Burke’s Blog

You do not have to have the word “Jesus” in a song for it to be a Christian song. There are a lot of ways you can promote the Gospel by telling a story that parallels a Biblical theme, the life of a Saint, or merely has a Christian moral theme.  You can find your own inventive ways to describe your thoughts and emotions.

Of course, all Liturgical songs (songs you sing at Mass) have to more directly and transparently praise God for Petition, Thanksgiving, and Honor.  Liturgical music lyrics should be based on the Bible and Church tradition and must be chosen carefully to enhance the worship experience at Mass without distracting people from it.

But non-liturgical lyrics should be open and free to use devices like storytelling and classical themes that the Church embraces as true.  Crude language and the glorification of sin or despair should never be accepted as a form of Christian music - unless of course it is used as a part of a larger work in a way to reveal that the crudeness and sin and despair can be transformed into loving words, virtue, and hope.