Brian Johnson – Love Came Down

Brian Johnson (not to be confused with the third AC/DC frontman) is a songwriter and senior Bethel worship pastor.

As a solo artist, he only released one album: Love Came Down – Live Acoustic Worship in the Studio (2010).  However, he is also credited with his wife Jenn Johnson, as a featured artist in Bethel Music, and as personnel.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Brian-johnson-bethel-love-came-down-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 the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Amid Johnson’s present situation, he is overwhelmed and cannot feel God’s presence.  Yet, he holds onto the truth, that God is with him.  After all, God was with Johnson in the past.  He came down and liberated Johnson, subtly referencing the cross.  These past experiences bolster Johnson to forge ahead, that He will continue to humbly serve God, surrendered to His ways.  God fulfills His promises.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Tag repeats the same line eight times in a row.

Score: 10/10

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

The whole song agrees with God’s inspired Word.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-8: Johnson is experiencing a spiritual desert, where he faces a trial/tribulation and has not tangibly experienced God.  Despite this, Johnson praises God in faith (Romans 14:8, Philippians 1:20, Philippians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10).

[Pre-Chorus]

Lines 1-2: Johnson remembers that God helped him in the past, including the things that Jesus did to save him.  For example, the cross (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).

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: God, who is love (1 John 4:8), left heaven and became one of us to save Johnson (Philippians 2:5-8).

Line 3: In response, Johnson yields to God (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

Lines 4 and 5: See Verse 1 and Pre-Chorus.

Line 6: Repeats line 3.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: God fills Johnson with the hope that comes through perseverance (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Line 2: God keeps His promises (2 Peter 3:9).

Lines 3 and 4: Johnson has received God’s undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).

Lines 5 and 6: Johnson remains humble amid his trial (Micah 6:8, Romans 12:3, Romans 12:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:3-8, Colossians 3:12, James 4:6-10, James 4:14-16, and 1 Peter 5:5-10).

Lines 7 and 8: Repeats Verse 1, lines 7 and 8.

[Tag]

Line 1: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 3.

Side Note: In the audio (not in the lyrics from the link, above), Johnson invokes the name of Jesus between “all my days” and “I am Yours”.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly to my analysis in section 1.  Johnson’s language is everyday and contains overt terminology that points them to Christianity, including “God”, “faith”, and “Jesus”.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus, who is God, as the One who rescued Johnson and always keeps His promises.  He will also remain the object of Johnson’s worship, despite his storms.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Brian Johnson’s Love Came Down is great.  It shows that Johnson is willing to serve God despite his trial and inability to experience God’s Presence.  He holds onto the truth of Christ’s salvation and past experiences where God was there for him, including His salvation.  These glorify God.  Unbelievers should have little to no problem interpreting similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Love Came Down (listen to the song)

Artist: Brian Johnson

Album: Love Came Down – Live Acoustic Worship in the Studio

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2010

Duration: 5:07

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