A GOSPEL SONG is a song offering to God, extolling the person, purpose, and mission of God in Christ; offered by a vessel saved by the gospel and set apart to it in his whole life, thereby making the offering acceptable to God.

It is therefore defined by three things

1. The Recipient: The whole point of a gospel song is that it is done entirely for God, offered up as a spiritual offering
2. The Vessel: No 1 can only be accomplished by a man who belongs to God in Christ, saved and living for God
3. The Content: The lyrics of the song is to express something of the grace and kingdom of God.

That is what makes a song, gospel; Gospel simply means the good news about Christ.

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1 Peter 2:5
[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:3
For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances

Hebrews 13:15
Through Him (Jesus), therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

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This is entirely a spiritual matter and has nothing to do with the genre or characterisations and categories of music, or classifications, designations or recognition by the world of men.

That’s why a song may sound all right, but he that is spiritual says “Mba, something’s wrong here”

It’s worse when the content itself, the most easy of all 3 to discern, is at odds with the gospel, but several call it gospel because of the great music; a good example being Hallelujah by Burke.

On the whole, it’s not always easy to tell, especially when all sounds right; and it’s best to stick with those with a clear time honored testimony for the Lord; although you yourself have to have a sanctified appetite and a satisfied fellowship not dependent on every new song or wave or trend.

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1 Thessalonians 5:21
But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

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In other words, a gospel song is a song that is God breathed, Christ centred, and Spirit filled.

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In all, if any of these three elements is missing, it is NOT gospel.

P. S

Mba: ‘No’ in African Igbo dialect