight."

Alan returns to that statement because he believes Christians have too often dismissed small changes as harmless or isolated. Jeff agrees that gradual acceptance can make once-unthinkable practices seem ordinary.

The hosts also reflect on having recorded close to a thousand podcasts. They believe developments that listeners might once have dismissed are now happening close to many congregations.

Compassion, Marriage, and the Authority of Scripture

The article presents a sequence of changes, beginning with the blessing of same-sex marriages and continuing with the ordination of openly gay pastors.

It describes supporters of same-sex marriage as arguing that the church should extend Christ's love to people who have felt excluded. Opponents, in the article's account, raise a question about authority: if the church redefines Scripture's teaching on marriage, what prevents it from redefining another doctrine?

That is the concern we emphasize in the episode.

Alan recalls a time when he couldn't imagine churches debating whether to ordain gay pastors or approve marriages between two men or two women. He also mentions openly gay public officials as an example of how much the public conversation has changed during his lifetime.

The article then contrasts two approaches to church leadership. One expects leaders to model holiness and repentance. The other, as the article describes it, celebrates identity without requiring surrender to God.

Our objection follows our understanding of marriage, repentance, and Christian leadership. Compassion remains part of Christian life, but we don't believe compassion gives a church authority to rewrite biblical teaching.

Apathy and the Loss of Good Traditions

The warning about gradual change reaches beyond sexuality and gender.

Jeff argues that church apathy developed over time too. He recalls discussing the issue during a Wednesday night meeting in Morgan, including his concern about churches increasingly canceling services and people losing interest in attending.

He believes churches have abandoned some good traditions that they ought to reclaim. His complaint is about practices that once encouraged commitment to the church and its worship.

Alan and Jeff are especially troubled by people who recognize a problem but no longer care enough to respond.

Jeff applies the same principle to an individual's life: people don't arrive at their present condition overnight. The statement about gradual transformation therefore concerns congregations, habits, and personal spiritual life.

Replacement Theology and Redefined Words

Alan and Jeff broaden the conversation by distinguishing replacement theology from what they call replacement ideology.

Israel and the Church

In their discussion, replacement theology means teaching that the church has replaced Israel and that God no longer has a distinct program for Israel.

Jeff warns that this approach can encourage antisemitism and the habit of blaming Jewish people for the world's problems. He sees a dangerous historical pattern that he believes is appearing again.

Alan connects the theological question with the practice of redefining terms. Israel already has a meaning in Scripture, he argues, so identifying Israel as the church requires assigning a different meaning to the word.

How Redefinition Changes Teaching

The hosts apply that concern to the meanings of male and female, marriage, and other established terms.

Their argument is straightforward: words carry meaning, and changing their definitions changes what a church teaches. A new label can eventually replace the original understanding.

Alan also associates LGBTQ-affirming congregations with replacement theology. He presents that connection as his assessment of a theological pattern, rather than as a finding supported by a survey.

The wider concern is that changes in theology can influence cultural beliefs. Churches may then adopt those cultural beliefs in their own teaching and worship.

Jeff summarizes the misplaced attention with a pointed joke: people worried about smoke machines when they should have been checking their flagpoles.

Bible Translations and "Christianity Light"

The article next discusses Bible translations and reinterpretations that, in its account, soften difficult passages.

Alan illustrates the concern with a conversation about a demanding 45-minute workout. Someone had altered the requirements to make the workout easier. He compares that change with what he calls "Christianity light" or "Christianity softened."

The concern is that changing a requirement can preserve its name while removing much of what it originally demanded.

Dealing Honestly With Difficult Passages

Jeff describes a passage he and Alan had discussed earlier that day. He doesn't identify it because doing so would take the conversation off course, but he acknowledges that it is difficult for him.

His approach is to examine context, the framework of the passage, and other Scriptures addressing the topic. After that work, he still has to deal with what the passage says.

"The Bible says what it says" is how he describes his hermeneutic, or approach to interpretation.

This discussion doesn't identify a particular translation. Instead, it challenges the practice of making a difficult teaching easier to accept by changing its meaning. Both hosts believe that approach increases the risk of bad doctrine.

Scripture and Public Questions Belong Together

Jeff argues that the article's examples are part of a larger problem involving the church's response to social and political issues.

He mentions sexuality, gender, and Israel as subjects churches need to address through Scripture. In his own preaching experience, the question of Israel comes up frequently because it occupies both the biblical narrative and current political discussion.

