Casting Crowns – Scars in Heaven

Casting crowns began as a youth worship band started by youth pastor Mark Hall.  It morphed and exploded into popularity over the years.

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)
• Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection (2019)
• New York Sessions (2019)
• Scars in Heaven (2021)
• Healer (2022)

Also, check out my reviews of Who Am I, The Power of the Cross, Oh My Soul, Praise You In This Storm, Nobody, What This World Needs, and If We Are The Body.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Casting-crowns-scars-in-heaven-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 regrets not spending more time with their loved one than they could have, similar to Shindler’s List’s famous quote, “I could have done more”.  Casting Crowns misses them.  The language in Verse 2 suggests that the loved one died recently.  Casting Crowns is still processing their loss.  However,  they are thrilled that their loved one is enjoying heaven, free of pain and suffering.  This bolsters Casting Crowns to smile amid grief.  Casting Crowns continues to run their race, looking forward to the finish line.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song accurately borrows from Scripture and Biblical principles to speak the truth.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: It’s easy to think this way after the fact; However, we cannot act like we will know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:13-15).  Still, the lesson here is that we should spend as much time as we can with loved ones because we don’t know when we will die.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Casting Crowns misses their loved one.  While it’s true that they will heal with time, at that moment, when it’s fresh, it doesn’t seem that way.  However, they firmly believe that this loved one is with God, where they no longer experience pain and suffering (Revelation 21:4).  This truth comforts Casting Crowns.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-4: Jesus’ post-resurrection nail-filled hands (John 20:24-27) hold Casting Crowns’ loved one.  Coming off the heels of Verse 2, which tells us that Casting Crowns’ loved one, this section borrows from Revelation 21:5, that Christ makes all things new.  This gives Casting Crowns mixed feelings.  They are sad because they miss their loved one.  However, they smile because their loved one is with Jesus.

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: Casting Crowns’ loved one experienced spiritual warfare while living on earth (Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 6:12-17, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  However, some of the scars they bore are from others, including Casting Crowns.

Line 3: Borrows from 2 Timothy 4:7-8, declaring that their loved one finished well.

Line 4: See Verse 2, line 3.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  Casting Crowns uses it to praise God, that their loved one is in His hands.

[Verse 4]

Line 1: That is, Casting Crowns remembers their loved one daily.

Line 2: Part of Casting Crowns’ loved one’s legacy is that their good influenced Casting Crowns to become better (Proverbs 27:17).

Lines 3 and 4: Casting Crowns continues to run the race described in Verse 3, line 3.  They look forward to the day that they leave their mortal body and join their loved one.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will conclude that Casting Crowns mourns the loss of their loved one, believing that they will spend eternity in heaven.  Most of the lyrics are everyday and easy to comprehend; However, they might miss the connection Casting Crowns’ reference to Jesus’ hands filled with nail marks.  Without this connection, this song becomes more ambiguous concerning the deity by which receives Casting Crowns’ loved one; However, the word “hallelujah” limits it to an Abrahamic god.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Casting Crowns celebrates the life of their loved one by focusing on their ultimate destination: eternal life with Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Casting Crowns’ Scars in Heaven is emotionally stirring.  Those of us who have lost a loved one can identify with how Casting Crown feels, perhaps remembering again that person who died and went to be with Jesus.  Those who have not can learn from Casting Crowns’ lesson, that we should spend as much time as we can with those whom we love.  Casting Crowns reminds us that life with Jesus will be without pain and suffering, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers will understand the general gist of this song, though perhaps missing connecting the scarred hands with Jesus.

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

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Scars in Heaven (listen to the song)

Artist: Casting Crowns

Album: Healer

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 4:29

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