Religious pop music sucks.

or; love songs to Jesus? No thanks.

from JoeUser Forums
I sat here in my little teller cubbyhole at work, hearing the words repeat over and over, in the inane, vacuous, insipid song - "I Can Only Imagine". It's a "cute" little song that deals with what it would be like to see Jesus again and what you would do.

While I guess the sentiment is okay, I found myself wanting to throw the company-supplied radio across the room, out the door, out onto Fairfield Road and under the eardrum-saving wheels of a passing truck.

Why?

Because it's pop music.

Don't get me wrong - there's some (not a lot mind you, but some) good pop out there. But Christian pop is not, nor has it ever been, good pop.

It's cutesy, it's maudlin, it's uninteresting - and it's performed by a bunch of pariahs from the real music industry who are (rightfully) shunned by their more humanistic contemporaries.

I understand the desire to sing praise to God - I do it on a regular basis, and not only in the church building on Sunday (where we're a good, old-fashioned organ-accompanied multitude). But writing and performing these love ballads to Jesus is pathetic.

There is nothing wrong with aiming to write uplifting, morally and lyrically clean music. Nothing at all. Plenty of bands can write music that is that way. Mastodon? They've never cussed in one of their albums - and they write some of the best, most blistering metal you'll ever hear. Rush? Very uplifting ideas behind their songs, without needing to be crass or profane.

But love ballads to Jesus? Save me. Get them away from me. Right now. Please.
religion
7,014 views 48 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
have you ever listened to any of the harder bands that are christian? not pop, but hard rock, alternative, metal, etc? not necessarily talking about Jesus either, but some decent music. My first experience with Christian rock was back in the 80's with Stryper--To Hell With The Devil! big hair, black and yellow spandex, and loud rock
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

Amen!! Preach, brotha!  Tell it like it is!!!!

In all seriousness, I agree with you.  Some of the lyrics to these songs are pretty creepy - not at all what I think a relationship with your saviour should be like.  I mean, there's a line that you don't cross, you know?  Your love for Christ should be very, very different than your love for your wife or husband or girlfriend.  Actually, those songs and the church's acceptance and encouragement of them are part of the reason I decided that I had to reject modern religion and walked away from the church.

Ick.  They make my skin crawl.

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
you are so right here. at least 98% of the time. most christian music tries to mimick pop trends and ends up just being a poor imitation. every once in a while tho, there are a few valid artists.

i thought amy grant had a decent run of songs in the 80's. jars of clay were a pretty solid band. a few others...but like i said before, 98% of it is pure crap that's more about using pop trends to hook people on jesus than creating anything that actually tries to carve it's own path.

My first experience with Christian rock was back in the 80's with Stryper--To Hell With The Devil! big hair, black and yellow spandex, and loud rock


yeah, they were loud. unfortunately, they weren't very good. about the only band i can remember that was significantly worse than them in the 80's pop metal scene was the japanese outfit, loudness.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Rich Mullins is a personal favorite of mine, largely because of the incredible life he lived. Unfortunately, Rich got tagged with one of his lesser songs (in my opinion) becoming the standard-bearer for Christian pop ("Awesome God"), and too few people know anything of his outside of that.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
have you ever listened to any of the harder bands that are christian? not pop, but hard rock, alternative, metal, etc?


Yes, and I dislike it just as much as the Jesus pop. Like I said, there are plenty of good Christians making great music, but if it's focused on Jesus, I find it tripe.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
They make my skin crawl.


Me too. That's why I wrote this article . . .
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I wanna get down on my knees and start pleasin' Jesus...

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes, and I dislike it just as much as the Jesus pop. Like I said, there are plenty of good Christians making great music, but if it's focused on Jesus, I find it tripe.


See, from your article, I thought you had an issue with the music. "I guess the sentiment is okay..." But you actually have a problem with the subject matter. "If it's focused on Jesus," it's crap, then.

Glad you cleared up how you feel about it.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
"If it's focused on Jesus," it's crap, then.


I misspoke. I shouldn't have said "if it's focused on Jesus", I should have said "if it obsesses on Jesus like he's their lover". I can grant that I've heard some really good religious, Jesus-themed music (for example, on their new album, Iron Maiden has an awesome song about the savior) but I hate the love-ballads.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
And, for the record - when you've got those really hard, metally songs talking about how much they love Jesus and Jesus loves them back, it feels more blasphemous rather than sacred.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
We called this Pom-poms for Jesus music.

