Photo by Andrew Ruiz
Words cannot describe the impact that MercyMe’s I Can Only Imagine has had on the world. Despite its blatant Christian message, it crossed over into mainstream media about 2 years after its initial release. As of this writing, I could still hear this song played on my local Christian radio station, demonstrating serious staying power!
As I was writing this review, I discovered recently that MercyMe’s lead singer Bart Millard released a book that describes the story behind this song. It speaks of “how God repaired a broken family, prepared Bart for ministry through music, and wrote the words on his heart that would change his life forever.” As a shameless plug, I provide my affiliate link to purchase the book on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2GDfZPt.
I also discovered that there is also a movie based on the song. I would never have “imagined” that! Something to add to my Netflix DVD queue.
Enough with the detours. Let’s move onto the review!
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?
It should not be surprising (given the title) that much of the song is speculative. Its lyrics speak of one who ponders what life will be like after physical death. Will we dance or stay put? Will we stand or bow? Will we sing or remain silent? These are great things to ponder upon, but still within the realm of speculation.
Score: 9/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Given that much of the song is conjecture, it makes it more difficult to evaluate. Still, its lyrics are loaded with Scripture. Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By Your side
I imagine that it will be a subservient position, rather than on his side. After all, that is what the 24 elders will do in Revelation 4:10-11. I see nowhere in Scripture that suggests Jesus would walk by our side; however, it’s certainly possible. Only time will tell!
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face
Is before me
Found in Revelation 22:4, the context starts in Revelation 21:24, that is, the nations gathered together. Not only will we see His face, His name will be written on our foreheads.
I can only imagine
Repeated.
[Chorus]
Surrounded by Your glory
There are three sets of passages to support this. In Psalm 73:24, the Psalmist describes heaven as God’s glory. Naturally, entering into heaven to be with God would presume that we are surrounded in His glory.
Another set of passages is Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36, and 2 Peter 1:16–18. Peter, James, and John see the glory of Jesus, in His transfigured state, to which the Scripture describes a cloud that formed and begins to overshadow them. The Father speaks from within the cloud and says to them “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” It seems reasonable to think that when we see the Father and Jesus in their full glory, that we will also become enveloped within their glory.
Speaking of cloud, the final set of passages are in 2 Chronicles 5:14, 7:2; 1 Kings 8:11, and Ezekiel 43:1-5. These describe the glory of God filling the temple in Jerusalem. This glory appeared in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21) to guide Israel to the promised land. Given that this is but a mere shadow of the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:5), we can’t imagine the strength and reach of the glory of God is the heavenly temple! It’s quite reasonable that it will surround us, as line 1 says.
What will my heart feel?
I don’t know what to make of this. Is this another way of saying “What do I feel like doing?” Perhaps I am taking this the wrong way, but that seems self-centered. We ought to do what God asks us to do.
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Nowhere in Scripture did I find explicitly or suggested that we will dance before Jesus; however, I also could not find any that would refute it either.
Or in awe of You be still?
Refers to Psalm 46:10.
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all?
Comes from Revelation 4:4 and Revelation 4:9-10, which reference the 24 elders who lay down their crowns and worship God when the 4 living creatures (Revelation 4:7-8) do the same. The rest of the creatures, according to Revelation 5:13-14, will also join in worship. The elders fell down, indicating that they were once standing. It seems reasonable that we will have a similar experience.
I can only imagine
Another repeat.
[Verse 2]
I can only imagine
Another repeat.
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
That is, within the presence of the Son, before Him, in awe and in shock. See Matthew 12:33-37, Romans 8:1, Romans 14:12, and 2 Corinthians 5:10.
I can only imagine
Another repeat.
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
Just like the 24 elders and four living creatures, it seems reasonable that we will forever by saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. (Revelation 4:8). See Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:9-10, and Revelation 5:13-14.
I can only imagine
Another repeat.
Score: 9/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Although most people are interested in what heaven will be like, the descriptions and imaginations within this song are specific to born-again believers. Still, it should be clear to anyone who is not a follower of Jesus that this song communicates to them a life of worship in His Kingdom. Many will be disgusted with this concept. Others will be curious.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God in describing our constant worship of Him in His Heavenly Kingdom.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Despite the imagination of MercyMe, their song I Can Only Imagine has a powerful message of life with God after death. Highly biblical, it draws curiosity to those outside the camp of Christ and brings glory to God through its description of perpetual worship.
