Katy Perry: Clearing The Air On Her Faith, Her Parents And That Celibacy Vow

Rebecca St. James and Katy Perry are both rock singers with Christian backgrounds. Rebecca tells the public she'll be a virgin until her wedding night, and has years of success in the Christian music market, though she's largely unknown to the public at large. When Rebecca's songs get played, a couple thousand people hear them. Katy 'Hudson' Perry :) releases a Christian market CD, and few notice. Then she sings about kissing a girl and liking it, and she becomes famous worldwide, such that when her songs get played, millions hear them. You've got a whole generation of American youngsters who know and love every single word to Katy's song, "I Kissed A Girl." Parents throw their hands up in the air, saying, "What's wrong with today's world that this is what my kids are listening to and singing along to?" Yet their kids still know and love that song, while Rebecca St. James' take on sex gets minimal attention in today's world. Katy Perry, whether she's as Christian as Christians want her to be, or as far from the version of a Christian as Christians want her to be, has gone the very secular route of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and other recording artists, using sexually provocative lyrics to get the world all hot and bothered. Is Kathy 'Hudson' Perry a sell-out to the Christian music world? Most definitely, without a doubt. I doubt you'd have K-Love or Air 1 or Family Life Network playing "I Kissed A Girl." But does that mean Katy Perry isn't a Christian? How do we totally know what her relationship with God is? We don't. It will be interesting to see how her career goes, and how she develops as a recording artist. That song of hers gained her wealth, fame and influence, but did it please the Lord? God and time will tell.

"It's not fair to hold Katy Perry up now as a fallen Christian, any more than it would have been fair, when she was 16, to hold her up as a Christian role model."

Well put, Joanne.

Katy's parents love her to pieces and shake their heads all the time over her path. Her mom would NEVER say she was ashamed of her daughter to a reporter...way too classy a lady for THAT!

Yes, I know these folks and, yes, her parents are committed "word of faith" pastors who are both serious believers and the best friends and funniest, wittiest companions you could have as family members.

These people CANNOT be put into a standard "pastor" or "Christian parent" box--anymore than can most of us! Katy is a doll...and she is going to grow into both her talent and her faith in her own way.

I think Katy Perry is like many other strange pop artists, taking the word of God and using it when its convenient, like in their "thank you" speeches after they win an award. She is living in an anything goes kind of world, where you can do anything, believe anything, and its okay. But she'll find out one day that we all have to answer to God for our actions. She'll be on TBN in 10 years when her good looks have faded and no record label wants her.

She should have a chat with Rebecca St. James. LOL. Get saved Perry!

She's not a Christian.

Very silly to try to determine whether or not she's a Christian. Are her sins worse than yours or mine? Probably not. But why does it even matter to you?

I just want to say thank you for this coverage of Katy Perry - I was expecting more of a "you sinful whore" kind of approach. The people who feel the way the author of this article does generally stay silent, because of their more gentle views. On a human level, I would have thought I have nothing in common with Katy Perry, but it turns out I do. Her attitude towards Christianity seems to be pretty similar to my own, ie. brought up in the religion, don't buy it, but not going to be belligerent towards those who do believe. (Though I guess some people find my seemingly logical arguments blasphemous and offensive - can't help you there...)

It must be said that I do have "One of the Boys" as well as Lily Allen's albums - I'm not a closet homosexual, but rather a closet pop-listener. Guilty pleasure type thing.

Disclaimer: I am an atheist. Who knows what I'm doing on a Christian blog... hehe. My views may not represent those of other atheists, and I do not intend to speak for anyone but myself. I wish people would realise that you can't take the opinion of one member of a group to be that of the whole group.

Katy's tunes ARE catchy, I agree with Joanne.
I'm surprised to find out that she's a Christian.

I just think that she'd like people to view her as a neutral person, not a Christian, not an atheist, not a gay.
After all, she's a maintream artist.
Yes she's supposed to promote a Christian life as a public figure, but it might end to society rejection.

But I think it'd be great if she's in Christ and also a celeb..

Fred.. People are turned away from Christianity most because of Christians. I myself am a Christian and when I read what you wrote (or HOW you wrote it I should say) I was like man, get off the judgment seat! All we know about this girl is what the media says and she says. God knows her heart, He knows if she believes in Jesus and that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and He knows what caused her to go from the Christian scene to secular. You have no place to say she has turned her back on Christ. What if she has just back slidden? I honestly think our job as Christians is to pray for her, not write comments about she has slipped or her stance with God. You are my brother in Christ so I definitely am not trying to attack you and believe we are on the same side but I am trying to tell you that your words will be interpreted differently by non believers. You may be trying to say what the Bible says, but if someone does not believe in the Bible it will just cause anger and make people defensive. Actions speak louder than words, we need to act out love rather than speak judgment.

