Natalie Grant – I Believe

Natalie Grant is an American Contemporary Christian artist.  Though often mistaken for Amy Grant’s daughter, she began her career in 1999 and released ten albums, including:

• Natalie Grant (1999)
• Stronger (2001)
• Deeper Life (2003)
• Awaken (2005)
• Believe (2005)
• Relentless (2008)
• Love Revolution (2010)
• Hurricane (2013)
• Be One (2015)
• No Stranger (2020)

She won six GMA Dove Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012) and Special Event Album of the Year for her work on The Story (2012).

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Natalie-grant-i-believe-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Grant believes that Christmas is true. This includes the visiting shepherds and Wiseman, Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, Jesus is God who became man, the angels believe Jesus is the savior for mankind, and that Jesus was born to die for our sins on the cross, while we were sinners.

I initially thought that calling these Christmas accounts “stories” makes it sound like they are made up of fables. However, upon closer examination, Grant presents a contrast between what unbelievers consider as “mere stories” and her view, that these events really happened.

There’s a common Christmas phrase that appears in this song: “born in a manger”. Jesus was probably not born in a manger. Some people think “manger” is a stable where Jesus was born, but it’s not true. It is a trough used to feed animals. Yes, Jesus was laid in a manger after His birth; However, Scripture does not say that Mary literally gave birth to Jesus into a manger!

Score: 10/10

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

While the majority of lyrics line up with Scripture, Grant was likely mistaken on the manner of Jesus’ birth.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: The land that is Bethlehem during Jesus’ birth is far from us, encapsulated in time and space that is foreign to our present experiences.  It’s not unreasonable to think that the shepherds who saw the angelic hosts in Luke 2:8-14 thought that, for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Line 3: Though I don’t like the word “story” due to general perception (see section 1), Merriam-Webster tells us that stories can be real or fictional.  Therefore, I have no reason to penalize this song for using this word.  While to some, to say “at least, this is how the story goes” introduces doubt into Matthew and Luke’s accounts on the birth of Jesus, as if Grant suspects that it might not be true, she makes statements that show she speaks from an unbeliever’s perspective.

Line 4: Pregnant Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, with no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:4-7).

Line 5: This is likely partially incorrect.  Jesus was born, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7).  Scripture does not say He was born in a manger nor does it seem likely that He was.

The closest prophecy within the Christmas accounts that points to Jesus’ death is Matthew 1:21, which tells us that He will save His people from their sins.

Line 6: Repeats part of line 3.

Lines 7 and 8: What does it mean to say “it’s more than a made-up story”? That it’s a made-up story with depth and moral lessons? That it’s true? Grant answers this in Chorus (1).

[Chorus (1)]

Lines 1-5: The only good reason why we believe things is because we think they are true.  Grant believes that these Christmas accounts in Matthew and Luke happened, including:

• The wise man who visited Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12).
• The angels called Jesus the Son of God (Luke 1:35).  Also known as Heaven’s Child and the great I AM (Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58).
• Will take away sins (Matthew 1:21).
• Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23).

This, combined with the “it’s more than a story” demonstrates contrast between her view and those who think Christmas is “just a story”.

Line 6: Partially repeats line 1.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: Not an exact figure, but an approximation from Jesus’ birth in 3-4 BC to when she released this song in 2005 AD.  The Christmas account still lives today as part of the Christian’s annual Christmas celebration.

Line 2: As prophecied in Isaiah 9:6, a son was born and a child was given.  This child is Jesus, who left heaven to become one of us (Philippians 2:5-7).

Line 3: That is, God’s begotten Son (John 3:16).

Line 4: If Matthew 2:16-23 is of any indication, it was likely that the “wise” were confounded by all the commotion regarding Jesus’ birth.

Line 5: Grant calls these Christmas accounts “truth”, confirming some of my suspicions regarding Verse 1 and Chorus (1).  Truth set her free (John 8:32).

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: The answer?  That was God’s plan from the beginning (Genesis 3:15).

[Chorus (2)]

Line 1: That is, Jesus’ death that pays for our sins (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 2: He came for Grant and the rest of us.

Line 3: See Verse 2, line 2.

Line 4: While Grant was a sinner, Christ died for her (Romans 5:6-8).

Lines 5-7: That is, selfless sacrifice is how Grant lives her life (1 John 2:6).

Line 8: Repeats line 5.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

As with other Christmas songs, this one contains common elements such as the manger, baby Jesus, Mary, shepherds, angels, and wise men.  This firmly points unbelievers towards Christianity, confirmed with the song’s end proclaiming the cross.  They will probably see that Grant proclaims that she believes Christmas happened; However, they will probably doubt that Jesus was literally born in a manger.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that Grant explains that Christmas is about the cross and that she believes it, it’s only dulled slightly by her statement that Jesus was “born in a manger”.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Natalie Grant’s I Believe is good.  It goes where few Christmas songs tread, claiming that Christmas is about Easter, bringing Him glory.  The usual Christmas characters are present, contrasting unbelievers who think Christmas is just a story with her view that it’s truth.  It also claims that Jesus was born in a manger, a common phrase that is dubious at best.  Still, Christmas lives in Grant; Christ’s sacrifice that gives her an example to follow.

For those who don’t care that Jesus was not born in a manger, it should be considered for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: I Believe (listen to the song)

Artist: Natalie Grant

Album: Believe

Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2005

Duration: 5:15

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

Updates:

12/06/2021 – Removed criticism of “stories” in favor of contrast between unbeliever and believer’s view of Christmas.  Thanks to Jonathan for pointing this out!  I increased this song’s score, raising it from 7/10 to 9/10.