A post by Scott Bader-Saye drew my attention to an article in which Pope Benedict laments the use of sacro-pop in worship. The article is well worth the read, and makes some interesting points. The standard quote is that much of contemporary church music is of the "Jesus is my girl/boyfriend" variety.
Some time ago I had dinner with Catholics. I am distanced enough from the event to be able to fully digest it. At one point the topic of conversation turned to priestly celibacy and all things related thereto. To my surprise, I discovered that none of the other guests had read much (if any) of the catholic thinkers and poets of years gone by. There was a great deal of consternation when it was discovered that (for example) the medievals saw a connection between romantic and divine love. As had thoughful persons before them.
Those who have followed this writer's offerings over the course of some time have probably come to realize that I believe Dante has a bit of wisdom to impart. Not the least of this is the relationship between the romantic and the divine. In our day and age, we tend to collapse the two: as a culture we think that anything romantic must in and of itself also be divine. And so, in reaction to this error, when we run across the romantic in contemporary christian music, others of us may tend to think that it must be rebuffed. After all, such familiarity offends the transcendence of God, and tends to elevate human feelings or emotions to the level of the divine.
I suspect that underneath the admittedly banal lyrics of much contemporary christian pop music is a truth yet to be articulated. We need a John Donne to tear up their lyric sheets and give them a seminar. God is his lover.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
excerpt, Holy Sonnet XIV
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