As AI Music Climbs The Charts, Church Leaders Urge Caution And Discernment
NASHVILLE — Apparently, it’s possible to be soulful, and yet without a soul.
The final months of 2025 brought another dimension to the ongoing discussion about AI among church leaders as a music “artist” named Solomon Ray climbed the charts. It came as another AI artist, Breaking Rust, did the same on the country digital charts.
Jon Huff, worship pastor at Cartersville (Ga.) First Baptist Church, wrote a Facebook post in late November that could speak for many of his peers.
He had received suggestions from the congregation of songs for the church to sing, but wasn’t sure if people knew they were AI. It concerned him that people may think certain artists are real people when they aren’t.
Like other worship leaders, there was also the concern that such songs did not include the human element.
“These songs are made in seconds by machines. ‘Soul-less’ music,” he wrote.
Personally, he added, he found the songs “problematic,” and he would be avoiding singing AI-generated content.
“There are many great hymns of the faith, modern hymns and praise choruses available [and] written by humans with souls,” he added, “but it seems we have to be more discerning than ever these days.”
Kevin Uhrich, worship pastor at Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville, Fla., is pretty much in agreement.
“Our worship music from yesterday, and the songs we sing today, not only come from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but from writers with life experiences,” he said. “AI would never be able to replace the emotion that Horatio Spafford put into ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’ Nor could AI understand the power that comes from setting the Word of God to music and stirring a local congregation to lift their voices.”
Using AI for production is a different matter with some positives, he said.
“AI can help to generate ideas and stir creativity, but it cannot be a final source for the music sung in worship,” said Uhrich.
That theme was constant among those contacted by Baptist Press.
“There’s something to the richness from having an embodied experience with the Holy Spirit of God both in planning of worship but also in leading songs for congregational worship,” said Jonathan Welch, assistant professor of worship at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“This whole discussion puts a spotlight on the importance of intentionality and prayerfulness in our song selection for gathered worship,” he said. “There’s an opportunity to remind us of the importance of process. I teach my students that every congregation should have a process for identifying and selecting songs for gathered worship. This whole discussion helps bring attention to those things for churches.
“Maybe it’s a wake-up call for some churches. What are the criteria for selecting music for congregational worship?”
Kenny Lamm, Worship Ministries strategist for North Carolina Baptists, said that as new as AI is … it really isn’t as far as Church history goes.
“The Church’s historical posture – from the printing press to the podcast – has generally been utilitarian and adaptive, viewing technology as a powerful tool to serve the timeless mission of sharing the Gospel and cultivating spiritual growth,” Lamm told BP. “The core debate, now as then, centers on whether the tool enhances or distracts from the spiritual experience. That is something each church must wrestle with.”
In other words, fear isn’t the right response; discernment is.
“I would recommend a slower, better‑informed discernment rather than blanket fear, asking whether God might use new tools – as with earlier media revolutions – while the church holds a hard line that AI can assist the craft but cannot replace the heart and witness of human worshippers,” said Lamm.
Even AI-generated songs should be put to the test and not tossed out wholesale, he continued.
“We always need to filter the songs we put in the hearts and mouths of our congregants to guard their theological integrity and musical beauty,” Lamm said. “What if AI creates songs that pass all the tests and are a wonderful expression for the congregation?”
Welch advocates for a measured approach.
“For this and other topics in the church, the best question often isn’t if something is allowed, but if it is wise,” he said. “To use a humorous example, I could use a kazoo in worship, but should I? We trust our pastors and ministry leaders to discern the best time and locations of tools like AI.”
The two worship pastors BP spoke with are taking the cautious route for now.
“I’ve seen graphic design work created instantly for free or at the fraction of the cost by AI,” Huff said. “At what point would churches consider having an AI music team or worship experience?”
“There are definitely some positives to using AI in the production of the song, just as many other creative arts will utilize AI to help,” said Uhrick. “However, I personally believe we need to draw the line when it comes to the words written on the page. That must remain the work of a human.”
This article has been republished with permission from Baptist Press.
Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.