Photo by Regina Valetova
The man, the myth, the legend. Chris Tomlin. It’s hard to believe that he started in 1993, given his status as a Christian superstar. That, or I’m getting much older, realizing that I was just 7 to 8 at the time!
Tomlin released fifteen albums:
- Inside Your Love (1995)
- Authentic (1998)
- Too Much Free Time (1998)
- The Noise We Make (2001)
- Not to Us (2002)
- Arriving (2004)
- See the Morning (2006)
- Hello Love (2008)
- And If Our God Is for Us… (2010)
- Burning Lights (2013)
- Love Ran Red (2014)
- Adore: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2015)
- Never Lose Sight (2016)
- Holy Roar (2018)
- Chris Tomlin & Friends (2020)
He also won 23 Dove Awards, 2 Billboard awards, and 1 Grammy for his work.
Also, check out my reviews of Jesus Loves Me, My Deliverer, Wonderful Maker, Our God, At The Cross (Love Ran Red), and Home.
NOTE: Chris Tomlin’s version of God’s Great Dance Floor is significantly different than Martin Smith’s.
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?
Almost all the lyrics make no sense without making some assumptions, explored in section 2.
This song is a series of cliches that Christians say all the time without any context behind it. It also does not explain the identity of “You”. For example:
- Tomlin was found by some “You” and surrenders his life to “You”. Yet, how had Tomlin become lost? What is this “Start” that Tomlin speaks? Tomlin offers no reply.
- Tomlin speaks of “freedom”; However, in what sense is Tomlin free? Once again, he doesn’t explain.
- “You” ceases to stop loving Tomlin or give up on him, while heaven itself screams “the future has begun”. What is this “future” about?
Without an explanation of “You”, it’s difficult to discern the meaning of “God’s great dance floor”. It sounds like a huge party, though since it’s God’s party, perhaps it’s in heaven. That might give us some clues that “You” is God. If so, that begs the question: which God? The Christian God or some other deity? The lyrics don’t say.
Whoever this person is, their love is unending, prompting Tomlin to give them his life.
Score: 3/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
I deducted two points to assume “You” is God.
Having said that, some of Tomlin’s lyrics are portions of Biblical concepts without much context behind it. This makes it difficult to discern its Biblical accuracy without educated guesses. Still, other statements are Scriptural.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse]
I’m coming back to the start
Where You found me
I’m coming back to Your heart
The start of what? Where had Tomlin been? Perhaps Tomlin returns to the place of repentance and trust in Jesus, where he first met God (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:36-38, Acts 3:19-21, Acts 20:21, and 2 Timothy 2:25-26).
Now I surrender
Take me
This is all I can bring
Tomlin surrenders to God (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), the only thing that he could bring to the table. After all, the sum of all his works is filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
I’m coming back to the start
Repeats line 1.
I got this freedom
In here we feel Your heart
Your heartbeat for us
In what sense is Tomlin “free”? Perhaps it’s freedom in Christ (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16), where our will aligns with God’s will (see commentary on lines 4-6).
Take me
This is all I can bring
Repeats lines 5 and 6.
[Chorus]
You’ll never stop loving us
No matter how far we run
God’s love for us is unconditional. It does not depend on our response (1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 89:2, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 117:1-2, Psalm 118:1-29, and Psalm 136:1-26, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Romans 8:38-39).
You’ll never give up on us
God pursues us with relentless passion (Psalm 139:1-12), faithful to us when we are unfaithful to Him (2 Timothy 2:13), wishing for all to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
All of heaven shouts: let the future begin
Probably a reference to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, which speaks of the coming of Christ (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15). There will be a shout followed by the final resurrection (Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, and 2 Corinthians 4:13-14).
Let the future begin
Repeats second half of line 4.
Take me
This is all I can bring
Repeats Verse, lines 5 and 6.
[Outro]
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
In response, we experience life, both through tangible senses and expression, when we join all of heaven praising God (Psalm 19:1-4, Psalm 66:4, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 148:7-11, Psalm 150:1-6, Isaiah 55:12, Luke 19:40, and Revelation 5:13). “God’s great dance floor” might be a synonym for the third heaven, where there is no darkness, suffering, death, or pain (Revelation 21:4 and Revelation 22:5).
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
I am alive on God’s great dance floor
Repeats line 2.
God’s great dance floor!
Repeats second part of line 2.
