ROCK OF AGES: JESUS IN POPULAR SONGS

PERSON

Songs in the PERSON domain treat Jesus exclusively as a human figure, shorn of any theological characteristics. Some depict him as a character in the narrative world of the song. In so doing they provide fascinating explorations of the distinctly human side of Jesus’s existence.

Some of these songs are light-hearted and humorous, like Tammy Wynette’s “I’d Like to See Jesus on the Midnight Special” or Screaming Blue Messiahs’ “Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge”, while others revel in their offensiveness (see Birdcloud’s “Saving Myself for Jesus” or Jello Biafra’s “Are You Drinking With Me, Jesus”?”) However, even these songs often hide a powerful critical message - these two songs are good examples. But in a manner that is consistent with my findings, none of these songs target Jesus per se, but rather his followers.

PARAGON

Songs fall in the PARAGON domain when Jesus appears not as a human or a theological figure, but rather as a symbol - usually of an abstract idea or character trait. He is usually invoked as the ultimate signifier of whatever is being signified. Though the variety of attributes is quite broad, it is the view of Jesus as the ultimate symbol of power that is most common.

This domain includes at least 80 songs, with hip-hop tracks dominating (55 songs.) In most of these songs, the rapper references Jesus in order to boast about his or her worldly success and power: specifically physical strength, wealth, access (to drugs and weapons), artistic skill, and sexual prowess. Songs from other genres also appear in this domain, including George Michael’s classic song “Jesus to a Child.” (Read my article about this song here.)

HEAVENLY SAVIOR

This image focuses on Jesus as a divine figure who forgives sins and/or offers eternal life. These songs typically fall into one of three categories:

• Source of forgiveness of sins

• Source of eternal life

• General source of salvation

Many of these songs take a positive view of Jesus’s saving power, while others reject either his ability or willingess to provide salvation.

JUDGE

• Personal  

• Apocalyptic  

Songs in this category view Jesus as a “heavenly” figure, existing somewhere beyond the human realm,. They emphasize his role as a judge: either of one’s own faith or works, or as an apocalyptic figure coming at the end of time to judge the world.

Some of these songs see Jesus’s message as simply false, while others instead see him as a failure. In these songs, Jesus was a man who mistakenly thought he was divine or whose followers misunderstood his message.  Other songs reject Jesus’s message because of the negative ways it impacts its followers. Often these songs present Jesus as one who keeps individuals from having faith in themselves and and/or recognizing their own power (and responsibility) to make their own choices.   Songs in the third sub-category reject Jesus’s message by pointing to the negative influences of his message on society. They highlight the sins of his followers, holding the church (or Christendom) responsible for social evils like war, violence, colonialism, homophobia, or sexism. 

Songs that AFFIRM affirm Jesus as a source of truth form the second category of this image. Some of these songs present a generally positive evaluation of Jesus’s message. without providing clear reasons. 

Another sub-category includes songs which, though written from a position of faith,  function “prophetically”: that is, they criticize Jesus’ message (or, specifically, the way it has been perverted) in order to reclaim it or redeem it. 

A third sub-category features songs that generally consider his message to be attractive and valuable, yet that do so as part of a process of spiritual exploration (or “seeking.”)

• Social justice warrior

• Personal helper

• Lover as savior

In this image, Jesus appears primarily as an entity who is able to provide healing, comfort, or deliverance from the problems in one’s daily life, rather than forgiveness of sins or eternal life. There are three main categories of this image which together form a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which Jesus may intervene in the world. First, there is the Jesus who can redeem society, either through impacting politics or by inspiring individuals to act in ways that will better their world. He appears in this way, as a social justice warrior, in a handful of songs spread among various genres.  The second sub-category presents Jesus as figure who can provide personal help to someone in need.  Many of these songs are powerful and moving examples of prayer.  A final subcategory includes songs which depict Jesus’s salvific power by considering it in relation to romantic love.

• Presenting Jesus as a character in the Biblical narrative or referring to his words or actions in the New Testament

• Comparing or contrasting Jesus with a contemporary or historical figure or object

• Presenting Jesus as a figure from contemporary society (see INCARNATIONS, below)

• Invoking Jesus as in order to boast about one’s own power, fame, or abilities (See PARAGON, below)

• Imagining oneself as Jesus

• Allowing Jesus to speak in the first-person

• Jesus as a partner in prayer

You can search the database for songs using these techniques.

INCARNATIONS

These are songs that “reincarnate” Jesus as a character (or even object) in contemporary society. Some of these characters are specific people, like Elvis or Martin Luther King, Jr., while others are cultural figures like a cowboy, soldier, or celebrity. Some imagine Jesus as a friend or a lover, or compare him to alcohol or drugs. Others present Jesus in ways that challenge his traditional identity, recasting him as Black, gay, female, or Korean. Regardless, each of these “incarnations” allow the artist (and listeners) to explore Jesus’s meaning, identity, and significance in unique ways.

Use the drop-down menu to search for songs that feature these incarnations of Jesus.