“While we might be rightly critical of the self-centered grammar of such choruses (which, when parsed, often turn out to be more about “me” than God, and “I” more than us), I don’t think we should so quickly write off their “romantic” or even “erotic” elements (the Song of Songs comes to mind in this context). This, too, is a testimony to why and how so many are deeply moved in worship by such singing. While this can slide into an emotionalism and a certain kind of domestication of God’s transcendence, there remains a kernel of “fittingness” about such worship. While opening such doors is dangerous, I’m not sure that the primary goal of worship or discipleship is safety…[Such a view] suffers from a “quasi-rationalism that sneers at such erotic elements in worship and is concerned to keep worship “safe”.

From James K.A. Smith “Desiring the Kingdom”.

“Cartman: All right, guys, this is gonna be so easy. All we have to do to make Christian songs is take regular old songs and add Jesus stuff to them. [some sheet music is shown. Cartman has already crossed out the original author's name] See? All we have to do is cross out words like “baby” and “Darling” and replace them with [writes next to "baby"] Jesus. All right, Butters, give me a beat. [Butters doesn't understand, but starts drumming. It's rather good] Okay, nice. Very nice. All right, Token, give me a smooth bass line…”

Enjoy!! http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/south-park/season-7/south-park-709-christian-rock-hard/#clip10912

I don’t really see the problem with the lyrics. You said if you take out “I’ve got a Saviour and He’s living in me” it becomes one of those songs where it could be talking to a boyfriend/girlfriend. But what if you don’t take it out because it is already embedded in the song, then you know exactly who they are talking too. Plus after I read this I put on that Hillsong CD and just listened. They mention God and Jesus A LOT! So what if they refrain from it for one song. I agree with the previous writer where throwing it just for the sake of it being there is not the right thing to do. And as a songwriter you should be able to appreciate the fact that it’s not easy to write a song, so maybe throwing You in there was a little easier that trying to fit the word Jesus in every line.

As for Kutless they didn’t even write the song, they just covered it for a worship album as you know. And you called their singer a “hunky beefcake singing in front of a rockin’ band, belting out a tune to predominantly teenage girls, half of whom are already infatuated with the singer.” Are you saying that guys who are a “hunky beefcake” (which the hunky part he definitely had no say in the matter, he’s just another one of God’s awesome creations) cannot be a singer if that is where his passion lies? As for the teenagers and their hormones, I think he is trying to do his best at not letting anything happen by singing a worship song and trying to Draw Them Closer to God!

As for the whole mainstream and marketing thing I totally agree with you. That picture of the Hillsong singer is just wrong for any band, but especially for a Christian Worship band.

I agree with you that maybe there should be concerns as to how mainstream some of our christian bands are going where they have the temptation to take the glory, rather than give it to Jesus. I don’t believe nessasarily that that has happened here, but i can see how it would be a temptation when you get bigger in the music industry…

These songs may be simple lyrically, and don’t go quite as much in depth, but i believe them to be more intimate love songs to Jesus. Is there something wrong with that? I don’t totally understand why there is a huge problem with the lyrics. To me they sound theologically sound. Sure, maybe the name Jesus isn’t thrown in there every other line, but throwing the name in there just for the sake of doing it, isn’t really the right thing is it?

Good thoughts, appreciate the article.

There are several bands (that I listen to, by the way), who are christian bands, whose songs will not be sung on Sunday mornings though(Michael, you know my taste in music), who make the same vague references to God, rather than proclaiming His name when they refer to Him. Part of my beef with these bands, is that for me, part of the allure of their genre, is their unashamed declaration of their message. When the music is in your face, but the lyrics are unclear, the passion and the message is lost on me.

Good discussion!

I’m actually not that down on them in the lyrical/musical department. Its all the image marketing that gets me.

There is a paradox at work. Yes, they are intimate songs, but at the same time they are trying to accomplish intimacy en masse. Have you seen the size of these concerts?

So while a song like “Draw Me Close To You” might be an excellent song to use in a personal worship time, here you have a hunky beefcake singing in front of a rockin’ band, belting out a tune to predominantly teenage girls, half of whom are already infatuated with the singer. Now add hormone factories… I mean teenage boys, to the mix, standing in close proximity to these girls and you can see how there might be some mixed feelings happening.

All that to say when I was that age and a girl said “draw me close to you” I really wouldn’t have cared why or to whom she was singing it. Maybe teenage boys aren’t like that anymore. ;-)

Thanks for the background info on the writer. He, like others who release art “into the wild”,probably dislikes some of the ways it gets used. But the fact is he at some point owned the rights to the song and has some say in how it is used. And when a band like Kutless records it, I imagine the royalty payments are pretty sweet.