I remember recording Katy at the church. She wasn't even a teenager yet. She was still learning how to play the guitar. I recognized an inward quality she had that was going to make her BIG. We helped her to have confidence in her ability by encouraging her to sing at any venues that presented themselves in the S.B. area. Her parents and I were able to make tapes and present them to different recording companies. She was even invited to sing on Christian television! What sets Katy appart more than anything else, is she has the "favor of God" in her life. Gifts of God are unconditional. His Love is unconditional. He (God) loves us period! No matter what Katy does she does have the "truth" in her heart. Once you have that, you are held accountable with that knowledge you have. I continue to pray!

I don't understand why the media MUST make Christianity seem so harsh and strict and forceful. When you honestly have had the Holy Ghost fill your spirit and move in your life, you WANT to live a life of holiness, and it's not like any of us are chained to the pew. I CHOOSE to be a Christian, and when I think of Heaven vs. "worldy fun" that lasts a minute, Heaven and God outways it COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!!!!

As every christian does have season where they fall away..its unfortunate that this is mainly what is broadcasted in the world.. Where are the real christians at that are worhsipping in spirit and in truth.. katy can make up what she wants to beleive but it doesnt change what the bible says about homosexuality being wrong it is WRONG!.. And just becuase she accepted christ and had chrisitan parents doesnt mean she wont be judged according to the truth she was taught and now makes secualr music whcih is contrary to what the bible teaches, her music does not glorify god.. Of course god can restore her. If she is willing, for sin is only pleasurable for a season.. she will return bak after she learns... God willing..How can I kissed a girl be a good or nice song? when it promotes experimenation of sexuality! and christians are so luke warm they will sit there and listen to it...compromising what they say they believe..

yes, i agree..No one has the right to say if someone is a fallen Christian..ONLY GOD KNOWS katy hudson (katy pery)'s heart. All we can do is pray for her.. :D GOD SEES..GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Oh and what would happen if the most famous person in the world was to use that influence to help shape a lost generation.
I'm from Australia. From what I gather in america you could be a famous country artist and nobody in my country would know about you. Same goes for American Christian Artists We don't find out about you until you have released like 10 albums and some one sponsors you to come over cause you can't afford to hold concerts here.
But this girls on a spiritual journey - joins a mainstream recording company - sings at countless Music awards around the globe.
I know about her. I am looking at this website. Why cause she mentioned she released a christian single ages ago.
The only single I have found on Youtube is about faith and the words are so powerful about being tested - well if she released a Christian album I don't know how tested she would've been. Songs aren't just poetry this is powerful stuff. What she sings is a declaration. Well all I can say is that we should be praying hard for this girl. Thanking God that she is in a position of influence. That he will use her and through her countless lives will change.

Dear Everyone:
I agree we shouldn't judge Katy Perry, because of her music or crossover into "secular" music. But thing is, Let me help you what the bible says about being a Christian. A Christian is one who is suppose to "act" like Jesus, and obey him, and practices his teachings. One who sings "I kiss a girl and I like it" or "Ur so Gay" Did Jesus do that? Uhhhh..No! Did Jesus promote homosexuality, uhhh no, was Jesus a Gay Activist...uhhh No, and Did Jesus believe in Celibacy...Uhhhhhh YES! Thing is, you can call yourself a Christian, but what's inside your heart. I bet Katy Perry was once a follower of Christ, but now she's in the "far country" and please don't call her a Christian, because she gives us all a bad name! I'm not trying to judge her, but don't make excuses for her, and say that she's a Christian, because truth is she's doing everything against God and the Bible....READ IT...it's good stuff!

Katy Perry is not a fallen Christian. And it's terrible for anyone to call her out on anything they themselves don't understand. Yes, Katy grew up in a Christian home, and was surrounded by it her whole childhood. However, she never molded to it or conformed to what she didn't understand, but stood somewhat in the boundaries that every parent sets for their child. She herself never explored or experienced what it was all about, and most children don't. You sit in that church because your parents make you. How could anyone have fallen if they've never been lifted up? We all have the curiosity and the right to be able to find it for ourselves, and not be held up to the standards our parents set out for us. And it is especially no ones job to put her down in that aspect.