Grey's Anatomy Reaches for Redemption

A college professor once asked my class a thought-provoking question: "What makes music Christian?" Is it the words of the song, the heart-state of a composer, the person who sings it? If Eminem sings "Amazing Grace," is it a Christian song? If Michael W. Smith sings "Jingle Bells" (and he has) is that a Christian song?

Well, I think you can make a case that the songs themselves are amoral. Sure some lyrics are more God-glorifying than others, just as some artists are more in tune with God than others. But what is the relationship between Christ and music about Christ?

Here's what has me thinking about this topic. I'm going to step on some toes here, but one of the most popular TV shows today, Grey's Anatomy, is highly immoral.

When the show first hit the air, Plugged In had this to say:

The hip dramedy joins a prime-time practice already including House, Scrubs, ER, Medical Investigation and Nip/Tuck. It samples from each of these series. The result is a character-based show sprinkled with a few laughs, lots of blood and extremely gray morals.

And so I find it a little surprising that the show regularly—and sometimes prominently—features CCM tunes. Artists featured on the show have included Lifehouse, Mat Kearney, Derek Webb, Patty Griffin, Caedmon's Call and Kendall Payne. Caedmon's Call received an especially dominant play earlier this year.

Caedmon's Call's lyrically compelling song about redemption, "Ten Thousand Angels" will receive a rare and lengthy place on an upcoming episode of the ABC hit drama series Grey's Anatomy on January 10th. Featuring vocals by Derek Webb, the song will play for five consecutive minutes during an emotionally charged final scene.

"It's an honor to be asked to help carry some of the emotional weight of a powerhouse show like Grey's," says Webb. "I think the spiritual significance of a song like "Ten Thousand Angels" will have some really special chemistry with what is bound to be an important episode in the season."

On another recent episode, these powerful Kendall Payne lyrics were heard:

Though the wind and waves
Beat against your faith
You were on my mind
When the world was made
Trust in me my child,
Trust in me my child.

I find the inclusion of these songs perplexing. Through the music, Grey's is asking people to look past the day-to-day to something deeper and more profound. However, the actions and lifestyles of its characters affirm the opposite. With rampant promiscuity, adultery and homosexuality, their lives reflect the sad truth of Ephesians 4:19: "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."

The show promotes a wholly worldly perspective (1 John 2:16) while teasing the eternal to add weight to its themes. I am reminded of Paul's words in Philippians 1:18: "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached." I suppose you could say that in some muted way Christ is being preached, but it's a shame that the show itself so obscures the way to the God it's touting.

I pray that the Christ-centered words of these songs would reach the millions of Grey's viewers despite the show's ungodly messages. If nothing else, the incorporation of these songs shows that those who live by their own rules still crave something otherworldly—still long for redemption. And perhaps the truth breaking through is what makes a song Christian.

Comments

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1. Jonathan said the following at 3:22 PM on Oct 9:

I can remember the first time I saw part of Grey's Anatomy. I watched about 15 minutes, and while not impressed by the show I continued watching. Only moments later did two characters, who were discussing ethical treatment of their significant others, end up in a pantry peeling layers of clothing off. That wasn't enough by itself, but the camera continually came back to their promiscuity throughout the next 10 minutes. Shocked that I was watching this with my Christian friends, I excused myself and left.

This reminds me of an older article on here about 'The Shack' where the discussion was that God can work through anything. My first thought was that He could work through pornography, or better yet pornography with Christian music in the background, but shouldn't we still condemn it? Although the show features Christian artists, I feel that the message it is conveying is 'highly immoral' and that these Christian bands should protect their image by aspiring to a higher calling. For now, we as Christian TV watchers should avoid these shows and others that promote or glorify living by worldly standards.

2. Eliza said the following at 4:11 PM on Oct 9:

I have always been drawn to Derek Webb because of his completely raw, honest lyrics and singing style. He has never kidded anyone that his Christian walk is anything but confusing and rather exhausting. More than any other Christian songwriter (except maybe Jars of Clay) I've found his songs to be deep and trustworthy and authentic ... exactly the the kind of music that might intrigue a Grey's Anatomy character.

There's no doubt that Grey's is not a Christian show. But the gospel is for everyone, not just us. Especially people who are hurt and confused about life - the kind of character in which Grey's revels.

3. Tom Neven said the following at 4:16 PM on Oct 9:

Realize that sometimes the artists have no control over how their music is used; it's licensed to someone else, who sells the rights to the TV producer.

Switchfoot got into trouble this way a few years ago when one of their songs was featured on a commercial for Victoria's Secret. They caught a lot of grief, but they had no say in the matter.

