Ah, a playlist of 10 secular songs whose title and/or content references Jesus. Some have spiritual elements, but the respective artist is secular. 

Jesus! What comes to mind when Jesus is mentioned? Nothing short of sheer awesomeness – “wonder-working power.”  Basically, Jesus is the man, and he’s not even a man.  But this isn’t a Sunday school lesson or sermon from the pastor, it’s a playlist of secular songs whose title and/or content reference Jesus. Secular is used loosely, considering some of these songs double as religious, but the respective artist is a secular artist rooted in a particular genre.

1. Kanye West, “Jesus Walks”

[The College Dropout, 2004]

“I walk through the valley of the Chi where death is / top floor the view alone will leave you breathless…”

Kanye West made a huge statement when he released “Jesus Walks.” It’s rare that rappers mention Jesus in the slightest in their raps, so West definitely went “against the grain.” “Jesus Walks” still isn’t quite appropriate for a tent meeting or church service, but to an extent, West affirms his faith. The keywords being to an extent.

“(Jesus walk) / God show me the way because the Devil’s trying to break me down / (Jesus walk with me) / the only think that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now / (Jesus walk) / And I don’t think there’s nothin’ I can do now to right my wrongs / (Jesus walk with me) / I wanna talk to God but I’m afraid cause we ain’t spoke in so long”

2. Carrie Underwood, “Jesus Take the Wheel”

[Some Hearts, 2005]

“Jesus take the wheel / take it from my hands / cause I cannot do this on my own / I’m letting go / so give me one more chance / save me from this road I am on / Jesus take the wheel”

While Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks” wouldn’t be the sermonic selection in most religious services, Carrie Underwood gem “Jesus Take the Wheel” has a shot. Underwood tells the story of a woman who sees her life flashing before her eyes while driving home for Christmas.  Knowing she’s losing control, she prays that “Jesus take the wheel.”

Ultimately, the bigger picture of Underwood’s classic is “letting Go and letting God.”  So, does this one really belong on this list?