(RNS) — ‘How Great Is Our God’ has long been one of the most popular worship songs in Christian churches. Since 2020, it’s also become a theme song for Christian nationalist protesters. “Our hearts ...

Some traditions work to refocus on theological distinctives in their music as worship megahits take over. If you feel like it’s hard to keep up with the cascade of new worship music, you’re not alone.

But the Easter special was a reminder of how the church influences mainstream music. At the time, American Idol was in its eighth season, and it was the singular singing competition in the burgeoning ...