AMY GRANT

Sorry to be so long in updating this -----

Amy's career has effectively been over for years. That makes her influence in the field of CCM very small. The accusations against her are "old news". Even if they were true, they are against an individual alone, and an individual who is out of the business.

The "BABY BABY" controversy

The other side says: My response

The queen-bee of Christian rock is Amy Grant. Amy's song, "Baby, Baby", was unprecedented in Gospel Music history topping the chart as the number-one spot on Billboard magazine. Is the secular world "turning on" to Jesus? Not hardly. . . People magazine (July 15, 1991 p.71) says of Amy's video Baby, Baby, "There's saintly Amy cuddling some hunky guy, crooning "Baby, Baby" into his ear and looking pretty SLEEK AND SINFUL. . ." After all, Amy confesses, "I'm trying to look SEXY to sell a record . . ." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p. 10)
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts:", but Amy says, "Petting happens . . . As a teenager, when I gave part of me to someone, I knew I was just going to flirt, HAVE A LITTLE FUN, . . ."(Bob Millard, Amy Grant, (New York, 1986),p. 30)
Grant's "Baby Baby" video from the album showed her hanging on a big hunk of a guy who was not her husband. This created a furor with some of her fans. Amy's response?:
"The whole thing just seemed very boring to me. Besides, shooting the video was a blast. It's fun to flirt if you're a happily married woman." (Woman's Day, Dec 22 , 1992 , p.35)
Since free "love" (sex) was one of the biggest rallying cries of the whole hippie generation, why should it surprise anyone that the stars of "Christian" music today are trumpeting the same obnoxious blast? The Grants and Clevelands of Christian Contemporary Music are "pushing the envelope" as the New Agers put it.

Some comments:

Amy's marital problems have been the subject of too much cruel exposure in the tabloids. Are you critics operating your web site like paparazzi? Amy and Gary have divorceded. Those of us who know them agree with the decision, and will NOT engage in gossip. The Word of God does contain Biblical reasons for divorce. There were Biblical reasons for this divorce. Do not presume to know the whole situation and apply standards to Amy that do not apply. You demonstate ignorance and spiritual immaturity when you do.

Amy was persuing an acting career. As an actress, she is called upon to feign attraction for men with whom she is not married. She said herself that the actor in her video was "boring", you even quoted her saying it. Are you saying that no Christian should appear in a performance opposite a person of the opposite sex - and perform their part in the the play / TV show / movie? If so, you better talk to Roma Downey, of "Touched by an Angel". She recently starred in a TV movie called "Borrowed Hearts: A Holiday Romance" opposite a man who is NOT her husband (she is married to the director of "Hoosiers" and "Rudy" - David Anspaugh). I can't show a vidcap here of the show due to copyright restrictions, but I can assure you that there is one scene where Roma Downey looks very seductive, and looks like she is going to be seduced.
There is some similarity between the two women. Both are actresses, and both have starred in something opposite a man who is not their husband, both are relatively the same age, both are mothers. So logically, the critics ought to be flaming Roma Downey if they are flaming Amy Grant. The only difference is that Amy has committed the "unpardonable sin" of performing Contemporary Christian music, while Roma Downey stars in a TV show about God that they happen to like.

