Gospel vs Secular Music & What's The Difference
We explore the long standing differences within the gospel & secular music scene.

The gospel vs Secular music conversation has dragged on and on for decades. Many Christians separate music into these two categories. Gospel music refers to music that is centered around God and Jesus, while secular music includes everything else. So that's to say CeCe Winans is a gospel artist while Beyonce is a secular artist. Got it?

Three Divisions

When it comes to music, there are three different groups of Christians. The first group is made up of who I like to call the purists. They will not listen to anything that isn't Gospel and that's the end of the discussion for them. Music, they say, is a spirit. And they won't corrupt their spirit with anything from the world. Then we have the liberals in the second group. They will listen to anything, literally. As long as they like the sound of it, they're in. Music is meant to be enjoyed, they argue, so why limit me?

As you may have guessed by now, the third group is made up of who I call the moderates. They agree with both the purist and the liberals that music is a spirit but also something to enjoy. So they don't restrict themselves only to gospel music but are also quite selective with their playlists. This puts them somewhere in the middle of the conversation.

For perspective, a purist only wants to enter the spirit with Tasha Cobbs, a liberal will rap along to Cardi B, and a moderate is happy to vibe with Alec Benjamin.

Blurry Lines

Like I've already said, the gospel vs secular music conversation has lasted quite a while. Over the years, artists have moved from gospel to secular and the other way around while fans keep a record, some even grudges. Bob Dylan disappointed many of his fans by switching to gospel music, and quite several Christian fans were appalled by Mali Music's decision to ditch his gospel roots for secular music. Such is the division that some fans consider a betrayal when an artist crosses "enemy" lines.

More recently, however, the lines have started to get blurry. I have no idea who first used this term, but it's brought out a new group of artists. Where we previously had gospel or secular music, we now have a third group. They're called Christians who make music. Now I know this sounds like a different way of saying gospel, but hear me out.

These artists claim that they are Christian, but won't restrict themselves to talking only about Jesus. They'll sing about love, breakup, mental health, and whatever else they think needs talking about. That said, of course, their Christian views might reflect in their music. So these artists are not gospel artists, but Christians who make music. Interesting, isn't it?

In this article, I'd like to talk about some of these blurred-line artists...

Five Artists Who've Blurred the Lines

Some people have accused these artists of sitting on the fence and refusing to pick a side. I disagree. They remain outspoken Christians so you have no doubt where they stand, but they also refuse to let only secular artists talk about general life. Things like love, mental health, and other life issues need to be discussed by Christians too, they argue. This has made their music more relatable to people who aren't even Christian. So I don't think they're sitting on the fence, I think they're building bridges. Let's talk about some of these heroes...

NF

If you've listened to NF before, you may not have even known he's a Christian because he hardly talks specifically about Jesus. At the same time, no dedicated NF fan could miss that he's Christian. He has some songs that would fit the gospel label, but his music generally focuses on mental health.

If you pay attention to his lyrics, however, his faith is staring right at you. This has made NF somewhat controversial, especially in Christian circles. Some people insist that he isn't a gospel artist because he doesn't talk about Jesus specifically, while others argue he discusses issues from a Christian perspective and that's enough.

Of course, moderates consider this a purist headache. They don't care, they love the guy.

Carrie Underwood

With one of the most viral gospel songs of all time, one would think Carrie Underwood is a bonafide gospel artist. Jesus Take the Wheel was a statement gospel song, to be honest, but Carrie Underwood has released some not-so-gospel songs as well. So where does she fit in really? Songs like Cry Pretty and Ever Ever After make you wonder. They're really good songs, but they're not gospel. So is Carrie Underwood a gospel artist, or does she blur the lines a bit? I'd wager the latter.

Justin Bieber

Once a superstar of secular music, Justin Bieber's conversion was quite a big deal. He's been very public about his newfound faith but hasn't restricted himself to singing only about Jesus and salvation. His last album, Justice, was a massive hit in 2021. It was definitely not a gospel album, though.

He talked about romantic love, missing a loved one, and several other topics, but there was hardly any mention of Jesus if any at all. One month later, he released Freedom, an EP that sounds completely gospel. Which side are you on really, Justin? Looks like the lines are blurred.

Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly's Psalm 24 is a clear declaration of faith. It's literally taken from the Bible. Surely she must be a gospel artist. She has even won awards for gospel songs, Grammys included. Then you hear a song like Made for Loving You where Justin Bieber (surprise surprise)  featured her, and it makes you think. When asked how she balances the genres, Tori had this to say:

I don't have to stick to one lane. I've been calling it life music. Life songs. Doesn't always have to have a title on it.

Tori Kelly loves to blur the lines, and we now have a new name for blurred lines: Life music. Moderates would love that one.

Jon Bellion

Here's another Christian who makes music but isn't a gospel artist. Jon Bellion has made songs about almost everything. He's made songs about love, vulnerability, nature, and many other topics. Hidden in between the lines, though, is his Christian faith.

Songs like Maybe IDK and Hand of God are perfect examples of this. Like NF, if you've only listened to a handful of his songs, you might not know he's Christian. When you pay closer attention, you'll wonder how you missed it. Unlike NF, however, there's no debate about Jon Bellion. He's firmly secular, but moderates won't care, of course.

Final Thoughts

Music generally has been going through a period where lines are getting crossed, and age-old divisions are crumbling. This trend has continued with the blurring of lines between gospel and secular music. Once on opposite sides of a wall, artists are now skirting the lines and making, in Tori Kelly's words, life music. I, for one, am excited to see it.

Guess that makes me a moderate, eh?