I'm not saying this is necessarily always the case, but I'm guessing it is a lot of the time. Because almost all CCM labels are now owned by larger conglomerates that are not interested in the message as much as they are the bottom line, we'll see this happen more and more.

I seem to remember reading somewhere about God and mammon ....

4. shona tiger said the following at 5:34 PM on Oct 9:

Me too am perplexed... Have actually drifted away from watching it (although I was quite the ardent fan- *sigh*), because of the quite graphic content. And yes, I had noticed the music too. Think it's cos it's got a certain feel to it, that they used it, but if I were a CCM artist, would I want to be associated? Not sure.

5. Hannah C. said the following at 6:08 PM on Oct 9:

Hmm. I'm not sure about the other bands..but does Lifehouse actually tout itself as a Christian band? They're definitely not singing praise and worship...

6. lnewcomer said the following at 6:35 PM on Oct 9:

patty griffin is amazing, but there's no way she's a CCM artist, unless there are two patty griffins.

7. hxcjf said the following at 9:08 PM on Oct 9:

And we're supposed to believe that the CCM industry isn't driven by money? Remember what happened in Judges 17 to the Levite who sold his priestly services to Micah for ten shekels and a shirt...

8. Becca said the following at 7:01 AM on Oct 10:

I am not surprised by this. The creator of Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes, is a Christian. I know that might bring all sorts of other questions up but for the purpose of what you've stated regarding the music, it makes sense.
One of my favorite shows, One Tree Hill, has a similar flavor. It often features artists like The Fray, Mat Kearney and Robbie Seay Band. This show appears to be nothing more than a teen soap, but I've been watching it for years, and it definitely has a central theme of redemption in the storyline. I've watched numerous interviews with the creator of this show (Mark Schwahn) as well, and he has expressed the depth of what he wants the show to be about as they grapple with relationships, restoring marriage, prolife issues and death. They recently featured a Christian family who said they survived a difficult time because of their faith in Jesus Christ, not the generic term of "God" that they usually offer on TV. This family was respected, not treated like they were weird when they said that.
It may not be overt but I strongly believe God is moving in Hollywood. He is the creator of all art and I'm convinced viewers are connecting with Him through the work on these shows along with the music being used to enforce some of the deeper meanings.

9. Carrie (the original) said the following at 7:35 AM on Oct 10:

I watch shows like Grey's and ER a hand-full of times each year. One thing that is "positive" about songs like these being used - more than just "Jesus" words being splashed in the midst of people exercising poor judgement (oh, wait, that's the Church . . .but that's a different comment) - is that they are going beyond just science and statistics. As one who has experienced death in hospitals more than once, it is hard to feel anything in the midst of the beeping, taking vitals, and just staring at the body that is giving out.
As a child I had no fear in hospitals because they were places you went to get better. As an adult I have learned that some people experience their final moments on earth surrounded by darkness and white walls. I do have to hand it writers of some of the shows for they do try to get you to feel something when, in reality, you would most likely feel nothing.

10. Joey said the following at 11:27 AM on Oct 10:

I think it was Philip Yancey who once pointed out that sexuality has become one of our postmodern culture's last vestiges of transcendence. Perhaps the longing for redemption is mixed with corrupted attempts to fulfill it?

When it comes to the music, though, both of the songs you mentioned specifically include no explicit reference to Christ or God, and could easily be interpreted as a poetic but nonreligious song of inspiration for someone who does not approach it with a Biblical worldview. A more obvious example would be NBC's use of Krystal Meyer's "Make Some Noise" in TV ads - the song has deeper meaning for Christians, but is nonspecific enough to be applied in a secular context.

That's not to say all music from Christians has to be explicitly Christian (I think "Happy Birthday" is a Biblical song), but I do get concerned by the crossover trend in some CCM circles. Some artists seem to record crossover songs simply to get airtime on secular stations or a better standing in the music industry.

At the same time, many Christian artists either write songs that are very spiritual but mediocre or unoriginal, or their songs are so spiritual that they ignore other aspects of human life. One thing I do appreciate about Krystal Meyers is that she's not afraid to write love songs as well as worship songs. As Christians we can again bring deeper meaning to everyday experiences.

Of course, striking such an artistic balance is difficult, and as a songwriter myself I understand that it's easier to criticize the status quo than change it.

11. Christina (in green) said the following at 12:13 PM on Oct 10:

Didn't Tammy Trent have an issue with this kind of thing?