Final score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: I Can Only Imagine (listen to the song)
Artist: MercyMe
Album: Almost There
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2001
Duration: 4:08
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2001 Simpleville Music (ASCAP) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
debwrites
I have real problems with the word “imagine.” No where in Scripture are we told to imagine. I do not believe this song is corporate worship material. In fact, so many contemporary worship is “I/Me” centered. Perhaps if the author said ‘We can only imagine,” but we can’t corporately imagine. It edges close to dreaming and that goes into new age gobbledy-gook. My discernment antennae go up every time I hear this song!
Vince Wright
debwrites,
Thank you for your comments!
First, I could also make the argument that Scripture doesn’t say we are told to add 2 and 2 to make 4, that stretching after exercise is a good idea, or that flowers are nice to smell. Does that mean we shouldn’t do it? I also don’t see any Scripture that forbids us from imagining what life with God in our spiritual bodies would be like, or any of these other things I mentioned. My position is that if Scripture neither prescribes nor forbids something, then it becomes a Romans 14 issue. That is, we are free to imagine and should not judge others for doing so, so long as their imaginings do not violate God’s inspired Word.
Second, if you look at my Song Review Index page at https://www.thebereantest.com/song-review-index, my recommendation for corporate worship is “no”. You don’t see my commentary on it at the end of this review because I didn’t start talking about it until later. In other words, I agree with you: this song is not appropriate for corporate worship.
Third, I’ll respond to your commentary in “I/Me” by reposting an earlier comment by Steve Barhydt:
“For those who complain that Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is too self centered I offer the following quantitative analysis:
There are 2423 words in the English KJV in Psalm 119…
The most used word is “thy” (referring to God) at 209 occurrences.
The second most used word is “I” at 142 occurrences.
Let’s take this a step further…
Nouns and pronouns for God (Thy, Thine, Thou, Thee, Lord) are used 285 times. (or 11.76% of the total word usage.)
Nouns and pronouns for the Psalmist (I, me, my ,mine, myself) are used 312 times (or 12.88% of the total word usage.)
What does this mean and why is it important?
First, to claim that a song is too self centered and, therefore, should not be sung in church because it has too many personal pronouns (I, me, my) is unsupportable in light of the fact that the Holy Spirit had no issues with inspiring the psalmists to refer to themselves multiple times in their songs.
Second, a lot of Christian music is about the relationship the believer has with the Almighty God (or that the unbeliever could have with Him.) Relationships are NOT one-sided. Songs about relationships are not going to have just one side represented in the lyrics.
As long as what the “I/me” in the song is claiming or proclaiming does not contradict what the Scripture says about “I/me”, the song should be considered Biblical.”
-Vince Wright
Irene Joyce
Agree with you Debwrites. Perhaps these words would be better suited to poetry ,or part of a personal devotion, but as a worship song never. It’s all about me,what I will be doing,how I will be feeling.
Steven Edmondson
If I may comment as well and argue this… A lot of people that I know personally were touched greatly by this song including myself and still to this day followers of Jesus. I think to have such a close mind that you don’t ever think or imagine what heaven is like, is very unbiblical. Thinking heavenly minded is actually VERY biblical and this song encourages the worship of Jesus and picturing what heaven may be like. If I may add as well, I think some people with the “Discernment antennae” excuse is a way of saying that “I’m right, you’re wrong”. While I do agree we need to be careful of imagining too much and possibly slipping into idolatry and as the word says worship of angels; this song ALWAYS brings me into a place of vertical worship and is a great song to direct people’s attention to God.
racefangurl
When I was adolescent, I heard this song on a regular station and the “Surrounded by Your glory” told me this song had crossed over. I don’t think I heard it enough on radio before that to recognize it as I knew. When it got to “Will I be able to speak at all” I remembered my church sang it in a Wed night Bible study worship. Usually, I was over at the church’s girls’ club then, but that night was the award ceremony night. Back then they were scattered throughout the girls’ club year, but after a time they became once a year only when the girls move up. Btw, I started helping in my old girls’ club when I outgrew being one of the girls.
Liam O'Grady
I Really Love this Song
Laura
2 Samuel 6:14
David danced with all his might before the Lord.
Psalm 149:3,
“Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.”
I don’t recall any mention of dancing connected specifically with worship in heaven/ new heaven and earth, (except possibly Jeremiah 31:13)
But it doesn’t seem toatally off base in this song, since dancing is mentioned in the Bible as a means of worship at times.
tastywallet
Laura,
Thanks for your comment! Yes, I agree with you. Speculative at best, but not unbiblical.
-TastyWallet
Ladontippetts
I can only Imagin