Score: 7/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
I’m uncertain if unbelievers will be able to comprehend this song. As mentioned in section 1, “You”‘s identity is unclear, leading to a probable secular view. Given the many references to “we” directed to “You”, it’s probably not a human lover, but could be God or an idol. The lyrics contain many unanswered questions:
- In what way does Tomlin “come back to the start” where he was found?
- How is Tomlin free? Free from what?
- Why does heaven shout “let the future begin”?
- What is “God’s great dance floor”?
I doubt that this song will make any sense to those outside Christianity, aside from Tomlin gives his life over to something he deems worthy of praise and adoration.
Score: 1/10
4. What does this song glorify?
I don’t know. If we assume “You” is God, it glorifies Him that Tomlin wishes to align his heart with God’s, recognizing that God’s love is eternal. However, the lyrics are ambiguous to who “You” is, along with most of Tomlin’s claims.
Score: 2/10
Closing Comments
Chris Tomlin’s God’s Great Dance Floor raises unanswered questions. Who is “You”? How is Tomlin “free”? Where did he return to? What is this “God’s great dance floor”? I’ve attempted to guess that “You” is God, Tomlin is free from the power of sin, that he came back to a relationship with God, and “dance floor” is Heaven’s abode; However, the text does not offer these explanations. Unbelievers will be more confused than I, only understanding that Tomlin is surrendering to something he thinks is good.
I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 4/10
Artist Info
Track: God’s Great Dance Floor (listen to the song)
Artist: Chris Tomlin
Album: Burning Lights
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 3:38
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2013 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) / sixsteps Songs (BMI) Worship Together Music (BMI) S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) Gloworks Limited (PRS) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
03/23/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.
12/01/2020 – I Added “Adore: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2015)” as an album that Tomlin released prior to this review.
Comments
Marlon Raul Obando
Please, if you could read the words of one of the composers of this song
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/martin-smith/back-to-the-start-gods-great-dance-floor
Vince Wright
Marlon Raul Obando,
Thank you for your suggestion!
First, I’m assuming that this was in response to my criticism of this song. If that assumption is incorrect, let me know.
Second, I must apologize for something! I did not clearly state in my Evaluation Criteria page that reviews are based on the lyrics and what they say without regard to an artist’s beliefs, theology, or intent. I updated it to make this more clear. If you haven’t had a chance to examine it, please do.
Third, I’ve read the words of one of the composers as you suggested. Based on my updated evaluation criteria, I have a few questions:
1. Where do the lyrics identify who “You” is?
2. Can you show me how the lyrics present the context for what I claim are “cliches”?
3) What do the lyrics mean when it says “start”, “freedom”, and “future”?
Much of my criticism stems from unanswered questions. I would be happy to improve this score if the lyrics can answer these three questions.
-Vince Wright
ChiamakaKathryn - thechristiancommunity
Thank you. I found this useful
Robert Peurifoy
Vince, Thank you for reviewing this song. The first time I heard this song was soon after the sudden and unexpected death of my 34 year old adult daughter. She was one who really “danced” with God. While not the worship leader, she was the worship coordinator in the small evangelical church she and some Presbyterians had started as a church for the homeless. She began the service, then went to make sure the sound board was working right, the nursery attended, and that lunch for the homeless was in preparation. Then, she would return to the worship center, stand in back during the music, and dance.
In usual context dancing has been a physical and emotional experience between two people. Think Fred and Ginger, or Patrick and Jennifer. In contempory society dancing is either a “performance” such as Ballet or physical flapping (sp?) around in a sports area. Or, in my case, country line dancing. But there is also what some call devotion in motion. Worship as movement. Western society, and particularly the church, has been damaged by the academic nature of too much worship. High on intellectualism and logical theological while short on emotional need and content. In to the time I’ve been in the church there has been a rise in contemplative spirituality, but distain for physical motion. I grew up in a time and church where you did not run, did not talk, you sat quietly. Then I was sent to a church where they prayed for crying babies. The average age was 65 and devoid of young families. It was sad. A long history of worn out Pastors with no emotional contact between either the people or God. I was the first Pastor in over 100 years under the age of 55. At the time I was 40 (and now retired.)
I could, and want to write on the area of worship. We train pastors to be speakers, not worship leaders. Choirs are trained to lead performances. When will we learn Worship?
Perhaps my response to this song, which I first heard on YouTube from the massive Passion Conference, was too influenced by grief. It was an emotional response to people who were enjoying God. Where you are in a Christian context such as church or Conference, the “you” in the song is obvious.
