Favorite lyricists in Christian rock/metal?

They can be your favorite for any reason. 

My top 3:

Bob Hartman (often lifted directly from Scripture, but well-crafted into the song)
Steve Taylor (clever and witty but often quite brutal)
Matt Smith (rich theology)

Yours?

Off the top of my head:

Yes, Matt Smith for sure
Mark Salomon
Andrew Schwab (at least the 4 albums that I know well)

Pethead wrote:They can be your favorite for any reason. 

My top 3:

Bob Hartman (often lifted directly from Scripture, but well-crafted into the song)
Steve Taylor (clever and witty but often quite brutal)
Matt Smith (rich theology)

Yours?

Add Ted Kirkpatrick and my list is identical.

Ted Kirkpatrick 100%

The best by a long shot

Not metal but Steve Taylor is great, especially on the later albums.

I was trying how to say Ted Kirkpatrick, but the truth is I really like the lyrics written by all the members, especially Ritter and Lenaire on the early albums. I have always seen every song/lyric as being Tourniquet and not the individual members of the band.

I also second Steve Taylor. There is a noticeable improvement in Newsboys' music and lyrics once he began his partnership with them.

Matt Smith and Bob Hartman are definitely a cut above.  Can't really say a bad word against any of their songs.

There are a few Theocracy songs whose lyrics I'm not super fond of, but Matt Smith has written some really great ones. Absolution Day particularly shines forth with so much gospel glory.

CrimsonWarrior wrote:There are a few Theocracy songs whose lyrics I'm not super fond of, but Matt Smith has written some really great ones. Absolution Day particularly shines forth with so much gospel glory.

Indeed it does. Fantastic song.

Which ones are you not fond of? (Don’t say Around the World and Back   ).

Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine and solo), Ted Kirkpatrick (Tourniquet and solo), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Jimmy P. Brown iII (Deliverance and solo), Bob Hartman (Petra), Glenn Kaiser (Resurrection Band/Rez and solo), and Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter and Nyves). That's my list for now.

Matt Smith

Rez Band

Steve Rowe

An oldie but goodie …Barnabas(Kris Klingensmith and Gary & Nancy Jo Mann), Glenn Kaiser, Ted Kirkpatrick, Steve Rowe, & Bob Hartman for sure! Also, the guys in Sacred Warrior(especially on the album Obsessions)

Bob Hartman, Ted Kirkpatrick and Glen Kaiser comes to my mind in a quick answer.
I might remember one or two that stand out as a writer.

Ted Kirkpatrick
Jimmy Brown II
Eric Clayton

Pethead wrote:

CrimsonWarrior wrote:There are a few Theocracy songs whose lyrics I'm not super fond of, but Matt Smith has written some really great ones. Absolution Day particularly shines forth with so much gospel glory.

Indeed it does. Fantastic song.

Which ones are you not fond of? (Don’t say Around the World and Back   ).

So I haven't thoroughly looked into most of the lyrics, but a general pet peeve of mine is lyrics written from the perspective of God (unless they are actually quoting Scripture). The song I Am from As the World Bleeds is basically eleven minutes of this, and it bothers me. I know most people would probably disagree though, lol. It is otherwise a fantastic song.

CrimsonWarrior wrote:

Pethead wrote:

CrimsonWarrior wrote:There are a few Theocracy songs whose lyrics I'm not super fond of, but Matt Smith has written some really great ones. Absolution Day particularly shines forth with so much gospel glory.

Indeed it does. Fantastic song.

Which ones are you not fond of? (Don’t say Around the World and Back   ).

So I haven't thoroughly looked into most of the lyrics, but a general pet peeve of mine is lyrics written from the perspective of God (unless they are actually quoting Scripture). The song I Am from As the World Bleeds is basically eleven minutes of this, and it bothers me. I know most people would probably disagree though, lol. It is otherwise a fantastic song.

Makes sense and I mostly agree. I’m not wild about that, either, which is why I don’t rate I Am quite as high as other fans do.

Oh and I forgot to mention, The Gift of Music. Don't like those lyrics either lol.

CrimsonWarrior wrote:Oh and I forgot to mention, The Gift of Music. Don't like those lyrics either lol.

Yeah, not gonna blame you on that one!

Tamplin too.

I'm going to think about this more, but before seeing some of the posts and just the thread title, Steve Taylor was the first name in my brain.  

ALL of his stuff.....but "Squint" is still one of my Fav Lp to this day!

Steve Taylor's, The Finish Line, gets me everytime.

Black Rider wrote:Steve Taylor's, The Finish Line,  gets me everytime.

Same.

Steve Hindalong too if The Choir counts as rock.

Hindalong has some of the most introspective lyrics ever.

Yes.  Seeing The Choir and Daniel Amos together is still my fav live show.