The Redemption of the Love Song
There was Genesis 2:18-25. Then there was the Song of Solomon. Then there was . . . well, not much. For whatever reason, much of the music made by Christians have avoided the topic of human, romantic love. Perhaps it was the taint of that sensuous rock n’ roll, perhaps it was a belief that avoiding such topics made one more heavenly minded? Whatever the reason, the love song, long a staple of “secular” music has had little presence in Christian music.
But several openly Christian artists have begun to reverse this trend, including romantic love songs on their albums. Perhaps one of the most notable has been Derek Webb, formerly of Caedmon’s Call. Webb’s past two albums have featured poorly poetic odes to his wife. While he may be commended for the sentiment, his delivery leaves something lacking. Though I’ve already thouched upon some of Webb’s lyrics here, consider the precious prose of these lines: “i’m living in a car graveyard, my heart is up on blocks,” and “like an addict to his fix so am i to your sweet lips the wife of my youth, my drug of choice.” Webb’s imagery is not only bad poetry, it’s not even flattering or romantic. Granted, “good and bad” poetry is somehwat subjective, but who really wants their love compared to an abandoned car up on blocks? Whatever the shortcoming of Webb’s delivery though, we’ll give him brownie points for trying.
Perhaps for a more poeticly appropriate approach we should consider something from Jeremy Casella’s terrific new album Recovery. In the song “Hand of God,” Jeremy sings: “She’s the truth wrapped up in tears, She’s the beauty for all your fear.” Elsewhere in the same song, he sings: “She’s a long forgotten secret seldom told.” Though I feel that Casella succeeds where Webb wobbles and I’d much rather be the recipient of his song than Webb’s (If I were a girl of course), my point today is not to compare the two, though I just did. Instead, my point is to think about Christians singing love songs.
As I’ve argued elsewhere (here and here so please forgive me if I repeat myself), I personally have come to the point where I don’t expect Christians making music to make every song “explicitly” Christian. While I do think that if their faith is sincere, it will inescapably appear, I don’t think every song needs to beat you over the head with its message. Instead, I want to see them weave the threads of the Gospel through the fabric of everyday life. Though there will undoubtedly be some songs that are explicitly in their message, there will just as undoubtedly be others that are not. I want to see a worldview of Gospel truth and beauty coming through an artist’s perspective on real life, on everyday situations.
Therefore, I personally prefer artists who sing about life, all of life more than I do an artist who meets a predetermined “Jesus per minute ratio.” While I love “Praise and Worship” music, I see the Gospel as affecting all of life and I listen to music to connect with it at some level so I expect music made by Christians to speak to all of life. We listen to music and participate in art because we connect with it on a certain level. When we limit art to content over form, elevating the message as the only consideration, as so much “Christian” music does, we by default limit the scope of the content. Therefore, much “Christian” music really doesn’t speak to all of life as it should. Christians should be at the forefront, because we have the most to sing about. Surely marriage (and romance) is a gift from God and we ought to be singing about it for God’s glory.
But sadly, this doesn’t often happen. In our quest to market the Gospel, we’ve actually greatly limited the subject matter that many of our artists feel they can talk about and still be considered “Christian artists.” The result is that, as Christians, much of our modern art, particularly music, simply doesn’t address significant portions of life that the Bible actually does address. Romantic love is one of these areas. The clearest example of this is, of course, the Song of Solomon. While allegorical interpretations about Christ and the Church abound, this is, at its base, a celebration of romantic love and we ought not shy away from this. God, not man, instituted marriage (Genesis 2:18-25), to cause us to say in the words of Proverbs 18:22: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.”
Why is it that Christian artists have retreated from a topic the Bible clearly addresses (not that this is uncommon)? Perhaps it is because of the negative connotations brought about by so much “secular” music that simply gets it wrong on so many levels? Perhaps it is a belief that, somehow, if we sing about a husband loving his wife or romantic love, we’re not being “explicitly” Christian enough? Perhaps, more seriously, it’s because many Christians don’t understand romance they way they should? In the wake of so much misunderstanding and misapplication of romantic love, certainly the world needs to see what it was meant to be like? Certainly there is a place for committed Christians to celebrate this gift of God for the glory of God.
As I’ve said before, we need to rethink some of our expectations of Christian musicians to judge their work as a whole rather than how many times they say “hallelujah” in a particular song. If we’re truly trying to apply the Gospel to all of life then we certainly cannot leave romance untouched. I hope that more Christians making music will strive to show the beauty of the Gospel in the beauty of love lived out for the glory of God.
- Listen to Derek Webb
- Listen to Jeremy Casella
- Read Love in Hard Places by D.A. Carson
- Read Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts by Steve Turner
- Read Eyes Wide Open: Looking For God in Popular Culture by William Romanowski
- Read Everyday Theology: How To Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends, edited by Kevin Vanhoozer
[...] There’s a great article on Colossians Three Sixteen entitled The Redemption of the Love Song. In this article the author questions why artists in the Christian music industry don’t sing more about everyday life, specifically love. This article really nails some of my disappointments with the “Christian” music industry. It’s kind of a lengthy article but well worth the read. [...]
Don’t forget Stephen Curtis Chapman. A few years ago he did an album called “All about love,” and it was full of songs devoted to his wife and the love they share (including the song “I will be here”).
