At an Amy Grant concert, there are a lot of women who got through adolescence and college and marriage/divorce and motherhood listening to her music. There are the men who claim their wives made them come but, truth be told, have been secret fans for decades. And then there are the people you won’t see at any other Christian concert.
While the middle-aged and older couples around them sit politely toe-tapping, gay men stand and sing every word to every song. Pockets of them all across the room.
When Amy divorced and remarried, some Christians treated her like these men have been treated. She was no longer welcomed in many churches, on the shelves of some stores, or on the airwaves of some stations.
Years later, my label created a multi-artist Christmas album. Amy graciously contributed a song and it was sent to radio stations as a single. “We don’t play sinners,” one station’s program director reportedly said. “Yes, you actually play nothing but sinners,” I believe was my label’s theologically astute reply.
A couple years ago, I went to my first Amy Grant concert – as a guest speaker (and a fan). She played her many hits, of course, and then she sang a hymn. And I watched as a group of gay men stood, hands in the air, tears in their eyes, and sang. And sang. And sang.
“I haven’t been to church in years,” one man told me afterward. “I’m not welcome there anymore. Tonight was church for me.”
When Amy’s new Christmas album came out last week, LifeWay Christian Stores chose not to carry it because of a “lack of faith content.” The music certainly does speak of Jesus’s birth in classics like “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Joy To The World.” But Amy also penned originals that portray the Light of the world against the backdrop of loneliness and hurt that dims the Christmases of many.
Regardless of whether radio stations or retailers support Amy’s new album, the bruised will seek it out and listen long. Because her scars match theirs. And despite the many stones thrown, she’s still standing, still believing, still singing – proof that no matter who forsakes us or how often we forsake Him, God is still Emanuel, God with us.
And that’s what Christmas is all about.
Get Amy’s new Christmas album Tennessee Christmas on iTunes.
Cathy says:
I can’t wait to get it. I am most definitely a bruised sinner and it will be nice to have a salve for my wounds. Christmas time is the worst for me so the timing is perfect.
Shaun Groves says:
This last Christmas was brutal for us. For Christmas without my wife’s father. Don’t know if this second one coming up will be any easier. I get it. I’ll be listening too.
Lorraine says:
I wonder if the gay people at the Amy Grant concert were able to hear Jesus’ words of love and truth. Jesus said the Truth shall set you free. It is good to welcome people with love, but to leave them in lies is not love. What does Shaun Grove think about sharing truth with people?
Shaun Groves says:
If you’re asking if Amy Grant sings and speaks biblical truth at her concerts? Yes.
If you’re asking if Amy Grant sings and speaks about homosexuality? No. (Nor did Jesus.) Nor does she sing or speak about the specific sins of idolatry, anger, jealousy, greed, gluttony, selfish ambition, violence, neglect of the poor, or legalism. (All sins preached against by Jesus.)
So, yes, I think people at her concerts hear a good amount of truth sung and spoken in love.
Judy Grieve says:
I am saddened to think that any major outlet of Christian music would not recognize that we are all broken people. Christ came not for the perfect but for us the broken. And so I give you a small plug for the Presbyterian Church USA. Many not all welcome with open arms gay lesbian transgender worshipers and believers. So come and give those churches a try
Pete says:
Nice post. Very nice.
The straight guys really stand out in the AG crowd, especially those without a spouse. You can’t spot the atheists so easily, but some of us are fans, too.
Shaun Groves says:
There should be a hand signal or something ; ) Thanks for stopping by, Pete.
Brenda Torres says:
I grew up in a very legalistic denomination. I love Jesus. And my heart breaks that the Evangelical mainstream church has become, yet again, a place for outspoken, stone-throwing legalism rather than a place for the sick, the weary, the bruised and the broken. I grew up in a church where we were told to no longer listen to Amy Grant when she got divorced and went mainstream with her music. Good gracious! As an adult, I look back at that and scratch my head at how viciously we attacked our brothers and sisters in Christ, and then turned our sights on those who didn’t follow “party lines” or who interpreted Scripture differently, etc., etc. I am so thankful for you and many others, those in MY generation, who are rising up and starting difficult conversations, who push us to truly love others as Jesus did, and who are not satisfied with pat, easy, black and white thinking about the world. Let’s start taking Jesus’ words seriously about the world knowing we are His disciples because of our unity and our love. I love the church we attend now because if our Pastor is asked about our church’s mission, vision, or theological beliefs, his answer is always and only, “Jesus.”
Shaun Groves says:
Until sixth grade, we were part of a “slippery slope” church too. You can’t go to places where people dance because those places might serve alcohol. If they serve alcohol you might drink. If you drink you might get drunk. If you get drunk you might…
I get it. I’m still drawn to this kind of thinking from time to time. Thank God for friends and family who show me and teach me grace. The cross isn’t planted on a slippery slope.
Leigh says:
When I read that Lifeway had decided to not carry Amy’s new album, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered a copy for myself. Next time I’m in one of the stores I’m going to take a look at what they do allow on their sacred shelves. I suspect I may find books with questionable theology and content that I certainly would deem is lacking in faith. Shaking my head.