Yesterday the Casting Crowns song, What This World Needs song came up. Dad said he liked it, and I said I really didn't. But I never really thought a whole lot about why I didn't like it - the message of it always made me feel skeptical, but now that I actually SAID I didn't like it I thought about exactly why.
Firstly, here are the lyrics:
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free...
"People aren't confused by the gospel
they're confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible. They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel,
because we are slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world,
but maybe the best thing we can do is just get out of the way. "
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
The parts not in italics are the actual song, and I think it's really good. Lyrics are great, tune is great, all that jazz. The part in italics is where people are talking, and it's the part I have a problem with. Here are my notes on it in RED.
"People aren't confused by the gospel
they're confused by us. THAT is totally right when we Christians are blending in. How do they know we're different? How are we supposed to be different?
Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. True, but according to the Bible, we are an important way. We are the watchmen! Over and over we are told to witness and preach the gospel.
This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible. They just need Jesus. This sounds like a bash on outreach attempts to me.
We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel,
because we are slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world,
but maybe the best thing we can do is just get out of the way. " But if we're getting out of the way, how are we being passionate about anything? God never told any of his disciples to "get out of his way" except when Peter spoke Satanic nonsense about escaping the cross and the like. Rather, he rebuked them when a man took his demon possessed son to his disciples to be healed and they did not. "How long shall I be with you?" His disciples were supposed to be his helpers! They weren't hindrances, or in Jesus's way, or kept Jesus from doing his good work. Of course they messed up at times just like we do, but Jesus never told them to leave or just get out of the way so he could do his own work. We all know Christians have a hard enough time standing out and being holy and sharing their faith, and I think it's better to be too zealous than to have a "just get out of the way" mentality.
Now I can see where this song is trying to go. And yes, if we strap ourselves to the Gospel like "you've gotta go through me to get to Jesus! Check out MY denomination! MY translation! Me, me, me!" that is totally bad. But if your heart is not that way when you share and give out hoodies or whatever that is very much a good thing! The song itself talks about "Blending in so well that people can't see the difference, and it's the difference that sets the world free". If the reason we're different will set the world free, why shouldn't we be excited and tell about it - with ties and hoodies if that is how you're so led? If your heart is in it to obey God and help people, you're not in God's way, you're helping in his work - that's our job. If we are God's disciples, we are his workmen and workmen don't just "get out of the way" of what needs to be done.
Now I'm not saying there AREN'T times when you need to get out of people's faces. But in this day and age, that isn't our problem. Our problem is that we don't do anything to share Christ with others. The dialogue in that song doesn't encourage anyone to witness or reach out, it makes their efforts look foolish. It's true that a Jesus tie won't save somebody, but it makes it look unnecessary and selfish that you'd give one to somebody at all. Reaching out is good and we don't do it enough!
This song addresses a problem that Christians rarely have. That's why I don't like it. Or rather, the song promotes that we do outreaches and share and have pure hearts and stand out, then they throw that dialogue in there to contradict it all. Whatever you do, don't get out of the way unless God tells you to!
Get in the game!
17 comments:
Hi, every time I listen to a song by Casting Crowns, I really don't feel like they are ministering to the lost, but to us who have known the truth. This song reminds me that its not about who i am, what I have, but its about Jesus. The world does not need me, it needs Jesus, and more often than not, my sinful nature will draw other people away from God than to God. Its just a call to us as Christians to know that the world does not need me, it needs Jesus. Like the Bible says, we did not choose him, but he Chose us...the dialogue doesn't contradict the song, to me, its a wake up call to me, to make my ways right...if its being passionate about Christ, I be passionate completely but not one day, then the next am something different...coz am not the only one that God can use, there is you, and so many others...the world doesn't need me, the Lord doesn't need me, but He wants me, and thats the message I get from the song. Thanks alot though...I also liked the way you elaborated yours too, you are also right in a way...but I think the reason behind the song was not to discourage people from witnessing but to exhort them to be careful and make use of what God has given them, for us to understand that its a privilege we have been given to serve God, not a right
...with Love, Kenince.
