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Lifesong
Casting Crowns
© 2005, Provident/Sony BMG
 

Review by Jo van Leerdam
 

Casting Crowns made an impressive debut with their self titled album in 2003. Lifesong has the same guitar-driven musical style and great vocals, and delivers an extension of the themes of the previous album. The major theme of Lifesong is “All of life under Christ”, and it bears a strong message of practical application; merely “knowing it all” isn’t enough.

This album begins and ends with all of life under Christ. The lyrics are confronting because they are so honest about the areas of life in which we all let God down. Each song lays a challenge about total commitment at the feet of every believer.

The first track ‘Lifesong’ is a song of commitment and desire to live for God alone. “Let my lifesong sing to you... Lord I give my life, a living sacrifice, to reach a world in need, to be your hands and feet”. This is reminiscent of the thought-provoking words of “If We Are The Body” from Casting Crowns’ previous album, but takes the message further. It’s not just something we ‘should’ do – it’s something each of us is compelled to do by God’s leading, so that our entire life is a song that we ‘sing’ to our Maker, bringing him pleasure and glory and praise. The CD closes with ‘And Now My Lifesong Sings’ which uses phrases from the words of ‘Amazing Grace’ and puts them in a different context - our motivation by God’s grace to be “wholeheartedly willing and ready to live for Him”.

Within this comprehensive theme, there are smaller themes in operation which still contribute to the overall message of the album. ‘Prodigal’ and ‘Set Me Free’ are both songs that encourage those who are not in a right relationship with the Lord to return to Him in repentance and to cast off the things that hold them back from knowing Him fully. They also serve as reminders to each of us that we are easily trapped by this world and we need to continually seek God’s forgiveness about the earthly things that we hold onto so tightly.

Four of the eleven tracks deliver a call to being genuine and sincere in our Christian lives and witness. ‘Stained Glass Masquerade’ points out the dangers of working toward an image which makes people think we’ve ‘got it all together’. We have to be honest, humble and identifiable witnesses to Christ’s love and power to change lives. ‘Love Them Like Jesus’ and ‘Does Anybody Hear Her’ are both songs which implore Christians to be Jesus ‘hands and feet’ in this world, meeting the needs of those around us and seeking to minister in practical ways to a world which has largely lost the plot when it comes to understanding that the real need of the human race is to know the redeeming, life-changing love of Jesus Christ. ‘While You Were Sleeping’ draws an analogy between Bethlehem as it “slept” through the events of the first Christmas, Jerusalem as it failed to realise that the Messiah was being crucified, and modern America (just as applicable to Australia, though) as it lets social injustice and abortion go unquestioned while it largely ignores the fact that Christ shall return to judge the nations for their actions.

In the midst of the challenges and issues raised by these songs, there are reminders of God’s grace and providence for each of us. ‘Praise You in This Storm’ reminds us that “our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”, while ‘In Me’ emphasises the strength and hope that Christ gives us in times of trial and temptation.

All the songs are accompanied by a list of the scripture references which have inspired them. The songs are clearly responses of faith, determination and desire to know, worship and serve the Lord in every aspect of life.

This is an excellent album. It would make a great gift for older kids, teenagers, young adults or musically progressive not-so-young adults. It gets a definite thumbs-up from me.

 

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