12. Ashley said the following at 12:30 PM on Oct 10:

"...people exercising poor judgement (oh, wait, that's the Church . . .but that's a different comment)"

I hear so much bashing of the Church on The Line. I can understand pointing out injustices and wrong-doings. There is certainly something to be said for the Church taking responsibility for times when we have not represented our groom. And I'll be the first to admit that the Bride of Christ in America is indeed sick. But constantly complaining about how sick someone is does not heal them.

Don't we realize that when we refer to the Church, we are referring to that which for Christ laid down his very life.

I'm not "calling out" the author of the previous quote or trying to shame anyone, I too have wasted time and words tearing down the Church. But in the end, it does not bring life to her; It only brings more sickness.

13. Carrie (the original) said the following at 1:55 PM on Oct 10:

As the author of the comment, I'll just say that the Church is full sinners. Many of which love to point fingers and forget they too are sinners. This attitude comes into play quite a bit when art and media are discussed.
I get quite touchy on this subject because I took a Shakespeare correspondence course from Bob Jones University. I had to listen of hours of justification on how Shakespeare would have agreed with their moral stance and was, indeed, a Christian. I had to hold myself back from slamming my stereo against the wall more than a couple of times.
Yes, the Church is full of people who exercise poor judgement. If we didn't exercise poor judgement, we wouldn't be in need of a Savior.
(I like the line in Lauren Winner's "Real Sex": "If we felt good every time we did something good and we felt bad every time we did something there would be a whole lot less sinning and more . . .charity")

14. Ashley said the following at 2:52 PM on Oct 10:

Carrie,

I imagine that would have been a very hard class to spend a semester in. Like I said, my comment wasn't directly toward you. Your comment just reminded me of a lot of what I have been hearing on the blog.

I LOVE Real Sex by Lauren Winner. She is a great writer. Did you know she has some articles on trueu.org? They are good ones. I believe they are under the "women's hall."

15. anon II said the following at 2:56 PM on Oct 10:

Carrie, please stop generalizing the Church. I can't stand it when I hear people who are Christian do that. But than again, I am touchy on this subject. I just don't get it. If you want to speak from experience, do so. But stay specific. Thanks!

16. brx said the following at 5:14 PM on Oct 10:

Johnathan (#1) brings up some good questions: "...but shouldn't we still condemn it?"

Well, it looks like it has weeds and wheat in it. What does Jesus' parable suggest we do with it?

"I feel that the message it is conveying is 'highly immoral' and that these Christian bands should protect their image..."

My first thought is considering how Jesus protected his image - or not - by the people he associated with and the places he associated in. I think the question becomes subjective on a case-by-case basis. Is the Christian's music/lyrics/work promoting the light or the darkness? - the wheat or the weeds? Try looking at it from different angles too. There's all kinds of ministry and only God truly knows all that's in the heart.

Grace, peace & adventure shining in the darkness...

17. nikki said the following at 10:17 PM on Oct 10:

Maybe the 'Christian' songs are being featured because they're, well, good songs?

I think music is an art, and whether it's got Jesus lyrics or not, it should be treated first and foremost as an art, a skill, something to be developed and practiced. Perhaps some Christian bands are finally realizing that good music stands for itself and gives worship to God - with or without the generic churchy words.

Besides, although I don't watch the show, I've had the impression there is a lot of soul-searching that goes on. They are very indulgent, it seems to me from a distance (again, I don't watch it) but that doesn't preclude them from struggling with some deep emotional and spiritual issues. This in and of itself isn't enough to endorse it, but it's not like those still in their sin don't grapple with tough stuff.

One other thing. I'd love to be excited about the gospel being carried into all the world, but while I haven't seen the lyrics to either of those songs, I am quite convinced that much of what is called CCM today contains very generic 'positive, encouraging' lyrics that are not always even specifically Christian, and certainly wouldn't be out of place in most mainstream TV shows! Not that I think Christians should only make 'worship' music (I have plenty of issues with that pathetic 'genre'); I'm all for Christian artists being real artists and making songs about life, love, God - just DO YOUR BEST. Most CCM music isn't ANYONE'S best; it's embarrassing and lame. So I'm not saying CCM artists shouldn't make songs like the ones on those shows...I'm just saying that no one should be surprised to see them on TV - because the world probably doesn't see them as any different.

18. Bertha said the following at 10:44 PM on Oct 10:

I'm a big Caedmon's Call fan and the album on which "Ten Thousand Angels" is found is very clearly Christian. So I suppose if a viewer of Grey's Anatomy decided to check out the band, they might find something more than good music....

19. Rachael said the following at 9:57 AM on Oct 11:

My comment doesn't have to do with TV and the use of music sung by Christian artists, but, on a music-related note...

