Josh Baldwin (Feat. Jenn Johnson) – Made For More

Happy new year!

American artist Josh Baldwin is currently serving as a Bethel Music worship pastor.  He released five albums and one EP, including:

• Changing (2008)
• Rivers (2011)
• The War Is Over (2017)
• Evidence (2020)
• Live at Church (EP) (2020)
• Where the Glory Is (2022)

Also, check out my reviews of Evidence and Stand In Your Love.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Josh-baldwin-made-for-more-live-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?

Baldwin lived a former life of guilt, forsaking the law of God and living his own way.  Called by name, and offered through Jesus’ death on the cross, Baldwin is forgiven and free from shame.  He worships Christ in response.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, this song is stuck on repeat.  If you examine my commentary in section 2, 8/11 Stanzas are basically repeats.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song.

This song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure.  Therefore, I will assign stanzas to each paragraph.

[Stanza 1]

Line 1: Baldwin tells us in line 3.

Line 2: The death of Jesus is the beginning of when salvation was available.  He paid the penalty for lawbreaking (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 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 3: To those who believed Him, Jesus told them that those who know the truth will be set free (John 8:31-32). This prompts these Jews to ask Jesus “What do you mean? We’ve never been slaves before!” (John 8:33). Jesus responds, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). This is the context by which Jesus says “if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The answer is clear: we are free from the slavery of sin; chosen to be His (John 6:37-44, John 15:16, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 2:19, Colossians 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 4: A future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

[Stanza 2]

Line 1: “Tending the grave” is an idiom that means to dwell in the past.  Isaiah 43:18 calls Baldwin to avoid doing that.

Line 2: Much like Jesus did with Saul, who persecuted the church (Acts 9:4-5), so too He calls Daigle’s name out of her rebellion.

Line 3: That is, born again (John 3:3).

Line 4: That is, more than his life has been lived apart from God.

Lines 5 and 6: Contrasts Baldwin’s former life of death in sin and current life alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 7: Baldwin belongs to Him as an adopted son (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).

Line 8: Repeats line 4.

[Stanza 3]

Repeats Stanza 1.

[Stanza 4]

Repeats Stanza 2.

[Stanza 5]

Line 1: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  Starts with a Casper the friendly ghost reference.

Line 2: Essentially repeats Stanza 2, line 2.

Line 3: Baldwin responds in worship (Psalm 86:12, Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 119:10, and Psalm 138:1).

Line 4: Essentially repeats line 4.

Lines 5 and 6: See Stanza 2, line 1.

[Stanza 6]

Essentially repeats Stanza 5.

[Stanza 7]

Essentially repeats Stanza 2.

[Stanza 8]

Essentially repeats Stanza 2.

[Stanza 9]

Essentially repeats Stanza 5.

[Stanza 10]

Essentially repeats Stanza 5.

[Stanza 11]

Essentially repeats Stanza 2.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The cross, forgiveness, grace, and hallelujah are terms that point to Christianity.  Though heavily reliant on Christianese language, this song is easily understood by unbelievers.  It is essentially the Gospel.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the One who saved Baldwin from eternal separation, breathing into him new life that urges Baldwin to forsake folly and life for Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Josh Baldwin’s Made For More is a good reminder that, well, we were made for more than the world has to offer.  We are His chosen children, forgiven for past transgressions and compelled to serve and worship Him without guilt or shame.  Sin has no part of our new life.  These points bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

Despite this song proclaiming to God His value and worth, this song has a testimonial feel that could be useful in corporate worship; However, there is a lot of focus on “I” and God, as though we’re witnessing a personal conversation between Baldwin and Christ.  Thus, I hesitate to recommend it for corporate worship but think it could still be useful during a church service.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Made For More (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Josh Baldwin (Feat. Jenn Johnson)

Album: Made For More (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2024

Duration: 6:13

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.