I don't know what planet ya'll are on really. I live in Guam, a place that infested with demonic and evil spirits all around because the people here are embedded in the culture and traditions of the forefathers and ancestors. Black magic, witch doctors and they believe that the spirits of the dead live in trees. The one thing that this particular song IS saying that the biggest problem that Christians ARE having is thinking inside a BOX. God is BIGGER than a translation, BIGGER than a tie and HOODIE....don't ya'll get it. In order to cast out the evil that people allow in their lives and allow God to move in people the way that He was ALWAYS INTENDED TO MOVE....we MUST 'get out of the way' and stop hindering the spirit of the LORD FROM MOVING. This song has NOTHING to do with getting out of the way of "outreach" and our ties and hoodies have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH outreach either. I have seen so much satanic power that it is frightening sometimes, but I have seen MORE OF GOD and HIS POWER and defeating satan and his demons and it is AMAZING. And only because I have learned to THINK OUTSIDE OF MYSELF and allow God to show me things unseen....we HAVE to stop thinking only to the end of our noses. Think heavenly thoughts of POWER and MIGHT and GREATNESS!!! We are only just a time away from HIS RETURN....
Nincey: This song and OTHERS from this group DO MINISTER TO those that do not believe....I HAVE SEEN IT, I KNOW IT, GOD HAS SHOWN ME through the eyes of those once controlled by evil spirits, by men who beat, cheated on their wives. My family who was so divided and closed minded about God or the thought about Him!! If it doesn't minister to you than, that's you! Don't make a blanket statement over another group of people just because YOU THINK that way. This particular album has touched SO many lives and moved hearts in a way you CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. God has anointed this group and it HAS REACHED people.
All: WAKE UP CHRISTIANS, WAKE UP, LET GOD WORK, HIS TIME IS COMING. THINK ETERNALLY, THINK POWERFULLY IN AND THROUGH HIM!! He is coming and it will be swift. Outreach, yes! BUT, remember, who you are always dealing with when dealing with those that are broken, lost, angry, frustrated, hurting. This time in history is when satan has done his most POWERFUL handy work than every before. THIS IS ALSO THE TIME WHEN CHRISTIANS, FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST NEED TO RISE UP AND REALIZE THAT GOD WILL WIN! WHO WILL YOU FIGHT FOR? It's time to stand up and 'get out of the way' of God's almighty power, defeating Satan and his evil spirits. At the same TIME ON OUR KNEES PRAYING AND LOVING PEOPLE, AND USHERING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD in spirit and TRUTH!
Hey, I didn't mean that they don't minister to the non-believers, NO!! I know all their music minister to the non-believer in a huge way and it causes and impact to their lives. What I meant, unlike other Christian music which make a call just for the non-believers to give their lives to Christ, for us who have already saved don't feel like those songs are ministering to us, and its so easy for us not to listen to such music.
But with CC, its different, whether its a non-believer or a staunt believer, their music touches hearts, and it convicts us in a major way.
Thanks,
Nincey
Nincey,
First, I hope that I have not offended you. I apologize if I come off intense. I know that I do sometimes. And I would never want to do that to you or anyone else. i only want you to really experience the true power and intensity of our awesome and Holy GOD.
I understand exactly what you are saying and I believe that it DOES minister to people that are non-believers and believers ALIKE. Believers are sometimes MORE controlled by lies and deception than non-believers and I say this because when we know the truth about God, satan works that much harder to block truth and the voices of GODS TRUTH from our minds and our hearts. It says in Eph. 6 that our battles are not of flesh and blood but of the rulers and powers against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of the wickedness in the HEAVENLY PLACES. The things UNSEEN. So, because of this, we must continually place our ARMOR ON every single day. Many people DO NOT DO THIS. Especially Christians. Satan knows this and attacks at will, taking no prisoners. The minute he gets a foothold into our lives, he will take his advantage and wreak havoc if possible. This is where he will play with our minds and our hearts, situations, people in our lives and various other things. WE MUST STAND FIRM AND READY! There are so many situations and things that we as Christians and DEFINITELY ministers DO NOT DEAL WITH GOD ON with ARMOR and READINESS and we allow satan to come in and wreak havoc and it happens. It's unseen, unspoken and everyone thinks that everyone else is just fine and they are the only ones that have problems. But, God knows. These songs, minister.....Yes, SISTER, they minister. Do NOT BE FOOLED BY THE ENEMY.
This group of musicians and others that are just like them that people think that doesn't minister to Christians as much actually ministers to more Christians than the latter. I would encourage you to look beyond those that you know and ask what people think and more importantly PRAY and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to send the POWER OF THE LIVING AND BREATHING GOD TO SHOW YOU TRUTH ABOUT THESE WORDS THAT THIS GROUP HAS BEEN ANOINTED TO SPEAK UPON LIVES FROM ONE COAST TO ANOTHER FROM ALL SIDES OF THE WORLD AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL REVEAL HIS TRUTH TO YOU!.....
