Hillsong UNITED – As You Find Me

Hillsong Church is a megachurch founded in 1983 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia.  It was formerly led by Hillsong Founder Brian Houston.  Hillsong possesses a massive discography, spanning across four music ministries.  These include Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, and Hillsong Kids.

Hillsong has won several awards within their Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Worship artist groups.  As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.

Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.

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?

Hillsong recognizes their spiritual poverty and dependence on God, contrasted with God’s holiness and independence.  He is set apart from their sinful nature.  God doesn’t need Hillsong, but before the world was made, He knew the price He would pay to save them.  Yet, He was willing to go through with it anyway.  This truth overwhelms Hillsong, flooded with bewilderment and gratitude.  They relent, yielding to God’s will as they thank God for His lovingkindness.

Score: 10/10

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

This song is completely Biblical.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I’ve been strong
And I’ve been broken within a moment
I’ve been faithful
And I’ve been reckless at every bend
I’ve held everything together
And watched it shatter
I’ve stood tall and I have crumbled
In the same breath

Hillsong recognizes their hypocrisy, that they spew blessing and curses with the same mouth (James 3:10) and war with their flesh (Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 6:12-17, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

[Verse 2]

I have wrestled
And I have trembled toward surrender
Chased my heart adrift
And drifted home again
Plundered blessing
Till I’ve been desperate to find redemption

See commentary on Verse 1.

And every time I turn around
Lord You’re still there

Despite Hillsong’s spiritual impoverishment, God is still with them (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

[Pre-Chorus 1]

I was found
Before I was lost
I was Yours
Before I was not

References predestination, that we were chosen before we were born (Proverbs 16:4, Matthew 22:14, John 6:44, John 15:16, Acts 13:48, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:19-33, Galatians 1:15, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:2, and Revelation 13:8).

Grace to spare
For all my mistakes
And that part just wrecks me

Hillsong becomes undone by God’s favor, knowing that they don’t deserve it (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).

[Chorus]

And I know I don’t deserve this kind of love

This confirms my commentary on Pre-Chorus 1, lines 4-7.

Somehow this kind of love is who You are

This is true because God is love (1 John 4:8) and shows His love through Jesus’ sacrifice, that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

It’s a grace I could never add up
To be somebody You still want
Somehow You love me as You find me

How can it be that God wants wretched lawbreakers who deserve punishment?  Hillsong doesn’t have an answer.  Neither does King David (Psalm 8:4).

[Verse 3]

Who am I
To think Your glory needs my praises

Great question!  His glory doesn’t require Hillsong’s praises.  He was glorified before the world was created (John 17:5).  Hillsong is correct to question this thinking.

But if this borrowed breath is Yours Lord
Take it all

Hillsong concludes that they are living on borrowed time.  Everything they have belongs to God (Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:12, Psalm 89:11, Psalm 104:24, Job 41:11, and 1 Corinthians 10:26), including their ability to breathe.  Hillsong offers it back to God in surrender (Psalm 43:5, 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).

You are faithful and You are gracious

God is faithful (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9) and gracious (see Pre-Chorus 1, line 5).

And I’m just grateful
To think You don’t need a single thing
And still You want my heart

Expounds on Pre-Chorus and Chorus, that God doesn’t require anything, including Hillsong and their feeble attempts to glorify God.  He is sufficient within Himself (Genesis 1:1, Exodus 3:14, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 90:1-2, Job 38:4-7, John 1:1-4, John 17:5, and Revelation 4:11).  Yet, He still wants Hillsong’s heart.

[Pre-Chorus 2]

I was found
Before I was lost
I was Yours
Before I was not

Repeats Pre-Chorus, lines 1-4.

You wear the scars
For all my mistakes
And that part just wrecks me

God’s undeserved favor described in Pre-Chorus lines 5-7 requires Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22).  He still bears the scars, shown to Thomas and the other disciples of Jesus (John 20:26-27).

[Chorus 2]

And I know I don’t deserve this kind of love
Somehow this kind of love is who You are
It’s a grace I could never add up
To be somebody You still want
Somehow You love me as You find me

Repeats Chorus 1, lines 1-5.

You love me as You find me
You love me as You find me
You love me as You find me

Essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 5.

[Tag]

Your love’s too good to leave me here

Left to our own devices, Hillsong would be eternally separated from God (Matthew 18:7-9, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:11).  Yet, that is not what God desires (see Chorus, lines 1 and 2).

Side Note: This line repeats three more times.

[Bridge]

If you want my heart
I won’t second guess
‘Cause I need Your love
More than anything
I’m in
I’m Yours

Summarizes previous statements throughout this song, that Hillsong is completely dependent on God’s lovingkindness for salvation, yielding to His will.

Your love’s too good to leave me here
Your love’s too good to leave me

Repeats/essentially repeats Tag, line 1.

If you want my heart
I won’t second guess
‘Cause I need Your love
More than anything
I’m in
I’m Yours
Your love’s too good to leave me here
Your love’s too good to leave me

If you want my heart
I won’t second guess
‘Cause I need Your love
More than anything
I’m in
I’m Yours
Your love’s too good to leave me here
Your love’s too good to leave me

Repeats lines 1-8.

[Chorus 3]

And I know I don’t deserve this kind of love
Somehow this kind of love is who You are
It’s a grace I could never add up
To be somebody You still want
Somehow You love me as You find me

Repeats Chorus, lines 1-5.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Though some unbelievers might be tempted to think this song is about a human lover, Hillsong describes “You” as “Lord” and states that He doesn’t need anything.  These, alongside His borne scars and offered grace, push them towards a Christian interpretation.

Those outside Christianity will also recognize Hillsong’s humility and honesty about who they are.  Hillsong relies on God as a crutch.  Perhaps unbelievers will realize that their crutch isn’t holding them up.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as One who does not depend on creation, desires to save people who don’t deserve it, and whose servants show their attitude of gratitude by praising Him for His loving sacrifice that saves them from impending doom.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong UNITED’s As You Find Me is great.  It contrasts several things between themselves and God, including their sinful nature vs. God’s holiness, dependence on God vs. God’s independence of creation, and their hypocrisy vs. God’s consistent faithfulness.  Though they deserve the lake of fire, God desired them before the foundation of the world to save them, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers shouldn’t have any issues interpreting similarly.

I recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: As You Find Me (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED

Album: People (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Rock

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 8:43

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*Copyright © 2019 Hillsong MP Songs (BMI) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.