Our position is that the church should have a scriptural understanding of the subjects public institutions are debating. Political attention doesn't remove a topic from the church's responsibility.

Jeff also argues that avoiding a clear stand on one issue can reveal a broader unwillingness to stand on the Word of God. For him, the discussion of gay pastors and affirming churches raises the same question as other controversies: what authority directs the church's answer?

Baptism and Communion With New Cultural Meanings

The article's discussion moves beyond symbols and sermons to baptism and the Lord's Supper.

"Transbaptisms" and Renaming Services

The article describes some churches holding "transbaptisms" or renaming services. In its account, these ceremonies affirm a person's chosen gender identity and new name.

Alan and Jeff contrast that purpose with their understanding of baptism as a sign of death to sin and new life in Christ.

Their objection concerns the meaning assigned to the ceremony. They believe these services give baptism a purpose that departs from the Christian meaning they understand Scripture to teach.

Rainbow Communion Bread

The article also describes rainbow-colored communion bread presented as a symbol of inclusion.

The hosts contrast that symbolism with communion's focus on Christ's broken body, shed blood, and the forgiveness of sins.

They identify baptism and the Lord's Supper as the two ordinances Christ left to the church. Because of that, they regard changes to their meaning as more serious than choices about decoration or presentation.

Jeff says institutions adopting these practices may remain part of Christendom while departing from what he recognizes as a biblical church.

What Pride-Themed Hymns Teach

The episode finally reaches the change named in its title: the replacement of a hymn's doctrinal message.

The article argues that hymns have historically taught doctrine as well as inspired worship. It names God's holiness, Christ's saving work, humanity's need for redemption, and hope in eternity as central themes.

Wesley comes up in the conversation as part of that hymn tradition. The concern is that some churches are replacing those subjects with songs centered on identity, politics, and modern social movements.

The Lyrics Read During the Episode

The article supplies this example:

"For gay, bi and straight, a place at the table, invited to wed, to baptize and preach; a rainbow of race and gender and color, for queer, trans and ace, God's justice in reach."

Jeff responds by calling the message mockery and blasphemy. He sees the lyrics as celebrating conduct the church should address through repentance.

Alan then returns to the meaning of a hymn: a song or lyric of praise, devotion, and reverence. His objection is that these lyrics direct those responses toward identities and conduct he believes conflict with biblical teaching.

The musical form matters less to the hosts than the object of the song's praise.

Repentance, Redemption, and the "Falling Away"

Jeff explains his reaction by acknowledging his own sin. He identifies with Paul's description of himself as the chief of sinners, but rejects the idea that recognizing one's sin gives a believer permission to celebrate it.

The distinction is between confessing a need for redemption and presenting continued sin as something the church should honor.

Alan and Jeff connect that concern with the biblical idea of a falling away. They joke that they expected people who abandoned the faith to leave the church. Instead, they believe some remain inside church institutions and change their teaching.

Their phrase "falling away and staying" captures that concern. They then go further, describing what they see as falling away while taking over institutions or setting new precedents.

This explains why the familiar building troubles them. A steeple, sanctuary, or Christian vocabulary can remain even after the teaching has changed.

Children, Spiritual Accountability, and Rapid Change

Jeff is particularly concerned about teaching these messages to children. He believes churches are introducing children to ideas that contradict the repentance and redemption the gospel proclaims.

He also recalls the account of the flood, when God judged the earth because of continually wicked human thoughts. Jeff connects that account with his assessment of current conditions and expresses hope that his redemption is drawing near.

The hosts remember a recent conversation about whether they would live to see certain developments. Alan's response was that events were moving rapidly enough that they probably would. Jeff says they are already seeing more than he once expected.

He closes with a severe spiritual warning. He questions whether someone can celebrate practices he considers contrary to Scripture while claiming saving faith in the same Jesus. He urges people in such churches to examine their own faith and speaks of the danger of hellfire.

The episode then returns to political humor. Alan describes a MacDonald rap song as saying "the devil's a Democrat," carefully presenting the line as the artist's statement. Jeff jokingly responds that this is evidence MacDonald has been born again.

Worship Must Keep Its Biblical Meaning

Our central distinction is between artistic expression and doctrinal change. Rap, rock, or a skilled musical performance can communicate the gospel without changing its message.

Hymns, baptism, and communion also teach the congregation what Christianity means. When churches redefine them, they change more than the appearance of worship.

For Alan and Jeff, Scripture remains the authority for that meaning. The concern throughout this episode is what happens when cultural pressure determines what the church praises, practices, and proclaims.

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