Yes! I'm trying to figure out what the shape of that writing project should be. I'm working on a reported essay about spiritual power, superstition, and music right now. But the worship influencer piece is still percolating. Weirdly, I'm looking at both Christian wellness influencers and worship influencers right now. And there's a lot of overlap between how these niches function.
Instead of banning "secular" music from the house, parents should teach children from a young age to develop critical thinking and discernment, and not to blindly look to any celebrity as a guide.
Metal is the only good genre of Christian music, has been for a while. CCM was the necessary springboard in the 90s, and now that’s revealing its fruit while the metal scene has gone independent.
Thank you for writing this, Kelsey. You’ve named something many of us have felt but haven’t quite articulated: that what masquerades as a “safe alternative” in Christian music often carries the same corrupting dynamics as the industries it claims to resist; just with different branding.
The desire for guilt-free fandom has, ironically, produced its own idolatry. We weren’t just looking for artists; we were looking for avatars of holiness, spiritual avatars we could champion without scrutiny. But when the pursuit of fame coexists with the language of faith, the result can be something deeply dissonant; where spiritual language cloaks celebrity machinery, and abuse can hide in plain sight under the guise of “anointing.”
It may be time we stop asking our artists to be spiritual guides and start asking our communities to cultivate accountability and honesty; even when it costs us comfort or a favorite chorus. The cross was never meant to be a marketing tool, and Christianity was never meant to produce celebrities.
“Music doesn’t invade your spirit, change your worldview, or fix your mindset against your will. Music builds worlds and environments and cultures.”
Kelsey, I love this point you threw in almost an aside in the context of the larger dialog about Christian celebrity. What we expect of a medium determines how we assess its threats or possibilities.
Thank you for sharing. Haven’t attended a Newsboys concert in quite some time-but certainly did when I lived that life! The death of celebrity will come for CCM artists as well.
Very sad to see these kind of stories pop up again. Ironically I couldn’t help but have the song “What If I Stumble?” in my head as I read this…
I notice it fits a lot with your recent comments on “influencer worship artists”. Any long form essays or book plans on this topic?
Yes! I'm trying to figure out what the shape of that writing project should be. I'm working on a reported essay about spiritual power, superstition, and music right now. But the worship influencer piece is still percolating. Weirdly, I'm looking at both Christian wellness influencers and worship influencers right now. And there's a lot of overlap between how these niches function.
A lot in common I imagine with the book you have coming out on Christian influencers in relation to parenting as well.
Well said!
Instead of banning "secular" music from the house, parents should teach children from a young age to develop critical thinking and discernment, and not to blindly look to any celebrity as a guide.
Metal is the only good genre of Christian music, has been for a while. CCM was the necessary springboard in the 90s, and now that’s revealing its fruit while the metal scene has gone independent.
Thank you for writing this, Kelsey. You’ve named something many of us have felt but haven’t quite articulated: that what masquerades as a “safe alternative” in Christian music often carries the same corrupting dynamics as the industries it claims to resist; just with different branding.
The desire for guilt-free fandom has, ironically, produced its own idolatry. We weren’t just looking for artists; we were looking for avatars of holiness, spiritual avatars we could champion without scrutiny. But when the pursuit of fame coexists with the language of faith, the result can be something deeply dissonant; where spiritual language cloaks celebrity machinery, and abuse can hide in plain sight under the guise of “anointing.”
It may be time we stop asking our artists to be spiritual guides and start asking our communities to cultivate accountability and honesty; even when it costs us comfort or a favorite chorus. The cross was never meant to be a marketing tool, and Christianity was never meant to produce celebrities.
I have worked in the CCM biz since 1979. This is an incredibly even handed and honest appraisal. Thank you.
“Music doesn’t invade your spirit, change your worldview, or fix your mindset against your will. Music builds worlds and environments and cultures.”
Kelsey, I love this point you threw in almost an aside in the context of the larger dialog about Christian celebrity. What we expect of a medium determines how we assess its threats or possibilities.
Thank you for sharing. Haven’t attended a Newsboys concert in quite some time-but certainly did when I lived that life! The death of celebrity will come for CCM artists as well.
Great, great work, Kelsey. Thank you for your voice.