Christian Artists avoiding romantic lyrics?

[Iona]

Why is it Christian artists seem reluctant to write love songs? The formula seems to be that they write one that could be a love song and then turn it into a worship song by inserting God's name in. I can't understand why they refuse to tap into the biggest seller in the secular world of music. I will admit that some artists have written on it, but the majority haven't. Why? Love in the biggest force on the earth and it isn't a sin, so why?

[shooraijin]

Oh, I don't know; for example, there was that Michael W. Smith song "I will be here for you" (admittedly such songs *are* somewhat anomalous, but they're out there).

[SManBeyond]

I think my sister is right. True love songs in the Christian music industry are scarce because artists aren't writing / making them. The only artist I can think of that writes love songs is Michael W. Smith...

I personally think that there are too many songs about love in the secular world, but I wouldn't mind hearing them in the Christian industry as long as they weren't excessive in number.

Oh, and my favorite Christian love song is "In My Arms Again" by Michael W. Smith.

[Benu]

I think it's because there writing christian music not secular music. My mom has fought with me over the christian rock that I listen too because she says they haven't said one word about God or Jesus in the whole song. How is this chiristian music. My mom asks me who are they singing about? My mom only likes gosple though and alot of gosple songs don't have the word God or Jesus either.

I told her about that and she said well it's beacause I know there singing about Jesus. It could be that people will just start considering the Artist secular and not christian. That's why they choose to not write those kind of songs unless they can make it a "christian" love song.

[Master Kenzo]

Rebecca St. James did a love song once, I think. It was "Wait for Me" ... and yeah, now that you mention it, I really do notice how few Christian songs are love songs.

[Iona]

Yes, Michael W. Smith has around half a dozen love songs. Rebecca St. James has one, unless her more recent cds had some...didn't see any though.
Just because we're Christian, doesn't mean we don't feel emotions, especially love. I personally would like to see some more good Christian love songs. Until then, I suppose I will have to be satisfied listening to clean secular love songs...

[glitch1501]

i like wait for my by rebecca st. james, and first love song by across the sky

i guess the reason they dont sing that many love songs about people is because Christs love for us has no bounds, and our love for him should be the most important thing in our lives, even before a spouse i would say.

[ClosetOtaku]

I don't know about Christian artists, but I know a few fans who tell me if the word "Jesus" or "God" or somesuch isn't in every song on the album, it's not Christian and they won't buy it....

Fortunately, I didn't listen to them, and my favorite Christian artists are some that don't have His name in all the lyrics. Some love songs I can think of include Rich Mullins' "The River" (yes, I think it's a love song!) and "Wounds of Love" and Sara Groves' "Fly".

But maybe that's why Christian artists are a little skittish about being labeled "not as Christian as...". I hope they don't listen as much to the fans as they do to their own hearts, and they throw the occasional love song in...

[uc pseudonym]

I will say this: I know people who are disgusted when Christian artists have songs that are no more than romantic lyrics.

While I do not necessarily agree with them, I can see their rationale. If it is simply romantic, what makes it Christian? And if there is a clean song by a secular group, what makes that unchristian?

[ClosetOtaku]

While I do not necessarily agree with them, I can see their rationale. If it is simply romantic, what makes it Christian? And if there is a clean song by a secular group, what makes that unchristian?

We're humans. We like to categorize and segregate. God calls us to holiness, and we immediately think "well, this is holy and this isn't"... which is not necessarily bad, but we don't always know where to stop.

So, we call our artists "Christian" and "Secular", and the difference is the Jesus factor. Given that Christian artists will sing about "Lord" and "God" and such, and you rarely hear secular artists do so, it makes an easy target for division.

And we have Paul weighing in, "Whatever is pure, whatever is noble...", so we have added incentive to ditch some of the more secular artists (who aren't so pure and noble in their lyrics, on the whole) in favor of the Christian artists (whose music is pure, noble, and frequently dull). OK, I'm editorializing... but you get the picture.

Many Christians (myself included) don't know where the dividing line is, whether it's "safe" or "profitable" to listen to secular music (I do, but a times I wonder if I should), but also find Christian music a little derivative (with the exception of a handful of artists).

So, then, have we winnowed down the field of Christian talent and expression because we're afraid the tail ends of that Bell Curve lead to secular music Hell?

[Renoa]

Steven Curtis Chapman did a song called "All About Love", Plumb has the songs "Hold Me", "Taken", and "Without You". Any Chrisitan songs that praise Jesus and express a passion for Him, in my opinion, are intimate and express love.

[uc pseudonym]

We're humans. We like to categorize and segregate. God calls us to holiness, and we immediately think "well, this is holy and this isn't"... which is not necessarily bad, but we don't always know where to stop.

True this may be, but my post was more questioning the basis of the reasoning, not the rationale behind it.

Meanwhile, I have very little to say about the actual topic, save that it seems there are reasonable scatterings of love songs, as presented here.

[PumpkinKoRn52]

Christian artists are avoiding romantic lyrics because if they right about anyhting other than songs about Jesus, the christian radio stations will drop thier airplay and call them evil because they tried to express themselves.

