So, now it’s time for me to rant a bit. For the past few years, I’ve been watching what I can only term a disrespectful attitude toward Christianity in shows, songs, and advertising. I know what you are thinking: This is nothing new. It has been around since the Elmer Gantry character was created. And you are right. The Elmer Gantry figure, the Church Lady from SNL, and abusive nuns, priests, and pastors in film and television are a part of our culture. It is our nature to call out hypocrisy—and if any of you has spent any time watching Christian television, you know there is a lot of hypocrisy to expose.

To a certain extent, I am content with these characterizations because they point at the worst in our ranks and cause us to strive for something better. In fact, I’ve done it myself through several of the characters in my novels. But I’m not talking about some well-crafted satire here. The trend that I find disturbing is the use of Jesus’ image in a disrespectful manner and the plethora of songs that try to be edgy with the use of Christian terms.

I’m tired of hearing Cohen’s “Hallelujah” sung in a nearly reverential way as if it purported to deal with anything close to its title. If you want to win Dancing with the Stars, well you’ve got to dance teary-eyed to “Hallelujah”.  The same thing goes for American Idol, The Voice, and other singing competitions.  When a contestant wants to show a spiritual side, he/she whips out “Hallelujah.” It’s maddening.

How about Maren Morris, Country Music’s new artist of the year in 2016. She rose to fame with her song “My Church.” Check out some of these lovely lyrics:

“Can I get a hallelujah

Can I get an amen

Feels like the Holy Ghost’s running through ya

When I play the highway FM

I find my soul revival

Singing every single verse

Yeah I guess that’s my church”

Put aside the fact that the chorus of this song is illiterate as all hell and focus on the misappropriation and attempted denigration of the Christian experience.

And of course, where would music be today without Kanye West bringing Jesus on stage in his Yeezus tour? You see, Yeezus is Kanye, and Jesus is his homeboy—they are both deities. That’s why Kanye sings “I just talked to Jesus. He said, ‘What up Yeezus?’ I said, ‘Shit, I’m chilling. Trying to stack these millions’ I know he the most high, but I’m a close high.” How wonderful for Kanye.

I guess what really drove me over the edge was what I saw while Christmas shopping. I opened up the Spilsbury novelty catalog to find not only Jesus bandages, but also a bobble-head Jesus with the caption “Dance Your Sins Away” and Jesus bandages. Sure enough, these aren’t as hateful and blatant as the so-called artist Andres Serrano’s “Piss Christ,” which consists only of a crucifix in a container of Serrano’s urine. But they are insidiously disrespectful.

In each case, the intent is to be edgy, and my response is this: If you’re so interested in being edgy, why not make a bobble-head Mohammed? Go ahead. I dare you. This isn’t a freedom of speech issue. It is an issue of disrespect for the faith of a majority of Americans.

To people who feel the need to be so edgy, I implore you to ask yourself this question before you act: “Would I be comfortable using the terms Mohammed, Allah, or Allahu Ahkbar in the same manner?” If not, then maybe you should consider that what you’re about to do isn’t so much “edgy” as it is just disrespectful.

To Christians out there I say this: “Where is your sense of moral outrage?” Islam has it over us in its fastidious respect for their beliefs. I’m not asking Christians to issue fatwahs against people who do such things, but at least don’t be so numb as to not notice it! And whatever you do, don’t condone it … and certainly don’t reward it! There would be a different Country Music new artist for 2016 if people who identify as Christians wouldn’t sell out for a catchy tune.

Look folks. I’m all about the First Amendment. It’s a free country. People can say whatever they want. But I can tell you this, Maren Morris, Kanye West, and Spilsbury won’t see a dime of TC Joseph’s money. And I encourage all Christian men and women of faith to do the same.