“I think God is the most unexplored territory in rock and roll music.” – Billy Corgan
Musicians have the loudest voice in my life most days. Of these artists, the “secular” ones largely outweigh those who are steeped in a genuine but often too commercial “worship” industry. There is a certain freedom in rock music – you can literally say whatever you wish. The industry does well at celebrating authenticity. Whereas in worship, it is not too uncommon for an artist to be removed from christian store shelves for speaking “heresy” or using a word they deem unacceptable. The latter is the most ridiculous. What is music but an art and what are words but the paint the artist uses to explain the world around them?
With this said, I want to clarify my love for those who genuinely worship and urge others to do the same. Just like with all industries, there are faithful and authentic workers and those with less than honorable intentions. It is not our responsibility to judge the worship music industry – people vote with their ears and ticket sales and in the end only God can judge (enter 2Pac lyric).
In popular music, there are many who speak genuinely about God. In fact, I would submit that every artist is a theologian and every song a sermon. They either speak of God’s presence or His absence. Artists like Johnny Cash intrigue us in the faith community because he was devoid of presentation or theatrics. He simply presented his thoughts through song unfiltered. While many contemporary Christian artists are seen as sterilized, his faith was raw and came from a true sinners background. Sometimes the greatest statements on sin are made from those who have struggled the greatest and given every opportunity to reach its limits.
More and more I see the God topic approached with great purity. The world is reaching the end of itself and looking for answers in a chord progression that’s true.
Matt simon blog 