“All experience is great providing you live through it.” — Alice Neel
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Something’s Wrong When an Amy Grant Album Is Deemed Not Christian Enough
Amy Grant, the best-selling contemporary Christian artist of all time, just released her first Christmas album in 20 years. Her new songs speak to both the joy and loneliness of Christmas. Her message is simple — you are loved and you are not alone, important words for everyone to hear in this very broken world. But according to Lifeway, a major distributor of Christian books and music, her album “is not Christian enough” and they are refusing to sell the record.
This Makes My Head Explode
I don’t want to speak for Jesus, but I’m thinking he’s a little confused. Here are the lyrics to my favorite track on the album, “Melancholy Christmas.”
I post another picture from the quiet of my room
And wonder who’ll like it and wonder what to do
With the rest of tonight and tomorrow night too
Christmas is coming soon, coming soon
Maybe I’ll call up some friends just to see if they’re home
I don’t want to feel lonely, but I’m here alone
And the snow falls down, coming down
Merry Christmas
You could come over, it’s not too late
Don’t worry about presents, I’ve saved you a place
Merry Christmas
Light a few candles and sing Christmas songs
Everybody needs a place to belong
At Christmas, it’s Christmas
If you feel lonely I feel it too
If nobody’s said it I’m wishing you
Merry Christmas
Since Jesus loved the lonely and the forgotten most of all, I’m pretty sure he likes that song — even if his name is never mentioned.
Same Measuring Stick, Different Story
When I got divorced, I found out that there are Bible studies that actually forbid 
divorced women to lead them. This fact makes me grit my teeth. My divorce brought me into relationship with God, who was with me on the front lines of my suffering. I believe in a God of second chances (and third and fourth, on to infinity). When given the opportunity, I can share stories of hope and God’s grace. But apparently in some circles, I’m not Christian enough, given my sordid past. (Lucky for me, my very insightful rector said, “Sounds like you’re going through a divorce made in heaven.”)
Henri Nouwen, the Dutch Catholic priest and theologian, makes a profound observation in his book The Wounded Healer:
The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.
A Mainstream Message of Love
I need to re-read Martin L. Smith’s essay about the importance of loving Christians we do not agree with — as he puts it, “those other Christians.” I’m struggling these days, and not just because of Lifeway’s choice about Amy’s album. Some folks calling themselves Christians keep spouting words of judgment and division, often in the name of Jesus. I’ll take an inclusive message of love and hope for all people any day.
So go buy Amy Grant’s new album Tennessee Christmas at Target if you want an actual CD (and you get two bonus tracks) or online at Amazon and iTunes. Then give it to your friends and family that aren’t Christian enough. Unless we’re loving as radically as Christ did, that includes all of us.
Here’s “Melancholy Christmas” to whet your appetite.
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Quote of the Week for October 31
The fruits of your labors may be reaped two generations from now. Trust, even when you don’t see the results. — Henri Nouwen
The Elephant in My Room
Growing up, we didn’t talk about politics. It was considered impolite and inappropriate. Also, no one in my family was politically involved except if a friend ran for office — I have a vague recollection of holding a “Bill Poe for Mayor” sign when I was 14 on the side of the road in Tampa (I’m seriously aging myself) but that’s about the extent of it.
Breaking Tradition
I was raised Republican, but many years ago as I determined what was important to me, I broke from my tribe, registered independent, and now regularly vote left of center (read how well that went over here). After an accidental political discussion, a family member once accused me of turning into a liberal feminist. I replied, “I know you think those are insults, but actually, I’m quite flattered.”
Despite my left leanings, I pride myself on having an extremely diverse circle of friends gathered over many years and many different locales — liberal Christians, fiscal conservatives, struggling artists, members of the one percent, a variety of races and religions — and because of that I’ve spent most of my life telling my Republican friends that not all Democrats are demonic, and telling my Democrat friends that not all Republicans are evil. Sadly, I’m not so sure my opinion makes a difference.
The Times They are a Changin’
So between my upbringing of not talking about politics and my futile attempts to make sure everyone gets along, I rarely express my own political views, and certainly not on social media. But as with so many Americans, this year changes everything.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, over the course of a decade I was both sexually harassed and groped by a college professor, two bosses, and a respected leader of the community — all men in authority and supposed role models. Like most women during that time, I didn’t understand how abusive these acts were, and put my feelings of confusion and shame in a box. The revelations of the past several weeks released those feelings again and ignited a deep anger at their sense of entitlement.
There are women in this world who have it much worse than I did and I do — enduring unspeakable sexual assaults, no access to education, no ability to travel without a man’s permission, and no opportunity to make their own choices without fear of humiliation and in some cases death (e.g., honor killings). As Michelle Obama so eloquently stated, the United States is on the forefront of advocating for women’s rights worldwide. We will completely lose our moral authority with a president who treats women with complete disrespect and disregard. The ripple effects will be felt far and wide. For that reason — and for many more that override the flaws that she has — I’m voting for Hillary Clinton.
I’m With Her
As a woman, I’m with her.
As a Christian, I’m with her.
And as an American who is dedicated to the melting pot that is this country, I’m with her.
No doubt I may lose some blog followers, which will make me sad. I hope you’ll stick around for the majority of my blogs that don’t venture into politics. But I’ve learned you can’t win — I’ve lost followers because I’ve mentioned religion, and I’ve lost followers because I wasn’t religious enough. I’m just going to write what I write.
To my conservative Christian friends, please read this article about Christian women speaking out about Donald Trump, including prominent evangelicals.
To my liberal friends who voted for Bernie and who are considering not voting or casting a protest vote, please watch this:
Regardless of who you support, please vote. Courageous women and men fought long and hard (literally) so we can exercise this right.
Let’s Stay in Touch
- Share this blog with your friends — just use the icons below.
- Leave a comment. Feedback is great.
- Want to receive these blogs in your email inbox? Please register at the top right of this page. While you’re there, you can like my artist’s Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.
- Spread the word — your voice is invaluable in bringing my work to new audiences.
- Thanks for your support!
Quote of the week for October 21
Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. — Franklin Delano Roosevelt