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Tricia Rose Burt

Speaker. Storyteller. Coach.

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Henri Nouwen

Something’s Wrong When an Amy Grant Album Is Deemed Not Christian Enough

October 31, 2016 by Tricia Rose Burt

amyalbumAmy 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 thewoundedhealerdivorced 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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Filed Under: General Thoughts Tagged With: Amazon, Amy Grant, Christian, Christmas music, Henri Nouwen, iTunes, Melancholy Christmas, Target, Tennessee Christmas, The Wounded Healer, Tricia Rose Burt

Quote of the Week for October 31

October 31, 2016 by Tricia Rose Burt

The fruits of your labors may be reaped two generations from now. Trust, even when you don’t see the results. — Henri Nouwen

Filed Under: Creative Liberation, Quotes Tagged With: Henri Nouwen

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