Casting Crowns (Feat. Matthew West) – Nobody

Contemporary Christian and rock band Casting Crowns began in 1999 with youth pastor and frontman Mark Hall.  Assisted by Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman, they released a second self-titled album in 2003, finding early success.  From that album, their song Voice of Truth put them on the map, featured in the Sherwood Pictures’ film Facing the Giants.

Casting Crowns released several albums and one EP, including:

• Casting Crowns (2001)
• What If the Whole World Prayed (2002)
• Casting Crowns (2003)
• Live from Atlanta ( 2004)
• Lifesong (2005)
• Lifesong Live (2006)
• The Altar and the Door (2007)
• Peace on Earth (2008)
• The Altar and the Door Live (2008)
• Until the Whole World Hears (2009)
• Until the Whole World Hears… Live (2010)
• Come to the Well (2011)
• The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One (2013)
• Thrive (2014)
• A Live Worship Experience (2015)
• Glorious Day: Hymns of Faith (2015)
• The Very Next Thing (2016)
• It’s Finally Christmas (EP, 2017)
• Only Jesus (2018)
• New York Sessions (2019)

Casting Crowns received several honoraries:

• In 2005, they were voted  “Favorite Band”, “Favorite New Artist” and “Favorite Album” for the CCM Readers’ Choice Awards.
• In 2005, their song Lifesong was voted “Inspirational Single of the Year” in the CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• In 2007, their song East to West was voted “AC Single of the Year” and “Inspirational Single of the Year” in the CCMSingles.Net Awards.

Also, check out my reviews of If We Are The Body and What This World Needs.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Casting-crowns-nobody-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.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Casting Crowns is perplexed why they, who are a bunch of nobodies based on worldly reckoning, were chosen to influence the world through their music.  They identify with Moses, David, and the Twelve Apostles, who the world would consider unequipped, unlearned, and unfit for leadership.  It is through these “foolish” individuals that the Lord uses as His leaders, chosen for God’s purposes.  Casting Crowns’ heart is to tell others the good news about Jesus, who they hope will become attracted to Christ through their Godly living.  They care not if the world remembers them.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song is in agreement with God’s inspired Word.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: That is, chosen as influencers who would change the world.  Casting Crowns unpacks this in later lines and Verses.

Lines 3-8:  God chooses what the world would consider the “foolish” as His instruments to carry out His instructions (1 Corinthians 1:27).  Three examples of this concept exist in Verse 2.

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: That is, a nobody in the world’s eyes (1 Corinthians 1:27) tells others about Jesus who saves them with the hopes of extending God’s Kingdom, making more disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).

Line 3: This is the new song placed on Casting Crowns’ mouth (Psalm 40:3).

Line 4: Initially, I thought that this was a contradiction, that “I’m living in the world” is worldly living and “seeing nobody but Jesus” is Casting Crowns living in the world to gaze upon Christ; However, that is not what Casting Crowns states.  Rather, they live their lives in such a way that the world decides to follow Jesus (Matthew 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:12).

Line 5: See line 4.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: References Moses, whose speech was terrible (Exodus 4:10), yet, called by God to lead Israel away from Pharaoh’s harsh reign (Exodus 3:10).

Line 2: References David, who armed himself with a sling and five smooth stones to fight the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40-45).

Line 3: The twelve Apostles of Jesus are:

• Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, both brothers and fishermen (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16, and Luke 5:2-3).
• James and John, both are brothers and known as the “sons of thunder” (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:17, and Luke 6:14).  Their father Zebedee was a fisherman and both brothers helped mend his nets (Matthew 4:21).  Therefore, they were most likely fishermen also.
• Philip, James, and Judas (known as Thaddeus) were not known to have a prominent position, possibly tradesmen.
• Thomas and Bartholomew may have been fishermen since they fished with Peter in John 21:2-3.
• Matthew was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3), one of the most despised professions that is often coupled with “sinners” (Matthew 9:11-13, Mark 2:16-17, Luke 5:29-32, Luke 15:1, and Luke 19:1-10).
• Simon the Canaanite (or Simon the Zealot), known as rebellious individuals who attempted to overthrow Rome through force.
• Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus (Matthew 10:4, Matthew 26:1-5, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:47-50, Mark 3:19, John 6:64, John 6:71, John 12:4-6, John 13:2, and John 13:26-30).

Line 4: It is through these twelve (with Judas Iscariot replaced in Acts 1:15-26) that Jesus gave the commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).  The book of Acts records how they flipped the world upside down.

Line 5 and 6: That is, God has works prepared beforehand that Casting Crowns would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Lines 7 and 8: Great advice!  Scripture calls Satan a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

[Bridge]

Line 1: That is, future people who recall Casting Crown’s faithfulness to God.

Line 2: Casting Crowns’ redemption was paid by the shed blood of Jesus (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, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 3: Even if Casting Crowns is forgotten, it doesn’t change how they choose to live their life for Jesus.

Line 4: Repeats Chorus, line 4.

Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.

[Outro]

Line 1: Repeats Chorus, line 4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The explicit name references to Jesus, David, Moses, and the twelve immediately point to a Christian interpretation for those outside the camp of Christ.  Casting Crowns uses common language that eases unbeliever interpretation, concluding that Casting Crowns were chosen by “You”, probably understood as God since Chorus talks about seeing Jesus, to spread Christianity.  I’m uncertain if the average unbeliever will know that Moses, David, and the Twelve were unfit for service.  Regardless, Casting Crowns’ point will not be lost on them.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God in that His unfit chosen helps others to know Christ through their action.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Casting Crowns’ Nobody is a great song.  Casting Crowns identifies themselves as ill-suited for service to tell others about Jesus, recognizing that God chose them anyways and their behavior has much influence to draw people closer to Christ, bringing glory to God.  Those outside Christianity will see this, though perhaps not knowing that Moses, David, or the Twelve were also misfits.

This song is inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Nobody (listen to the song)

Artist: Casting Crowns (Feat. Matthew West)

Album: Only Jesus

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 3:26

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

Updates:

11/22/2021 – Updated commentary on Bridge based on suggestion by Neal Cruco.

03/23/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.