Should Christians Sing Love Songs?

from Tell Me about It
Chris Lutes 

 
I find myself very turned off by Plus One. I know they claim to be Christians, and I'm not questioning their relationship with God. But I do have to question their love songs. I think it's fine for Christian bands to sing about the love that God has given them, but it bothers me when they sing about romantic love. What do you think?
—LaDonna

I'm glad you wrote because I think a lot of people are confused when Christian artists sing songs about guy-girl relationships. And Plus One certainly isn't the only group with romance on its mind. Remember "Kiss Me"? Around a couple years ago this simple love song became Sixpence None the Richer's big hit on secular radio. And then in the May/June "Tell Me About It," I wrote about the Christian punk-rock band Ace Troubleshooter. On Ace's debut self-titled CD, there's a song called "Tonight," a love song somewhat similar to "Kiss Me." If I had the space, I could give many more examples of Christian bands and solo artists who sing about guy-girl relationships.

Is it wrong?

To help answer the question, I'd like you to open your Bible to a book called "The Song of Songs." Here is an amazing work of poetry that celebrates the joy and beauty of sexual love within marriage. Obviously, God isn't opposed to songs about romantic love. If he were, I don't think he'd have included this romantically charged book in his sacred Word. The Bible also celebrates romantic love outsideof marriage; Genesis 29 tells the story of Jacob's intense love for Rachel, and his willingness to work for her dad for seven years just so he could marry her. Scripture says those seven years "seemed like only a few days" to Jacob because of his love for Rachel. Now that's romantic! God is clearly very much for romantic love. And he should be. He invented it! Here's what he said just before he made Eve out of Adam's rib: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). God didn't—and still doesn't—want all men (or women) to be alone. Or lonely. As the inventor of human love, God knows that romance is very natural and wonderful. It's no wonder there are so many love songs. After all, God made us in such a way that we long for romance.

Now don't get me wrong. When it comes to love songs and Christians, I don't think "everything goes." Romantic lyrics from Christians should never promote premarital sex, lust, adultery or anything else contrary to Christian values. I also believe romance shouldn't be the only thing a Christian group sings about. If that's all that's on a songwriter's mind, I have to wonder if the artist has a very well-rounded, healthy view of life.

With these cautions, however, I must say I appreciate the way many Christian love songs celebrate the beauty and innocence of romance. Contrast this with the large number of secular songs that turn love into lust and romance into a game where you take as much as you can get before moving on to the next sexual partner. It's no secret that many secular songs twist love into something manipulative, dirty and even pornographic. So, no, I don't see anything wrong with Christians like Plus One singing love songs. In fact, when it comes to the topic of love, it's great to have the Christian alternative.

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