The "BABY BABY" controversy
The other side says:	My response
The queen-bee of Christian rock is Amy Grant. Amy's song, "Baby, Baby", was unprecedented in Gospel Music history topping the chart as the number-one spot on Billboard magazine. Is the secular world "turning on" to Jesus? Not hardly. . . People magazine (July 15, 1991 p.71) says of Amy's video Baby, Baby, "There's saintly Amy cuddling some hunky guy, crooning "Baby, Baby" into his ear and looking pretty SLEEK AND SINFUL. . ." After all, Amy confesses, "I'm trying to look SEXY to sell a record . . ." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p. 10) The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts:", but Amy says, "Petting happens . . . As a teenager, when I gave part of me to someone, I knew I was just going to flirt, HAVE A LITTLE FUN, . . ."(Bob Millard, Amy Grant, (New York, 1986),p. 30) Grant's "Baby Baby" video from the album showed her hanging on a big hunk of a guy who was not her husband. This created a furor with some of her fans. Amy's response?: "The whole thing just seemed very boring to me. Besides, shooting the video was a blast. It's fun to flirt if you're a happily married woman." (Woman's Day, Dec 22 , 1992 , p.35) Since free "love" (sex) was one of the biggest rallying cries of the whole hippie generation, why should it surprise anyone that the stars of "Christian" music today are trumpeting the same obnoxious blast? The Grants and Clevelands of Christian Contemporary Music are "pushing the envelope" as the New Agers put it.	Some comments: Amy's marital problems have been the subject of too much cruel exposure in the tabloids. Are you critics operating your web site like paparazzi? Amy and Gary have divorceded. Those of us who know them agree with the decision, and will NOT engage in gossip. The Word of God does contain Biblical reasons for divorce. There were Biblical reasons for this divorce. Do not presume to know the whole situation and apply standards to Amy that do not apply. You demonstate ignorance and spiritual immaturity when you do. Amy was persuing an acting career. As an actress, she is called upon to feign attraction for men with whom she is not married. She said herself that the actor in her video was "boring", you even quoted her saying it. Are you saying that no Christian should appear in a performance opposite a person of the opposite sex - and perform their part in the the play / TV show / movie? If so, you better talk to Roma Downey, of "Touched by an Angel". She recently starred in a TV movie called "Borrowed Hearts: A Holiday Romance" opposite a man who is NOT her husband (she is married to the director of "Hoosiers" and "Rudy" - David Anspaugh). I can't show a vidcap here of the show due to copyright restrictions, but I can assure you that there is one scene where Roma Downey looks very seductive, and looks like she is going to be seduced. There is some similarity between the two women. Both are actresses, and both have starred in something opposite a man who is not their husband, both are relatively the same age, both are mothers. So logically, the critics ought to be flaming Roma Downey if they are flaming Amy Grant. The only difference is that Amy has committed the "unpardonable sin" of performing Contemporary Christian music, while Roma Downey stars in a TV show about God that they happen to like.

The "Satanic Salute" Controversy

The other side says: My response

One of the most widespread and best known satanic signs is the I1 Cornuto, also known as the "satanic salute" and the "horned hand". It is made by, making a fist and extending the first (index) and last (pinkie) finger. For example. The satanic salute is displayed by satanists to acknowledge their allegiance to Satan. Anton LaVey, displays it on the back cover of The Satanic Bible. The satanic salute is popular in rock music. And on the Michael W. Smith, In Concert (Reunion Records, 1985) video tape Amy Grant clearly flashes the "satanic salute"! And it is NOT the sign language for "I love you", where the thumb is openly extended! Amy delibertely flashes the "satanic salute" at least two separate times on the video, displaying it for several seconds!
But there is a definite spirit invoked in rock music, secular or Christian and it's NOT the Holy Spirit! And many times, people involved in rock music get "caught up in this unholy spirit"!
Well, guys, you just offended every University of Texas alumni, including myself! This so-called satanic salute is also the symbol for the Texas Longhorns. I don't think Amy ever attended the University of Texas, however. That leaves us with two possibilities - that Amy is showing allegiance for satan, or she is making a mistake in how she forms the sign language for "I love you". This is the same lady that has written and performed "El Shaddai" and "Thy Word". Pretty confused lady if she is glorifying God with her voice and satan with her hands. Sounds like satan has a house divided against himself that cannot stand if that is the case. She is trying to do the sign language. Somebody ought to tell her how to do it right. The second paragraph is irrelevent to the discussion - a statement of personal opinion.

The "Satanic Salute" Controversy
The other side says:	My response
One of the most widespread and best known satanic signs is the I1 Cornuto, also known as the "satanic salute" and the "horned hand". It is made by, making a fist and extending the first (index) and last (pinkie) finger. For example. The satanic salute is displayed by satanists to acknowledge their allegiance to Satan. Anton LaVey, displays it on the back cover of The Satanic Bible. The satanic salute is popular in rock music. And on the Michael W. Smith, In Concert (Reunion Records, 1985) video tape Amy Grant clearly flashes the "satanic salute"! And it is NOT the sign language for "I love you", where the thumb is openly extended! Amy delibertely flashes the "satanic salute" at least two separate times on the video, displaying it for several seconds! But there is a definite spirit invoked in rock music, secular or Christian and it's NOT the Holy Spirit! And many times, people involved in rock music get "caught up in this unholy spirit"!	Well, guys, you just offended every University of Texas alumni, including myself! This so-called satanic salute is also the symbol for the Texas Longhorns. I don't think Amy ever attended the University of Texas, however. That leaves us with two possibilities - that Amy is showing allegiance for satan, or she is making a mistake in how she forms the sign language for "I love you". This is the same lady that has written and performed "El Shaddai" and "Thy Word". Pretty confused lady if she is glorifying God with her voice and satan with her hands. Sounds like satan has a house divided against himself that cannot stand if that is the case. She is trying to do the sign language. Somebody ought to tell her how to do it right. The second paragraph is irrelevent to the discussion - a statement of personal opinion.

