Chris Renzema – I Don’t Wanna Go

Chris Renzema is an American songwriter and artist.  He currently serves at Ethos Church as a Marathon Music Works campus worship leader.

He released three albums and three EP’s, including:

• Age to Age (EP, 2014)
• I’ll Be The Branches (2018)
• Let the Ground Rest (2020)
• Get Out of the Way of Your Own Heart (2021)
• Let The Ground Rest B-Sides (EP, 2021)
• HOPE OR NOSTALGIA LIVE (EP, 2021)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Chris-renzema-i-dont-wanna-go-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?

The main message is that God leads and Renzema follows.  Where God is, Renzema wants to be.  This song also references five events in Scripture to make 15 different points:

1. David and the Temple:
   1. Renzema seeks to worship God.
   2. God’s plans are not Renzema’s.
   3. Knowledge of God’s love does not depend on temple-building.
2. Israel crossing the sea on dry land:
   1. Life is full of scary moments.
   2. God makes a path forward through life’s tumult.
   3. Renzema wants to be where God is.
3. Moses in the Wilderness:
   1. Renzema desires to see New Jerusalem.
   2. Renzema is not privy to the full litany of God’s plans.
   3. Gazing upon the land does not cause God’s love to end.
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus:
   1. Renzema wants to settle comfortably with Jesus.
   2. Jesus’ face is transfigured.
   3. Repeats point 2.3.
5. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane:
   1. Renzema does not like to suffer for his faith.
   2. God calls where He leads.
   3. Renzema is prepared to die for Jesus.

Score: 10/10

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

This song contains many references to Biblical events that were contextually used correctly, alongside other points that align with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: According to 2 Samuel 7:1-3, David was concerned that the Ark of the Covenant was “living” in irreverent conditions inside a tent, while he lived in a large palace made of cedar.  He put it in his mind that he could honor and praise God by constructing a temple befitting His glory…

Lines 3 and 4: …Yet, God’s response to David in 2 Samuel 7:4-7 is, in short, “no”.  His ways aren’t ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Line 5 and 6: That is, Renzema can know that God loves him without building Him a temple.  Also, Casper, the friendly ghost makes an appearance.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: References the receding water in Exodus 14:26-29 after Moses collapsed the previously divided sea.  It’s a terrifying moment, as Pharaoh and his army are pursuing Israel during this time.

Lines 3 and 4: Borrows from Isaiah 43:19, which itself prophecies the “new thing”, which is the New Covenant that Jesus would later establish with His shed blood (Luke 22:20).  Included in the package are trials and tribulations that test and strengthen Renzema’s faith (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Line 5: Renzema intends to follow God, persevering to the end (Matthew 24:13, Romans 2:7, 1 John 2:19, and Jude 1:20-25).

[Chorus]

Line 1: This is the negative version of Verse 2, line 5.

Lines 2-4: Essentially repeats line 1.

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: That is, the land that God promised Israel.  Moses saw it right before he died (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).  However, the land that Renzema seeks is New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-27).

Lines 3 and 4: When Moses and Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years, he knew that the generation that left Egypt would die (Numbers 14:33).  However, he did not know all of God’s plans.  As it says in Proverbs 25:2, it is God’s glory to conceal and the glory of kings to seek.

Lines 5 and 6: God’s love does not depend on Renzema seeing land.  It never ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Also, contains another Casper reference.

[Verse 4]

Lines 1-4: References Jesus’ transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.  Peter wanted to build houses for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

Line 5: Essentially repeats Verse 2, line 5.

[Spontaneous]

Lines 1-3: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.

[Bridge]

Line 1: Essentially repeats the same idea as Verse 2, line 5.

Line 2: “You’re all I ever needed” is God’s Word written on Renzema’s heart (Psalm 119:11).

Lines 3-8: Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Verse 5]

Lines 1-5: Much like Jesus in Matthew 26:39-44, Mark 14:36-42, and Luke 22:39-46, Renzema doesn’t want to suffer to do God’s will, yet, recognizes that if God calls him to suffer, he will comply.  Also, Renzema adds yet another call to Casper right before the lengthy instrumental.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers should easily conclude that it’s Christian given that it explicitly uses the names of God and Jesus and that it references five events in Scripture that they will easily recognize.  Renzema did an excellent job making his points referenced in section 1 easily accessible to those outside Christianity by writing them in plain English.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Renzema will follow God, though wanting to worship Him in an easy life, will endure trials and tribulations as part of their commitment to follow Him.  Though he doesn’t know what God is up to, he will gladly give up his desire and will to obey.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Chris Renzema’s I Don’t Wanna Go is excellent.  It liberally references Biblical accounts to tell us that, though Renzema desires to praise God comfortably, in a temple/house that indwells God’s Presence, he knows that God’s plans do not align with his.  Thus, he will forsake his will and do as God commands, even if it means he will suffer and die for his faith.  This glorifies God.  Unbelievers should be able to comprehend all of Renzema’s points with relatively little trouble.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: I Don’t Wanna Go (listen to the song)

Artist: Chris Renzema

Album: I’ll Be The Branches

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 6:34

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