Photo by Christopher Paul High
American Contemporary Christian band I AM THEY began their career in 2011. Originally intended to be a one-off as the band Solomon’s Porch in 2008, the overwhelmingly positive response from listeners led them to cover songs twice a month before switching names.
They released two EP’s and three albums, including:
- The Prelude (EP, 2011)
- Sanctuaries (EP, 2013)
- I Am They (2015)
- Trial & Triumph (2018)
- Faithful God (2020)
Also, check out my review of My Feet Are on the Rock.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/I-am-they-scars-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?
I AM THEY was formerly broken. “You” opened their eyes to a new life with them, to which I AM THEY is grateful. Not just for the rescue, but because their mistakes led them to “You”.
Who is “You”? The lyrics don’t say. Yes, Christians will think it’s God, and section 2 provides an analysis under that assumption. However, the lyrics themselves offer no hint that “You” is a deity, much less the Christian God. There are no attributes of “You” that are unique to God that couldn’t also apply to a human lover or a good friend.
Score: 4/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
I deducted two points to assume “You” is God. WIth this assumption in mind, the entire song aligns with the Bible.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1-3: I AM THEY’s eyes are opened. To what? According to Verse 2, to God.
[Verse 2]
Lines 1-3: I AM THEY is thankful for their mistakes, not because they are great or because they were right, but because through them, they found God (Matthew 11:28-30).
Line 4: God will use I AM THEY’s brokenness for His glory (Genesis 50:20).
[Chorus]
Lines 1-4: See commentary on Verse 2, lines 1-3.
[Verse 3]
Lines 1-3: I AM THEY changed for the better. They are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Line 4: If God is with I AM THEY, whom shall they fear? No one (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 51:12, and Hebrews 13:6).
[Bridge]
Line 1-4: I AM THEY’s victory from their former life is found in God (Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 John 5:4-5, and Revelation 12:10-11)
Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.
[Chorus 2]
Lines 1-8: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus, lines 1-4.
Score: 8/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Most likely, a human who rescued I AM THEY out of a bad situation. It’s a message that is positive and uplifting, but they probably won’t think it’s about God unless sung in a religious context (e.g.; in church, youth camp, Christian radio, etc.).
Score: 3/10
4. What does this song glorify?
While it glorifies God as I AM THEY’s rescuer when assuming “You” as God, the lyrics themselves don’t lend to such a conclusion.
Score: 5/10
Closing Comments
I AM THEY’s Scars is ambiguous. If we assume it’s about God, the lyrics are about God rescuing us from our brokenness, and our gratitude that our lawbreaking led us to Him, which God uses for His glory. However, if we don’t make any assumptions, there’s no clear indication that this song is about God, a human lover, or a human who rescued I AM THEY from a great evil.
I cannot recommend it for corporate worship.
Final Score: 5.5/10
Artist Info
Track: Scars (listen to the song)
Artist: I AM THEY
Album: Trial & Triumph
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2018
Duration: 3:59
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Comments
Chandler B
Very interesting thoughts. I personally would love it if they included Jesus’ name, but I do think it is pretty clear who they are talking about. I actually really like this song, but I have a concern with it that I’d like your thoughts on. We should absolutely be thankful for what led us to Christ, but we must acknowledge that these scars are sin. And we can be thankful that they are now just scars and a reminder of the way Christ has changed us, but I fear it can cause us to fall back into the trap of glorifying our past sins. I know that is not the intention here, but I just am trying to think of this from either a non-believer or immature/new believer’s perspective. My concern may not be coming across well over text.
Basically to sum it up, I understand that we are thankful that because of Christ they are now scars, but it can come across as being thankful those sins happened. When we should never be thankful for rebelling against God. My fear is that more emphasis is placed on those past sins than God’s character. I think an example of this is the line in the chorus:
“So I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart”
It is so true that Christ shows us His heart in his grace and mercy towards our sins, but our past sins are not the only way we see Him show His love for us.
Again, I do like this song, but I have these concerns and wanted to hear your thoughts on them.
Thanks,
Chandler
Vince Wright
Chandler B,
Thank you for your comments!
I have similar thoughts about some experiences I’ve had, where I learned to have compassion for others through personal suffering. I am grateful for the suffering, not because the suffering was wonderful, but through it, I learned to become a better person. Similarly, the artist is thankful, not because sin is great, but that through it, they learned how much God loves them. I understand your concerns, that it sounds like sin is glorified and necessary to experience God’s love. It isn’t. But, in I AM THEY’s case, they believe they could not have known His love any other way. A lot of people I know have similar experiences.
-Vince Wright
Rick
I agree with Jacob that it is quite obvious “hands and feet” refer to Jesus. Another part referred to “You’s” faithfulness which I think also implies a higher power than mere humanity. Many songs have this ambiguous “You” problem that I don’t really notice or think about, because it’s clear to me that it’s about God. I think some songs lead people to Christ and others encourage those who already believe. A 3-minute song will not be a perfect sermon and it won’t always be an altar call to become saved. I do agree that the artist should make it more obvious that “You” is God, but it’s not something that merits a 5.5/10 in my opinion.
Respectfully,
Rick
Vince Wright
Rick,
Thank you for your comments!
While I stand by my rating and review, I appreciate that you took time out of your day to provide feedback.
-Vince Wright
Jacob
I think you missed one major part of song where they specifically state “in your hands and in your feet” which pretty obviously points to Jesus. They talk about deliverance and victory. Listening to this song gives me an image of Jesus.
Vince Wright
Jacob,
Thank you for your submission!
It’s still vague in terms of its meaning. I can see why you interpret it as the hands and feet of Jesus. I would as well as a Christian. However, it could easily be the hands and feet of a mere human and fit just fine.
-Vince Wright
-Vince Wright