The "Big Yellow Taxi" controversy

The other side says: My response

Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess Joni Mitchell. Time magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63) tells of Joni Mitchells intimate relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all else."
Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi,
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
How different from the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Of course, what's the Bible and Jesus got to do with "CHRISTian" rock?
What does Joni Mitchell's ramblings have to do with Amy Grant? Again, you are using the tired old "guilty by association" argument that simply doesn't work. Joni is Joni, Amy is Amy. Two different people, and different eternal destinations, unfortunately for Joni.
As far as "Big Yellow Taxi" is concerned, it is a satire that emphasizes environmental responsibility, and the last verse is a forlorn message about a relationship that went sour. I think the last verse is not particularly edifying, and probably should have been revised or omitted. I firmly believe, however, that the Bible calls us to be responsible stewards of God's creation. Therefore, a song calling us to be environmentally responsible is appropriate.
What does the Bible and Jesus have to do with Christian rock? PLENTY - both are fundamental to it. What does the Bible and Jesus have to do with nightclub crooning style music? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! When I hear that abominable style of music, I think of the filthy cesspools of sin called nightclubs that it came from. Your deep throated man singing "How Great Thou Art" in that style is an abomination to me!!!! The song is not, just the associations of the musical style. How do you like the shoe being on the other foot? Why do you like that style of music? Does it help revive memories of picking up women, seeing naked dancers, or getting plastered DRUNK?! What sort of miserable walk do you have if you like those memories? HOW MANY BARS have you been in? What was your motivation for going there, brother?!
In JESUS NAME - shake the dust off your feet as you beat a hasty retreat out of such places. Avoid even the part of town where they are located, lest you find yourself in Sodom when God's wrath finally judges those places!!! Come OUT from among them! NOW!

The "Big Yellow Taxi" controversy
The other side says:	My response
Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess Joni Mitchell. Time magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63) tells of Joni Mitchells intimate relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all else." Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" How different from the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Of course, what's the Bible and Jesus got to do with "CHRISTian" rock?	What does Joni Mitchell's ramblings have to do with Amy Grant? Again, you are using the tired old "guilty by association" argument that simply doesn't work. Joni is Joni, Amy is Amy. Two different people, and different eternal destinations, unfortunately for Joni. As far as "Big Yellow Taxi" is concerned, it is a satire that emphasizes environmental responsibility, and the last verse is a forlorn message about a relationship that went sour. I think the last verse is not particularly edifying, and probably should have been revised or omitted. I firmly believe, however, that the Bible calls us to be responsible stewards of God's creation. Therefore, a song calling us to be environmentally responsible is appropriate. What does the Bible and Jesus have to do with Christian rock? PLENTY - both are fundamental to it. What does the Bible and Jesus have to do with nightclub crooning style music? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! When I hear that abominable style of music, I think of the filthy cesspools of sin called nightclubs that it came from. Your deep throated man singing "How Great Thou Art" in that style is an abomination to me!!!! The song is not, just the associations of the musical style. How do you like the shoe being on the other foot? Why do you like that style of music? Does it help revive memories of picking up women, seeing naked dancers, or getting plastered DRUNK?! What sort of miserable walk do you have if you like those memories? HOW MANY BARS have you been in? What was your motivation for going there, brother?! In JESUS NAME - shake the dust off your feet as you beat a hasty retreat out of such places. Avoid even the part of town where they are located, lest you find yourself in Sodom when God's wrath finally judges those places!!! Come OUT from among them! NOW!

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