Bethel Music (Feat. Cory Asbury and Gable Price) – Homecoming

Bethel Church was founded in 1952 in Redding, California.  They release their music under the label Bethel Music, which became active in 2001.  They produced several albums, so many that I dare not count them all.

They won two GMA Dove in 2016: one is Worship Song of the Year for their work on No Longer Slaves.  The other Instrumental Album of the Year for their album Without Words: Synthesia.

Check out my other Bethel Music reviews.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Bethel-music-homecoming-live-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider this artist’s theology’s potential blessings and dangers by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Despite Bethel Music’s admission that they are guilty before God, He came down from His throne and was sacrificed for their lawbreaking.  The empty tomb represents newness of life, which is available to Bethel Music.  They look forward to the day that their souls are brought home.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song aligns.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-8: Bethel Music describes their sinful state of rebellion that leads to eternal separation from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10).

[Chorus]

Line 1: The cost was Jesus’ life (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 2: Borrows from Colossians 2:14.

Lines 3 and 4: Grabs the “stone rolled away” imagery from Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, and John 20:1 to describe Bethel Music’s trajectory from damnation to life with Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Bethel Music identifies the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32.

Lines 5-8: See commentary on Chorus, lines 3 and 4.

[Interlude (1)]

Lines 1 and 2: Bethel Music can only imagine what it will be like when they walk by His side.

[Bridge]

Line 1: Combines the ashes imagery in Isaiah 61:3 with the bloody robe, most likely not the same one that is described in Revelation 19:13.  The robe Bethel Music describes represents Jesus’ royalty, which was discarded temporarily when He became one of us (Philippians 2:7).

Line 2: See commentary on Chorus, lines 3 and 4.

Lines 3-5: Describes Revelation 21:1-6.

Line 6: That is, life that comes from death.  See commentary on Chorus, lines 3 and 4.

Line 7: These tears are then wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

Lines 8-10: Repeats/essentially repeats lines 3-5.

Lines 11 and 12: Perhaps the best supporting Verse for this is Luke 13:28-29.  If we examine it in context, those of us who won’t experience weeping and gnashing of teeth should behold the saints of old.

Line 13: Refers to the three parables Jesus told in response to the Pharisees and Scribes grumbling saying “Jesus receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:1-2). These are:

1. The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7),
2. The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10); and
3. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

Lines 14 and 15: Repeats lines 4 and 5.

[Refrain (2)]

Line 1: Bethel Music is really, really trying hard to get a hold of Casper the friendly ghost.

Lines 2 and 3: I mean, they repeat “ooh” 16 more times!

Lines 4 and 5: Repeats Bridge, lines 4 and 5.

Lines 6-10: Repeats lines 1-5.

[Interlude (2)]

Lines 1-8: See Interlude (1).

Lines 9 and 10: The artist wants to repeat Bridge again.

[Outro]

Lines 1-5: Repeats Refrain (2), lines 1-5.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Despite this song’s heavy usage of sophisticated and eloquent language, there is enough simplicity in these words that unbelievers can interpret its general gist. The cross, the stone that rolled away, and the prodigal are all terms associated with Christianity. They should easily conclude that this song is about the Christian’s admission of guilt before God, that He paid for their lawbreaking on the cross, and that Christians can look forward to spending their eternity with Him.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Bethel Music presents the Gospel message to the masses.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Bethel Music’s Homecoming is a masterpiece. It contains elements of the Gospel message, namely, our admitted brokenness, the cross, the resurrection, and new life with Him with language that is deeper and richer in language than the typical Contemporary Christian song, bringing Him glory. In a rare feat for meaty song lyrics, unbelievers should be able to piece together its main points.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Homecoming (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Bethel Music (Feat. Cory Asbury and Gable Price)

Album: Homecoming (Live)

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 7:49

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/13/2024 – Forgot to include text in section 4 and slightly reworded my recommendation for corporate worship to be clearer.