Citizens – Made Alive

Citizens is an American rock group.  Originating from Mars Hill Church in 2011, they broke away a few years later, shifting record labels for each studio album release.  They released four albums and three EP’s:

• Already/Not Yet (EP) (2012)
• Citizens (2013)
• Repeat the Sounding Joy (EP) (2013)
• Join the Triumph (2014)
• A Mirror Dimly (2016)
• In Part – EP (2017)
• Fear (2019)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Citizens-made-alive-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Citizens recognize that they were formerly dead in their trespasses and were in darkness.  Finding Jesus, they have inherited eternal life with God, recognizing that their identify shifted from children of wrath to children of God.  Their salvation is by God’s grace, their sin removed and lives purchased, hinting at the cross.  God’s light defeated their darkness!  If they wander from their new identity, they ask God to remind them of who they are.

This song follows a basic format with an extended Chorus to end the song.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire lyrics are in agreement with the Bible.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-5: Describes Citizens’ transformation from deadness in sin to alive in Christ.  Though they deserved eternal separation from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10 ), they now possess His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Chorus]

Lines 1-3: It is the love of God that compelled Him to send Jesus to pay for Citizens’ lawbreaking (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8).  Also references John Newton’s song Amazing Grace.  Citizens was purchased at a price (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 4: That is, Citizens’ possesses eternal life with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

Line 5: Citizens is saved by grace (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).

Line 6: Repeats line 5.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: That is, God’s light defeats darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 3: God satisfies when we are weary, giving us satisfaction and rest (Psalm 63:5-7 and Matthew 11:28-30).

Lines 4 and 5: A prayer offered to God to help Citizens’ never forget that they are adopted sons/daughters of God (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

[Bridge]

Line 1: That is, Citizens’ sins are nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

Line 2: That is, God changes Citizens’ desires to conform to His (1 Samuel 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Citizens use much Christianese terminology that unbelievers will likely misunderstand:

• sin
• made righteous
• bought back
• grace

There are hints of Christianity sprinkled throughout these lyrics:

• Naming the name of Christ
• amazing grace
• salvation by grace

The rest of it, I’m uncertain how unbelievers will interpret it outside of study into Christianity.

Score: 6/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God in that it lifts Him as the One who saves Citizens from their lawbreaking, bringing them out of darkness and into His eternal light.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Citizens’ Made Alive is a good song.  It recognizes the hopelessness of Citizens’ life apart from God, rescued and purchased to redemption, hinting at the cross.  They are children of God, requesting Him to remind them of who they are should they falter, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers will know it’s a Christian song, but will require deeper study to understand its meaty substance.

I recommend this for church services that are not concerned about seeker-sensitivity.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Made Alive (listen to the song)

Artist: Citizens

Album: Citizens

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2013

Duration: 3:26

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