[glitch1501]

Christian artists are avoiding romantic lyrics because if they right about anyhting other than songs about Jesus, the christian radio stations will drop thier airplay and call them evil because they tried to express themselves.

not true at all, the christian radio stations around where i live plays some christian music that doesnt speak about jesus,
for example

letters from war by mark schultz

and it plays alot more during the teen's radio section at night
some of the rock groups dont sing about jesus all the time

[PumpkinKoRn52]

Christian artists are avoiding romantic lyrics because if they right about anyhting other than songs about Jesus, or songs that don't show any real thing but happy go lucky feelings that usually relate to Jesus, or things approved by Chriatian radio stations, the christian radio stations will drop thier airplay and call them evil because they tried to express themselves.

[Kaligraphic]

Plus One did a song about girls (I heard it at the last Spirit West Coast that I attended) that might count in this category

[glitch1501]

Christian artists are avoiding romantic lyrics because if they right about anyhting other than songs about Jesus, or songs that don't show any real thing but happy go lucky feelings that usually relate to Jesus, or things approved by Chriatian radio stations, the christian radio stations will drop thier airplay and call them evil because they tried to express themselves.

you seem very angry towards christian radio?
i have never heard of any christian author being called evil...ever

[uc pseudonym]

you seem very angry towards christian radio?
i have never heard of any christian author being called evil...ever

Sadly, I have. Not necessarily on Christian radio, but by Christian organizations.

I agree that PumpkinKoRn52 seems somewhat angry against Christian radio. I will admit that I do find the nearly uniform right-wing bent of it somewhat irksome. But perhaps we should not broach that topic here.

[Mithrandir]

SCC did WAY more than those. Those are only the recent one's. And some of us christian artists DO have lots of love songs, but that's not why most people buy CDs. They want "all sprititual" stuff. I think I'll keep my opinions on this one to myself, as they might get misconstrued. Suffice to say that my love songs have affected their target audience greatly.

[PumpkinKoRn52]

A mod agrees with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyways, around where I live, the middle of nowhere, the christian radio stations have dropped airplay of christian artists because of one love song. I hate most christina radio stations because every song is monotonous and redundant, and all pop, light rock( which I consider an insult to rock genres everywhere. Couldn't they think of a different name, like light crap music?), and finally, more pop. They won't ply any rock or metal or anything of that sort. I once heard a christian radio dj call P.O.D. satanic because of their tattos and dreadlocks, and all rock music evil because of the style. That is were a lot of my anger comes from toward christian radio. My hold youth pastor repeatedly bashes rock calling it evil, yet he listens to rap such as 50 cent and Ja Rule.

[Stephen]

CCM in general=Show Me the Money. I could say more...but I really wont since I have gotten dragged into way too many debates before. I agree with UC that there have been a few bands listed that did love songs. I know LaRue has a few as well.

[Hikage_Ninja]

I know a lot of Christian bands that do love songs. Mae, Watashi Wa, Anberlin, Sick of Change, The Violet Burning, Vroom, Bleach, Calibretto, Further Seems Forever, Slick Shoes, and Copeland. Copeland isn't a "Christian" band per say, but all the band members are Christian. I'm sure there are many others out there as well... Oh and you can count Relient K too...if you consider Sadie Hawkin's Dance...a love song...in like...a really obscure way. O.o And MxPx has one or so too, I think...

[Stephen]

Spoken has a song on there new cd called Sleep Well Tonight...really good love song.

[Rachel]

CCM in general=Show Me the Money.

I agree. I really don't listen to much christian music because it's just so....I don't know the right word...but it seems to me like most christian artists are trying to shove everything down your throat and that they are doing it just to make a profit. coughmichaelwsmithcough. Anyways. A few christian love songs that I know of are that are really good are " Still Burning" by Sixpence None the Richer and " Your Kisses Blind Me" by the Benjamin Gate.
Anyways that's my two cents.

[PumpkinKoRn52]

I agree with Shatterheart and Rachel. Besides, most christian artists are just a bunch of $ellout wannabe pop stars.

[Hitokiri]

i dont listen much to christian romance songs cause well im not abig love song fanatic. However most of my music I listen to is Christian. Well bands like Demon Hunter, Haste the Day, Dead Poetic, Zao, As I Lay Dying (i can trell if they aren't Christian really).

To be more perfectly honest, I dont listen to music that cusses.

[Nightshade X]

Has anyone listened to DC Talk's "Godsend"? That's a love song if I've ever heard one. It was played in good circulation a while back by many Christian radio stations. In fact, I like it so much that I want to play that song at my wedding... if I ever have one... but that's a whole different story altogether...

[Nate]

By the way, in case yer interested, the word holy actually means "set apart." That's it, no more, no less.

Anyway, it's sad but I know we have a Christian radio station here called KLOVE and all their songs are like these stupid pop or R&B or "light rock" songs, not a single one by Pillar or Newsboys (well, ONCE in a while...they're very rare).

Talking about Christian love songs...well, I'm actually probably the only Christian on this site who watches South Park , so no one else would get the joke...

[uc pseudonym]

I don't think it'd be safe to assume that. I'm not a regular watcher (I couldn't if I wished to be) but even I could get perhaps a tenth of South Park jokes. As long as it's in good taste no one will mind.

[Mithrandir]

As long as it's in good taste no one will mind.

*thinks he sees the problem*





I'd say ignore people who are really closed minded about stuff like that whenever possible. Suffice to say:
1. I am a Christian.
2. I write songs.
3. Both worship and non-worship songs.
4. In fact, the night I proposed to my wife, I sang one of my songs.
5. I think God gave her to me.
6. Why else would song of songs be in the bible if God hates love songs?


Anyway, let's not discuss those points (at least not 6 )