The other day Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes" was playing on a secular radio station. (There might be a Christian music countdown on this station on Sunday mornings...) I thought it was cool how the (female) DJs were talking positively about it. I don't know if motives were mixed, (I think one mentioned how she'd like to sit down with Brandon, maybe to ask him what inspired him, I'm not sure...) but I think it would be neat if more Christian songs got played on secular stations and it would be neat if it could lead to Christ-honoring conversations...

20. Christina (in green) said the following at 2:33 PM on Oct 12:

Someone mentioned One-Tree Hill and their use of the music.

I've never seen Grey's Anatomy and am not certain how I'd feel about the content...

But the use of Christian Music in One-Tree Hill, even though there's problems and serious issues in it, somehow fits...

Not everything you see is going to be pure and clean...but its full of people that are struggling with living. It happens...and it somehow feels more REAL ...

I went and saw Casting Crowns in concert about a year ago. I had just finished going through some really HARD stuff... I had gone through real LIFE. Not the kind of stuff you go through when you spend every single day of your week at church (like I did in elementary and middle school). Not like you go through high school while going to church twice a week, listening to nothing but Christian music, and spending the majority of your time with a nose stuck in a christian novel or at home playing the piano.

I was sheltered...willfully so (I did it as much to myself as my mother did). Those prayers that mention "Father God" every other word didn't bother me so much...

At the Casting Crowns concert, the guy who introduced Casting Crowns prayed like that. Now I'm not going to question his faith...he believes in EVERYTHING he's talking about. But I did question his view of reality. I was sitting their feeling dirty and worn out...life DOES that to you...and his prayer felt like he was ignoring that reality of life...it was to clean, to hip, and to naive...

And then Casting Crowns came on stage. And THEY prayed...and they didn't treat life as "all rainbows cuz I've got Jesus". They treated life as what it is - nitty and gritty, dirty, wearing-out, burdensome...and acknowledged the NEED for someone to clean us and give us rest. As someone who was already a Christian, i didn't need to hear the whole salvation thing... I needed restoration... and they displayed it as REAL and a part of REAL LIFE.

You could feel it in their prayer, you could feel it in how they talked about their songs, and you can hear it in the lyrics of their music. These couples up there singing are no "Strangers to the Rain" as Charles Shultz had his Canaanite girl sing in Children of Eden.

Somehow interlacing stuff that actually happens in the real world with a redemptive theme gives more credence to what Christians are trying to share with the world... but so often, its like we're trying to send out "Becky"s (Chris Rice's song Come on Becky) who have no inkling what real life is.

21. suzanne said the following at 2:42 PM on Oct 12:

Inewcomer,

This proves my point! Patty Griffin is featured on the soundtrack for the new movie about Billy Graham's life. I made that "Christian music" assumption since I'm not familiar with her work. (Don't stone me...I'm pretty music illiterate.)

22. kyra said the following at 9:51 PM on Oct 12:

I like the show and to be honest the whole topic of whether or not certain shows reflect Christian values is one I've struggled with. What I constantly am confused by is why Christians will complain about tv or movie content that involves extra-marital or homosexual sex, but never seem offended by content that features other sins such as robbery, lying, murder, etc.

There are lots of shows (say almost all crime dramas for instance) that feature robberies or murders, things like that, and yet no one ever seems to complain about those. It always just seems to me like once again, here we are fixated on shows where people are having promiscuous sex.

I liked "sex and the city" too because I thought it was a funny, well written show and not because I wanted to model my life after a few middle aged characters who frankly struck me as confused, lost, and pretty emotionally immature. Sometimes shows are just entertainment and nothing else.

If I could only watch shows where every character depicted made only Christian, moral choices, I'd have to throw out my tv.

23. Crystal said the following at 11:50 PM on Oct 12:

I thought the subheadline was interesting for this article:

Too bad the show itself obscures the way to the God it's touting

If the author's problem is, as stated, the morality of the show....can we assume you're suggesting that morality is the WAY to God? Of course not, I know better, but there seems to be an underlying belief that these sorts of actions you see in the show don't happen in the real world where real Christians live-and that's not true. Lost people often connect to Christ through music/art LONG before they actually make "moral" change. If this show (which I have never seen)attempts to portray real live, then it's probably more accurate than you're suggesting.

24. Jo said the following at 12:18 PM on Oct 13:

I really strongly disagree with the few people who've said or implied that for a Christian musician to allow their music to be played on an 'immoral' show is unwise or wrong.