I had shunned modern worship music for a few years, only to take another look and find that there is actually some good stuff there. Hillsong does some great tunes, Chris Tomlin has been putting out musically and lyrically well-crafted music for about a decade now, and then there is Townend and Getty who wrote “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” and “In Christ Alone”.

Take another look. You might be surprised.

‘Adding some Jesus’ to a song, to me, is as bad as avoiding him intentionally.

Color me: mixed feelings.

I don’t completely disagree with you here. There is a danger of watering down the message.

But I think the difference here is that these are actually supposed to be worship songs – not just Christian rock – and so they are more intimate. Wouldn’t your wife, if you were talking directly to her, feel a little weird if you had to keep saying her name every other sentence, just so everyone else who might be listening would know that you were talking to her?

In the case of Christian rock, it’s a different story, since that’s meant for entertainment, and is sort of more like communication between the band and its audience.

And, finally, just a quick point: that second song is actually kind of old – it’s originally by Michael W. Smith…

While I have to agree with you in general, I will comment on “Draw Me Close,” which is not a Kutless original, but was written by Kelly Carpenter (who was one of the worship leaders at a church I attended some years back). I would have to say that it was not Kelly’s intent to hide the fact he was writing a worship song; in fact, it probably wasn’t written with the intent of even recording it. He’s one of the most humble, sincere guy’s I’ve met, and I’m guessing this came out of a time of personal worship. He doesn’t have that “worship star” mentality that seems more and more common.

I can’t speak for Kutless.

But back to your point: I have for the most part given up on contemporary worship music and really don’t listen to “Christian Ghetto” music at all. Theology is conspicuously absent. But then, it’s pretty absent in much of contemporary evangelicalism, which is why I’m back in a liturgical church.

You could argue that crafting your music in such a way draws in an audience that wouldn’t otherwise listen to the message of Christ. Then, once you have developed that “relationship” with them, you have an opportunity to go deeper with them, to where they may be open to Christ through it. Unfortunately, most “christian” concerts and band websites these days only make vague references to God, so the argument falls flat, because there is no effort made to connect the unbeliever directly with Christ.

With all that said; I’m not against “christian” bands making good, clean music. It doesn’t have to be overly “spiritual” in content, all the time. But, if you are going to call yourself a ministry, serve Him openly. Don’t shy away from proclaiming Christ’s name. If you are referring to him in your song, say His name. If you are crafting music for a broader audience with the intent of developing a relationship with them, so they may be open to hearing about Christ; craft your shows and websites so that the message comes through.

First of all, I don’t think it’s fair to judge a band based on one song’s lyrics. I try not to listen to Hillsong too much because the commercialism and prosperity leanings kinda disgust me (maybe that has changed over the years, but from what I hear… it hasn’t). But maybe that’s not what you’re trying to do… perhaps it’s more a comment on the genre.

So, second, the thing I really dislike about the “Jesus is my Girlfriend” type of song is that it usually doesn’t really say anything. Nice flowery language that makes a person feel good without really having to commit to anything typifies the genre. That’s really unfortunate. In my mind, that prevents it from being true art… which is meant to challenge preconceptions and bring about change.

I’m reminded of a song by All-Star United that describes how I feel quite well… it doesn’t really talk about the “Jesus is my Girlfriend” songs, but I think the point applies:

Song of the Year

Word to the GMA
I’m a big up trippin’
G gave me a song tonight
He’s my dog, it’s like I be Rogers
G be’s my Hammerstein

I’ve got a song from above
Give it up for Jesus
Let’s see if God gets a Dove
And then shows up to accept

This is the Song of the Year,
Let the message be clear
I don’t need you to adore me
‘Cos it’s all about God’s glory
Something’s gone very wrong
If we’re chasing the Song of the Year

Testimony Testimony
Testimony Testimony
I’ll never be the same
Holy Holy
Worthy Worthy
Something Something
That rhymes with Jesus’ name

That oughta do
Guess I’m through
Time to canonise
I like to write movies too
About Christian superheroes
Who join forces to ward off the Antichrist

It’s the Song of the Year
But God’s still unimpressed with our radio success

This is the Song of the Year,
Let the message be clear
I don’t need you to adore me
‘Cos it’s all about God’s glory
Angel choirs sing along
If it’s really the Song of the Year.

© 2006 All Star United / Double Happiness Record