Dear Andrew,
Your performance of “Take Me To Church” at The Grammy’s was a powerful moment, and it prompted me to finally write this response, something I’ve been considering for a while since first hearing your breakout hit. When “Take Me To Church” first came to my attention, I was intrigued by the title itself. In a world often moving away from faith, a song seemingly about church piqued my interest. My initial listen was positive. I appreciated your vocal talent, the compelling musical arrangement, and the overall sound of the song. However, a closer listen, particularly to the lyrics, shifted my perspective dramatically. The sonic appeal faded as the lyrical content began to resonate with a much darker tone.
“I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies, I’ll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife.”
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“Every Sunday’s getting more bleak, a fresh poison each week.”
“That’s a fine looking high horse, what you got in the stable? We’ve a lot of starving faithful.”
These lines are stark and filled with animosity. Words like “lies,” “poison,” and “knife” paint a grim picture. The sentiment that “Every Sunday’s getting more bleak” for the “starving faithful” is a harsh indictment. It made me want to understand the source of such intense negativity within the song “Take Me To Church.”
Pastor Rick McDaniel
To grasp the context behind “Take Me To Church,” I delved into interviews you’ve given. It became clear that your critiques are aimed at specific entities, notably the Catholic Church and the Russian government’s stance on homosexuality. While these are valid subjects for artistic expression, the song seems to cast a wider net, indicting Christianity as a whole. It’s important to remember that “Take Me To Church” was penned when you were just 22 years old. It’s interesting to consider the journey of other Irish artists like Bono, who with more life experience, has articulated a different, arguably more nuanced, view of the Church and Christianity. Perhaps with time and further engagement with Christians, your perspective might evolve.
The lyric, “I was born sick but I love it, command me to be well,” is a powerful line, paraphrasing the 17th-century poet Baron Brooke Fulke Greville’s Chorus Sacerdotum. You’ve mentioned hearing this quote from the prominent atheist Christopher Hitchens during a debate. I wonder about the context of that debate and who his opponent was. Was it a robust Christian apologist, someone like William Lane Craig? Or did Hitchens’ arguments further solidify your disenchantment, influencing the direction of “Take Me To Church”?
While I might typically let artistic expression stand without direct rebuttal, the immense popularity of “Take Me To Church” necessitates a response. Even you have acknowledged the unexpected scale of the song’s reception. It raises a critical question: Do listeners genuinely resonate with the sentiments expressed in “Take Me To Church,” or are they primarily drawn to the song’s captivating melody and your vocal performance? The answer is unclear, but because the underlying message of “Take Me To Church” is, in my view, significantly flawed, it requires addressing. I find myself in a position similar to Julia Kadison, CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program. When a study in the British Medical Journal suggested negative health impacts of milk consumption, she felt compelled to speak out, stating, “That’s enough. We can’t have these headlines that ‘Milk Can Kill You’ and not stand up for the truth.”
“Take Me To Church” may simply be a song, and you might be considered a one-hit wonder by some, but its message cannot go unchallenged. Your frustration with Russia’s discriminatory laws against homosexuals, while understandable, shouldn’t be conflated with the broader Christian Church. Mainstream Christian denominations, including Catholics and Evangelicals, do not condone or support Russia’s stance on homosexuality. If your primary grievance is with Russia’s policies, then perhaps a song specifically addressing that context would be more appropriate.
It appears that a core point of contention in “Take Me To Church,” regarding the Church and Christianity, revolves around issues of sexual morality. The line about the Church needing to “stay out of the bedroom” suggests this. However, the reality is that actions in the realm of sexuality have consequences that extend far beyond the private sphere. Adultery, unplanned pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases are real-world issues with devastating impacts on individuals and communities. The Church’s teachings on sexuality stem from a belief that sex is a sacred gift from God, intended to be understood within the framework of God’s moral design.
Christian doctrine posits that sexual intimacy is designed for the marital bond between a husband and wife. Sexual relationships outside of this committed, marital context often lead to various forms of pain and brokenness. While you may disagree with this theological perspective, labeling it as “poison” in “Take Me To Church” seems extreme. The true “poison” lies in damaged relationships, the fallout of divorce, and the grip of pornography addiction – consequences often linked to sexual behaviors outside of committed marriage. The “knife” you mention in “Take Me To Church,” in the context of Christian teaching, isn’t meant to harm but to act as a “scalpel” – performing necessary surgery to bring healing and restoration. There might be initial discomfort or even pain, but the ultimate aim is to preserve and enrich life. The real “lies” are the notions that sex requires no commitment, that it’s merely a physical act devoid of deeper relational significance and true intimacy.
The line in “Take Me To Church” about a “high horse” suggests a perception of judgment and hypocrisy within the Church. However, articulating moral truth, including truths about sexuality, is a necessary function of the Church. The Bible provides a framework for understanding right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood. Appropriate discernment and judgment are inherent to the Church’s role as a moral guide. Christians should not be intimidated, marginalized, or silenced from proclaiming what they believe to be true. Just as you have the freedom to create and perform your music, I, and others, have the freedom to engage with and challenge the ideas presented in your lyrics. My hope is that as you continue on your life journey, you will remain open to learning more about the Church and the Christian faith. Perhaps, with time and further reflection, you might come to recognize the inherent value in Christian morality and its positive contributions to society.