Honestly, I don't even see this as a grey area. If a show that millions of people watch wants to use a Christian song, for whatever reason, that's awesome! It's not as the musician is being asked to write an immoral song - we're talking about a song with lyrics that point to God! Would we object to the Bible being read out in a show like that? Truth is truth, and goodness is goodness, wherever we find it.

Jesus wasn't bothered about His image. He went where the need was, and where He was welcomed. Sometimes we can be way too concerned with how we look, and whether other Christians will approve of our behaviour, and whether the world will try to discredit us, and not nearly concerned enough about following Jesus.

(NB, I think advertising - like the Victoria's Secret ad - is somewhat different because the music is being used to sell a product. But to play music during a scene in a TV show doesn't in any way suggest that the musician supports whatever attitudes/behaviour are being portrayed in the scene.)

25. Rebekah said the following at 2:11 PM on Oct 13:

(in response to Kyra) I think the difference isn't so much the nature of the sin being portrayed, but how it is portrayed. Crime shows portray robbery, murder, etc. as being wrong and the "bad guy" gets caught and punished. Shows that highlight illicit sex of any kind generally portray it as being normal and even healthy, with no negative consequences except the occasional breakup, which is usually caused by other factors anyway!
I think as we choose our entertainment, we should aim to be honoring to the Lord, without becoming legalistic. As for the use of Christian music in the secular world, we can only pray that God somehow uses it for His glory, and not attribute either positive or negative motives to the artists, since we don't know if they even have a say in how their music is used.

26. Heidi said the following at 2:12 PM on Oct 13:

I agree with you Becca, God is moving in Hollywood, and He is moving through the arts.

Instead of pulling out of the real world every time we find something we don´t like, we need to be salt and light right in the midst of it, like Jesus did: He spend time with the sinners.

Lets bring kingdom truths into the real world, and not lock all our treasures into our own fellowship.

27. Suzanne said the following at 3:50 PM on Oct 13:

Crystal,

You make a good point, but you are correct that I am not saying morality is the way to God. Of course not. However, I don't believe ungodly behavior—along with an absence of the gospel—points to a way that is other than Christ.

David put it this way:

This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

—Psalm 73:12-13;16-19

David doesn't mince words when it comes to those who do not know God and have not received Christ's gift of salvation. But there is good news:

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

—Romans 5:6

So, no, I'm not saying morality is the way to God. But I doubt that many will be directed toward Him in the messy, sex-saturated story lines of Grey's Anatomy.

28. Suzanne said the following at 4:19 PM on Oct 13:

Kyra,

You make a good point. First of all, shows like "Grey's Anatomy" can be very entertaining and compelling. I'm not arguing that. When the writing is decent and the characters are interesting, it's easy to get pulled in. Same with crime dramas.

The difference I see relates to Ted's recent post: "Slow Descent into Fornication." We live in a culture that makes sex a god (not so much murder or robbery), and shows like Grey's feed that. 1 Cor. 6:18 offers this warning: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."

There is an addictive and life-destroying quality to sexual sin that is different from many other sins. As Ted's post points out, viewing sexual material of any kind (even TV shows) has the potential to lead to an enslaving view of sexuality. Of course, this will grip people to varying degrees. And I think a lot of women watching the show would say, "It's not affecting me." However, Ephesians 5:3 sets the bar higher than that: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people."

There is much more than a "hint" of sexual immorality on this show and many others. Watching a murder on TV may not be the most God-glorifying use of your time, but connection between watching a crime show and committing a murder is, I imagine, much smaller than watching sexual immorality and having impure thoughts. There's a lot at stake here.

29. Suzanne said the following at 5:38 PM on Oct 13:

#27

Typing to fast. Meant to say, "However, I believe ungodly behavior—along with an absence of the gospel—points to a way that is other than Christ.

30. Charles H. said the following at 7:53 PM on Oct 13:

Nikki #17 - Very interesting! Personally I don't mind CCM but I do wish there was a realistic choice of stuff that wasn't folksy light rock.

I know, from the few acts that have really done it successfully, that you very much can have a rap or metal song with an explicitly Christian message. I have to put in a plug here for ApologetiX, who got their start right here in Pittsburgh and who demonstrate that point very nicely by rewriting pop music to have a Christian message. The odd thing is that APX's music has far more Scripture references and explicitly scriptural messages than most CCM, and yet is more entertaining too.

31. Jennie said the following at 11:57 AM on Oct 16:

I can't wait for tonight's episode it looks like we are finally going to have Meredith open up to Derek this might be the make or break discussion for them.
It's not so much avoiding the issues, it’s more of the fact that they are emotional train wrecks and don't know something good until it is gone!