Since the biblical imagery of divine/human love is often couched in terms of marital love and since the husband/wife relationship is the metaphor of Christ and the Church, there is bound to be constant overlap in Christian music. When I hear people complain that songs could be sung to Christ or one’s wife I think, “thats the point!” Biblical scholars still debate whether Song of Solomon is primarily about love between a man and a woman or Christ and the church. I say both. Consequently, worship music will often walk a thin line with romance, or at least contain elements that are romantic. Marital romance is doing double-duty and it comes across in music. I think this is why many “love” songs are co-opten for worship in contemporary circles (see If I Ever Loose my Faith by Sting, for example). I dont think this is inappropriate at all! Romance finds its ultimate end in worship.
I’ve really appreciated Phil Keaggy’s various love songs for his wife over the years, like “You Have My Heart” and “Love is the Reason”.
This post would be incomplete though without a reference to “Love Cocoon” by Vigilantes of Love. There’s plenty of… ahem.. poetry in there.
What about Bicycle by Plankeye?
OK everyone, thanks for pointing out the many love songs that I missed! We might as well keep this going now. Who can think of more?
Brent,
First of all…Man when did you get to be the PR guy for this Jeremy Casella guy?!Can you make a post about music these days without mentioning him? For someone who prides himself on a VAST musical influence, this guy keeps coming up in your posts! Maybe you COULD post more about Christian music if you would take the Jeremy Casella CD out of you radio and listen to another artist! Okay that is enough teasing for today!
I think one of my most favorite “love songs” written by a Christian has to be “Both of Us Feel The Blast” by Waterdeep. I mean I know comparing your love to being blown up is a little weird but so is comparing your wife’s breasts to gazelles (Song of Solomon 4:5). I just love the song because it speaks of relating to this Journey with the marriage of two people. I can honestly say that I have learned more about love, sacrifice, and joy from my marriage to Missy as I have anywhere outside of the Word. I can think of no one I would rather sit next to at the wedding feast than the one who has struggled the most with me, my wife!
Kyle, you’re certainly right about Missy having to struggle with you! I pray for her everyday! Just kidding. And about the Jeremy Casella album, you obviously haven’t heard it yet, have you? When Kristi asks to put on an album, you know it’s got some merit and she has this one on quite a bit!
The Waterdeep song was a good choice. They’re another band that applies the Gospel to a wide range of life-situations without being preachy. Good choice.
Only because a lot of your “music” is not musical to me. :)
Hearty Amens.
Not a musical reference, but one of the most romantic novels I can think of is “Quo Vadis” by Henryk Sienkiewicz (first published in 1895). In the reign of Nero, the main character, Marcus Vinicius, is a Roman officer who falls for a beautiful Christian girl, Lygia, in a home wherein he was recovering from wounds. He pursues her, initiallly, with the horrific callousness and might-makes-right boldness of a Roman aristocrat. His plans are thwarted, and in his pursuit he encounters the Roman Christian community, which is protecting Lygia from Marcus. Eventually, he becomes aware of Love which is like the Love described by Paul in Ephesians 6, Colossians 3:12-16, and other verses. He becomes aware of other kinds of courage, as described by Paul in Hebrews 13:6.
The drama and realistic settings in this novel are beautifully, masterfully written, with the full range of human experience communicated.
It is a good idea to avoid movie versions (all horrible), and to enjoy this beautiful novel.
Ched, is that a hearty amen to my music not being “musical?”
I heartily agree with your post. I’ll throw another one out there: Chris Rice’s “When Did You Fall in Love.” Great tune.
By the way, I’d like to suggest Schaeffer’s “Art and the Bile” as a great read that is related to this post topic.
Okay, that last post was, of course, supposed to read “Art and the BIBLE.” The misspelled title I posted, however, would prove an interesting read as well.
Sorry:-)
Carey D
I love “I Will Be Here.” It is such a sweet song.
Not as good, but also good is Chapman’s “One of Two.” Played that at our wedding. :)
Hey Brent,
I bet Sandra thinks it flattering and romantic…
Sorry to always be the antagonist…
Btw, here are some other “christian” love songs that I appreciate:
The Coral Castle by Andrew Peterson
I Hate Everything (But You) by DW
Saint and Sinner by DW (Oh so honest!)
Too many songs to name by Over the Rhine
I realize there’s a heavy leaning here on DW songs, but that’s on purpose, as I’m sure you know.
Somebody brought up SCC, and I have to say (despite my normal dislikes of such ‘mainstream’ stuff) I really like his version of The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
I’ve not heard his version of that song. I’ll have to check that out. Over the Rhine. Good choice. I’m sure there’s something by the Innocence Mission as well but my hard drive was replaced, so I don’t have my normal music with me and at the moment I can’t think of any of their songs except the album Christ is My Hope.
Carey D’s book “Art and the Bile” sounds like a fascinating book … one that might, however, de-romanticize art. On second thought, one of the greatest poets, Baudelaire, was dominated by a splenetic malaise.
I’ve been feeling rather bilious with regard to my own art career,lately.
Schaeffer’s little booklet is tremendously helpful (I interacted with it a bit here) and easy to read, though it appears to be out of print. The new version is compiled with an essay by Michael Card.