While we at it, can we do away with Christian literature? That ranks up there with the Spanish Inquisition on the list of stupid things done in the name of Jesus.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
While we at it, can we do away with Christian literature?


I once tried to read the "Left Behind" series. Halfway through the first book, I stopped.

While the Spanish Inquisition was a bit worse, I think that if you forced my eyes open, "Clockwork Orange" style, and made me sit through the "Left Behind" movies, it would be a greater punishment upon mankind.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
once tried to read the "Left Behind" series. Halfway through the first book, I stopped.

While the Spanish Inquisition was a bit worse, I think that if you forced my eyes open, "Clockwork Orange" style, and made me sit through the "Left Behind" movies, it would be a greater punishment upon mankind.


Me no likey Kirk Cameron. He scares me. He does funky things with bananas
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't care much for the "Christian Pop" you describe, or even regular Pop for that matter, but I have heard some Christian Rock that I really like.

The song Jesus Freak by DC Talk comes to mind. For that matter just about anything by DC Talk.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think some religious music is okay (not the alleged 'popular' style of course). Old Catholic hymns really know how to set a mood, even if their subject matter leaves something to be desired ('Smite the unbeliever?' Really?)

As for religious books (or books dealing with religious themes) there are some good ones of those too - the Narnia ones for example, or Good Omens.

But somehow mainstream religious pop manages to be unrelentingly awful. I think it's because pop's only saving graces are sex and dancing and 'real' christians forbid themselves either.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think it's because pop's only saving graces are sex and dancing and 'real' christians forbid themselves either.


Who told you this?
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

The exception...

Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pom-poms for Jesus music.


An apt name for sure . . .

The song Jesus Freak by DC Talk comes to mind.


Mostly just creeped me out. I've tried to listen to the DC Talk; doesn't do it for me. Like I said, the well-crafted song is an exception to the rule - like that Maiden song, "Lord of Light" - this is a great, great song - but mostly, I don't care for it.

While the Spanish Inquisition was a bit worse, I think that if you forced my eyes open, "Clockwork Orange" style, and made me sit through the "Left Behind" movies, it would be a greater punishment upon mankind.


He he he, I knew I liked you for a reason, Dageous . . .
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes, and I dislike it just as much as the Jesus pop. Like I said, there are plenty of good Christians making great music, but if it's focused on Jesus, I find it tripe.


ha! Ya, we wouldn't want Christian music focused on Jesus now would we?

I happen to like Christian Music. Toby Mac is usually pretty big with the younger set SC. Have you ever listened to him...or Casting Crowns? Many like Steven Curtis Chapman as well.

Christian Music is hugely popular. We have what's called Soul Fest every summer here where we get all the big names in Christian Music, mostly rock. DC Talk, Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns, Rebecca St. James etc. will all be here in August. Thousands and thousands of kids and even some parents have their vaction during that week. They come for four days and the whole thing is done outside on a mountain area in NH. It's music on the mountains with stages set up in diff spots. This has been done for years and gets bigger each and every year.

It's not my thing. While I love Christian Music, I'm more into Charles Billingsly, Ray Boltz and Twila Paris ....more easy listening.

As for the "love songs." Most of these songs are taken directly from scripture. The church is called the bride of Christ and God is after all the lover of our souls. He says repeatedly he loves us with an everlasting love. These songs are just reflecting this and being sung back to God by those who appreciate this love and are grateful for it.





Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think it's because pop's only saving graces are sex and dancing and 'real' christians forbid themselves either.


Who told you this?


Yeah, who said so? Next thing you know they'll be saying real Christians don't drink beer either.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top

Who told you this?


What else is there to pop music? The lyrics are corny, the beats are all ripped off much better dance and/or oldtimey tracks and the stars are about as manufactured as they come.

If you mean the Christian bit - and maybe you do - I was referring of course to the traditional school of christianity, which reveres those who don't have sex outside of marriage or perform the vertical expression of a horizontal desire. You know, people easy to poke fun at.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ya, we wouldn't want Christian music focused on Jesus now would we?


I codified that statement by saying that I misspoke. I don't mind music about Jesus, I just hate the love ballads. I don't care that they're scripturally based - you could write a darn fine salacious lust-song using only bible lyrics. I still find the "Pom-poms for Jesus" tacky.

Sometimes I imagine him up in heaven, saying to himself, "Ah well. I guess that's okay. Not my style, though, kids . . ."