But sometimes I just want to get up and dance.
Vince Wright
Robert,
Thank you for your comments!
There is a delicate balance between the intellectual and emotional side of worship. If we go too far into the intellectual side, we become pompous brights devoid of feeling. If we go too far down the emotional path, we become swayed by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Both sides are what make us human, and we should embrace both when we worship God.
As for my analysis of “you”, I try not to make any assumptions about usage when it comes to Scriptural evaluation, allowing the lyrics to speak for themselves. Could this song be sung in church context, with those in the audience inserting God as “you”? Sure, we could do that. However, my position is that the Christian God’s identity isn’t shown within the lyrics themselves. I hope you can understand that.
-Vince Wright
Robin
I honestly did not care for this song at all when I first heard it. I thought it was a useless piece of fluff and drivel that was only good for filling out the track list on the album. Then we attended a concert on Tomlin’s Burning Lights tour. He and his band performed the song early in the evening, complete with ginormous orange and white beach balls flying around the packed stadium and being batted about by my fellow concert goers. I admit that I clapped along while holding judgment in my heart as the clear demonstration of emotionalism and party atmosphere raged around me, hoping all the while not to be beaned by a rogue beach ball in the process. Then after we all sat down and we all caught our breath, Louie Giglio came out to speak. He presented a message that moved me to tears (I’m not an easy crier) centered around the story of the Prodigal Son (who, he explained, could more accurately be described as a Wayward Son, who was only a character in the story that could be called the Prodigal Father, as the word “prodigal” means lavish or extravagant, which describes our Father’s love). He told us that at some point in the evening we would be revisiting the “Dance Floor” song and encouraged us to contemplate the themes of the story: A beloved son who left his father to live wastefully and immorally and squander his father’s wealth; the father who waited and watched daily for his son to return, who ran to meet his son even before he had made it all the way home, and who made a spectacle of himself in the process, as it would have been very undignified for a respected individual such as himself to gather up his robes and run down the driveway, and threw a huge party to celebrate the return of his son. Then, the lyrics made sense: Coming back to the start (coming back home to our Father), where you found me (at that place where the Father embraces us even after we’ve so blatantly snubbed His love), Now I surrender (tired of living in squalor and eating food only fit for disgusting, unclean pigs, we return, humbled and hoping only to be reinstated as a servant, knowing that we could never again expect to receive the status and respect due a son). I got this freedom, etc., (In a most unexpected move, our Father dresses us with his robes and places his ring (a symbol of identity and authority) on us and orders the fattened calf to be slaughtered and prepared for a huge party to celebrate our return home). Giglio also differentiated between a small “Goat Party” that the older brother complained he never had (likely because he never asked) versus the “Fattened Calf” party that the Father insisted on because a small “Goat Party” isn’t extravagant enough when one of his beloved children returns home.
I don’t disagree with any of your assessments or observations, and definitely agree that the song desperately needs context. But within the context of that story, the song has deep and joyful meaning and celebrates the extravagant love of our Father.
I was a changed person (one who humbly identified with the faithful but judgmental older brother) when “we” reprised the song later in the evening. I will never hear it the same way again. Beach balls, anyone???
Vince Wright
Robin,
Thank you for sharing your touching story!
Up to about a few months ago, I would have agreed with you on the meaning of Prodigal. I was informed recently that Merriam-Webster added a new definition for the word “prodigal”. If you look under the entry “noun”, the second definition says, “one who has returned after an absence”. They probably added that because so many Christians called a “wayward” person a prodigal. This is where the Mandela effect becomes reality!
-Vince Wright
Robin
Yes! I fully agree with you! Until that evening, I thought I knew what that word meant. And since I thought I knew, I never bothered to look it up. I was exactly one of those Christians you referenced. It’s not a bad thing, although it demonstrates how much we have learned about scripture from the man-made headings that were added later. (But that’s a whole different subject!) It just added to the depth and meaning of Louie Giglio’s message. I believe that’s available out there somewhere on a DVD or maybe a YouTube video or something. 🙂
Thank you for your thoughts and for this website!
Morethansinging
I have massive respect for Chris Tomlin. This song is one of his few songs that I have no idea what it means. Maybe in a Christian night club. But it is so meaningless.
IMHO I think you have been very generous.
He is also fully endorsing Bethel and Hillsong. I believe these are not helpful to his well respected song writing.