You will be surprised.
Hey i kinda understand what your saying, but i also feel that they're talking more about how judgemental we can be sometimes towardds newer people in teh church. we try to force OUR ways of doin' what WE think is right, and plus, we have all these denominations, and we are supposed to be a unified church. i sometimes wish that people would stop adding to teh gospel, but that htey would just follow exactly what it tells us to but anyway think of it like this. when you r watching tv, going down the street,or just pass someone by and they have skimpy clothes or some wierd hairstyle or somethin like that, what do you think? do you think, "Oh i should wittness to that person." or do you think, "Whoa, look what SHE"S wearing!" this song really goes with they're video of Does anybody hear her by them look it up, and i think you'll see what htey mean
I don't feel that way about the dialogue at all. I feel that the dialogue doesn't discourage us from telling others the Gospel--I think it's more talking about the people who judge the little things and say you can't be a Christian if you do this or do that when everyone sins and always will. You have good points but I never thought that the dialogue meant we shouldn't spread the word! I think it's just that we shouldn't be focusing on the LAWS so much as the SAVING GRACE of Jesus!
Like,i see what your both saying, and I think it's just the aspect of your point of view. This song has so many ways that you could take it, and you both have very good points. I think, that in a way, the song comes straight out and says that if we let ourselves become completely invisible, Christ will be able to shine through us. He doesn't need anything I can offer him, but instead, I need Him, and so does the world, so let's let Him do His job.
we are human and spiritual creatures, in the human world you dont have eternity, only through Jesus Christ may you have this great gift. No man alive will bring you to Christ its a choice you make with your whole heart. Sometimes man stands in the way of another man in giving his heart over to Jesus and when this happens this is sin. So this song is awesome if you take it in the way it was meant to given positivity and inspiration no negitive thoughts attached thats the devils handy work to confuse people please do not have an opinion if all you can do is throw stones at people for sharing their piece of the revelation which may bring you to Jesus.
Wow, looks like I stimbled upon a discussion. I think, like the lat person kinda said, that we are reading way too much in between the lines with this one. Just take what they say and go with it. I mean, we aren't the message, just the messenger. Just let Jesus shine through you, and everything should work itself out.
Jesus is the only way to God, but I and other Christians are not the only ones to Jesus. Go to the gospel, that is where the Truth is. I am no better than any of you, for we are all sinners, and will readily admit I have more than my share of sins. Just keep this quote in mind, when you are contemplating Christianity, “Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible. They just need Jesus.”
The interesting part of this song dialogue from the song ‘What This World Needs’ by Casting Crowns, is that it seems to discourage Christians from preaching the gospel. Well when the song goes on to say ‘We are slowing the gospel down’, it sounds like we just need to take a hike to the sidelines and watch Jesus. It’s true. WE need to be dead in order for Jesus to work. So when they are saying ‘WE’ are slowing down the gospel, they are saying when man tries to do his own thing, it doesn’t work. You, whoever is reading this, needs to be COMPLETLEY given up to God!!! How can God work through us if we are always putting what WE think is best?
this song is so inspiring if we are able to see it from the knowledge that it has been and will always be about Jesus.Period.
I think it is very obvious what this song says. "Let God be God and remember we are just his workers"
WE need to stay out of HIS way
It's not about the fact that we aren't supposed to reach out, the artist is trying to portray the fact that the true word is the only way, regardless of the rules, customs or codes of the church you belong to. IT's as simple as that. Yes, we are supposed to reach out, but we are not supposed to force rules and regulations down unbelievers throats...
Thank you! I needed this. Even i had difficulty in consuming the meaning of the dialogue. u ve nailed it right. thank u!
I disagree, i never liked the song. Call me a bit skeptical, but i think you are going too deep into it. If anything i feel it is not only discouraging outreach efforts, but suggesting an alternate to GOD. I feel there is no positive message in this song. The easiest way to corrupt, is from the inside.
when you buy the cd, just before the lyrics are written for this song it says this...
What This World Needs
"Galatians is the main basis for this song. False teachers
were slipping in and adding to the Gospel. Jesus + being
good = the believer’s life. Paul builds in a foundation for
the Galatian people that it is by faith in Jesus that we are
saved. Even today, we, the church, are in danger of adding
to the Gospel. Jesus plus my denomination. Jesus plus our
style of worship. Jesus plus good behavior. We must be
careful not to strap ourselves to the Gospel.
