It used to be Amy Grant . . . where is she now?
Apr 29 '02
The Bottom Line Amy Grant has been judged by the Christian community for her controversial divorce from Gary Chapman and remarriage to Vince Gill. But after two years of silence, Amy is back.
I am one of those pesky born again Christian types, and let me tell you something, it ain't easy. I mean first of all, if you grow up in a strict household like mine was, you don't get to listen to ANYTHING that isn't featuring God or Jesus as a primary part of the lyrics. Instrumental music was o.k., of course, as long as it didn't contain a ROCK BEAT! (SATAN-BE-GONE!) I kid you not, as a five year old child I was so well trained I would jump up and turn down the volume on our T.V. when the Electric Company theme song came on.
Suffice it to say that when I grew older, I realized quickly I was in the minority of kids who never, EVER listened to anything with a beat. I found a compromise. Christian Rock. That's right folks, it has a beat but it's o.k. because the lyrics DO mention Christ and God! It presented my parents with the same kind of dilemma Captain Kirk forced that evil computer to face (when he asked it a question it had conflicting input on - you know - Star Trek!)
I am 34 years old, so that means that during my formative adolescent years Amy Grant was the absolute darling of Christian contemporary music. "Father's Eyes", "El Shaddai"; these were the songs of my youth - my inspiration spiritually and Amy Grant my hero to adore. I even got my parents to let me attend a concert my Senior year of high school. By then her style was much more contemporary, and yet she always knew how much her fans treasured her "old stuff" and would play the favorites on acoustical guitar.
Something happened to Amy. Something that has happened before in Christian music and will happen again, I'm sure. She "crossed over" into *GASP* the secular market. Soon my hidden treasure was being blasted from the speaker at stores in my local mall for hits like, "Baby, Baby" and "That's What Love is For." She made a video or two, or three. In one of them she was clearly acting as if another man were her husband for the video, and Christians didn't like it. "Amy has sold out!" I would hear from my friends, and it amazed me how passionate the students at my conservative Bible College were about this "betrayal". On practically every date I went on, it seemed the subject of Amy Grant somehow would come up. Was I "pro Amy" or against her. Being "pro Amy" meant you weren't quite as spiritually minded. You didn't care that her lyrics didn't mention God ONE SINGLE TIME. It didn't bother you that she was prancing around on a music video with a man other than her beloved Gary Chapman. Several times I remember squirming when that question was asked - sure I thought music should glorify God, but she was singing about love and isn't that from God too? And just at the pinnacle of her fame, the death blow.
Amy Grant filed for divorce. Her husband, a recovered drug addict who had abused during their marriage, still wanted to reconcile. Christians flocked to his website and posted messages of support. He openly stated that the divorce was not his idea and there had been no sexual affairs on HIS part at least . . . it reminded me completely of the Charles and Diana saga. A couple living out their own personal tragedy in a world of media that enabled me, a college student, to suddenly be "chatting" with the husband of Amy Grant, my music idol. How insane is that!
It was bad enough that she had filed for divorce. Christian bookstores pulled her music from their shelves. This was not a Biblically justified divorce, this was a blatant disrespect for all that Amy Grant was supposed to stand for. But then the news that she was dating Vince Gill, and had actually, potentially been dating him for a long, long time . . . what's that Gary? You say on your website you doubted the platonic nature of their friendship even while you were STILL MARRIED?
So where is Amy Grant today? I want to know. It has been two long years and I miss her. Why does the Christian community insist on such judgemental tactics when it comes to a musician's work? I understand accountability. Sandi Patti divorced her husband and remarried at the cost of most all Christian bookstores in my town pulling her music entirely. And then she repented. And now she's on the radio again. Christian radio. Maybe what Amy needs to do is to make up to her fans - to explain that she is human and she is forgiven and why don't we all just make up?
And the good news? AMY IS BACK! Expected in September of this year (2002) is a new album I can't wait to hear. The lyrics of one of her new songs hint at the very things I have been reflecting on here, and no doubt grace will win the victory over the judgement of so many Pharisees who like to call themselves followers of Christ.
OUT IN THE OPEN
They were the sweetest words I'd ever heard
My heart could barely take it in
Like water offered to the lips of a tired and thirsty man
'Cause it's a tangled web I've woven and I don't know all the reasons
But it amazes me to wake up to Your mercy every morning
So I'm standing here and spinning 'round in the fields of freedom
And I'm still alive and reaching out and I can feel the healing 'cause You say...
CHORUS-
Come on out, come on out
Come on out, come on out... Out in the open
Come on out, come on out
Come on out, come on out... Into the light
There is no jury, there is no judge
Ready and waiting are the steady arms of love
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