~2 Corinthians 6:3-13 / Colossians 1:13-23 / John 17 /
Romans 12:9-21 / Matthew 7:1-3 / John 7:24 / Romans
16:17-19 / Philippians 3:18-20 "---
I am a Pastor in Canada, and i have preached on this with my youth group... it takes some time to carefully understand what they are saying, it is easy to think they are saying we shouldn't preach the gospel at all, but that's not what they are saying, Casting Crowns did a concert in a church near me and i got a signed cd, my best friend did sound that night and so got to hang a bit with them.
I don't think they are saying that we should get out of the way, and
not preach the gospel, or I don't think they are saying we shouldn't preach the gospel. I think rather they are referring to what people do, the whole song talks about style being more important than the gospel, what your wearing, how your worshiping, its talking about personality getting in the way of the gospel. It is saying how people continue to add to the gospel, that only their translation is correct (both how they interpret it and what version they are reading, whether it be NIV, or NLT or the message), that it must mean this and this. Its talking about people who get in the way of the truth as its written. Analyzing it for people, rather than letting them read it themselves. So when it says we can't strap ourselves to the gospel, we need to get out of the way it is talking about how we cannot strap OURSELVES as in who we are, or our understanding of, to the gospel, its not saying our foundation shouldn't be in the gospel, or that's not a message we should tell others. It is removing the "self" and letting Jesus speak to the people by his word. The whole song is about letting God do the work, we don't need to do any work for other people, the gospel is ENOUGH, it stands alone, it saves, it has power. We don't give it power, we don't do the saving, Jesus does that, we just point the way, not get in the way by adding our preferences and our understandings of it, because if we do, then we are slowing it down for people, because it is truth and God inspired, but by giving our version of what it is, we are actually not helping people.
picture 2 scenarios, one where a person summarizes the gospel for someone, adding their favorite parts, changing some of the story, not intentionally but because they talk about how certain things changed them, so they don't remember it totally accurately, focusing more on how it affected them, rather than just giving the gospel message
Now picture someone who says, hey, have you ever taken the time to read the gospels? Mind if i read you some of it? or I can give you a copy to read on your own.
This is what the song is saying, people add themselves, their denomination, their understanding of the Bible rather than letting the Bible be enough on its own.
I am actually glad to be able to help clarify this for you, your not the first person to misunderstand the song and hate it. This is the reason I spoke on it, a bunch of the youth were angry at the song. I hope you have a new appreciation for the song, and better understand what they mean by "strapping ourselves"
Luigi
I think you're missing the point of what the kids are saying. I see SO many Christians who like to shove "King James Only!" down other Christian's throats. They constantly bash all other translations of the Bible and while they do have a point about the modern translations, they cannot sway a person's mind or make up their minds for them. Only God can do that. What the King James Onlyists are in essence saying is that God only speaks to people through the King James, and that is completely false. I mean, if you want to be seriously technical, then the original Greek and Hebrew are far superior to the King James.
I myself use the New King James AND the King James and don't touch anything else. Why? Because I went to a conference about where we got our translations and I saw and heard for myself how bad the modern translations are. But, that was for ME to decide. It is a personal conviction. And, in the same verse of the song, the kids are saying we don't need your cross, your tie, your hoodie... they are saying this because so many organizations demand that you MUST wear certain clothing or certain jewelry or dress a certain way to be a part of whatever church you are attending. So many people focus on the outward and forget that God looks on the inward. It's not about dressing up to go to church, it's about what is in your heart that God is concerned with. If I wear a tie to a tie wearing church, does that make me more holy? More saved? More reverent? No. I could even be unsaved but dressed nicely.
The kids were correct in what they were saying. There are way too many people focused on do's and don't's in the church that they lose their focus on Jesus, who is the ONLY ONE who can change the people's hearts. The minute you start shouting "King James Only! Ties and suits only! Do it this way, not that way! Walk this way, not that way!" then it is a recipe for legalism. Everything must be done from the heart. God looks on the heart. I don't think he cares if you wear a Billabong shirt and shorts and sandals to church, with long hair and a trucker hat. It's what's in your heart that matters and all He is concerned about. "Well, he's dressed down for this stuffy church, I'm not going to pay attention to his prayers or his worship, no matter how sincere and truthful it is." Said God, NEVER.
Instead of critiquing the song in a negative way, listen to it with the heart of God. Praise God that it has spoken and IS speaking to many many Christians and non-Christians alike.
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