Photo by 贝莉儿 NG
Irish folk worship band Rend Collective seems to show up a lot at my local congregation’s worship set. Especially Build Your Kingdom Here, often utilized as an opener to welcome people. It happens to be a popular song, peaking at #12 in the Billboard Top 100 Christian songs.
If you’re looking for more background information on this band, consider reading the introduction to Rescuer. Otherwise, let’s jump right in.
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?
This song is heavily saturated in prayer offered to God, that He would reign in us, causing us to obey Him, setting the course for furthering God’s kingdom on earth. Hell cannot overcome when Christ’s bridge, the church, obeys His commandments. The result is healing and revival in this land, if only this sleeping giant would awaken.
Rend Collective has been very specific about their request, with so much detail, I would essentially reproduce the lyrics to exhaustively list them all. They are also clear that God is the recipient of this prayer, with the end of Verse 3 removing any doubt that might linger.
I happened to notice that the cost of following Jesus was included in the lyrics. That puts a huge smile on my face! However, the very last line of Pre-Chorus 2 is highly problematic. I understand where Rend Collective is coming from: the church of Christ brings hope to the world. Yet, the wording makes it sounds like we are the hope on earth rather than Christ. That does not sit well with me.
I know that some of you will probably think I am nitpicking; However, I believe this to be an important matter and I stand by my decision to severely downgrade my rating.
Score: 7/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The song is mostly Biblical; However, I have a major concern with the end of Pre-Chorus 2. Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Verse 3 sets the context of “Your” as God the Father. This is an invitation for Him to take control, denoting man’s surrender to His will (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).
Though God is sovereign over all creation (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11), His personal rulership over our hearts is our choice. If we choose to sin, we can return to the Father through Jesus (1 John 2:1-2).
Increase in us we pray
That is, for God to increase and for us to decrease, as spoken through John the Baptist (John 3:30).
Unveil why we’re made
I am fascinated at such a request given that The Bible already answers this. We are made to glorify God (Isaiah 43:1–7), to perform good works, (Ephesians 2:10), and to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34-35). Perhaps this is more personal?
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit, come invade us now
See commentary in lines 1 and 2.
We are Your church
Also known as the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ, this line acknowledges that God’s people are the church, not the building they meet (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 5:29-30, Colossians 1:18, and Colossians 3:15).
We need Your power in us
As granted to the Apostles in Acts 1:8, this line requests the Holy Spirit’s power within Christ’s church.
[Verse 2]
We seek Your kingdom first
Obediently following the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33.
We hunger and we thirst
That is, a spiritual thirst and hunger for more of God. Jesus satiates that desire (John 6:35).
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
Refers to Paul’s race in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and 2 Timothy 4:7. Unlike earthly races such as the Olympics, where the winner gets a medal and fading glory, our prize is imperishable: eternal life with God.
To see the captive hearts released
Bondage and enslavement to sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:20-22, and 1 Corinthians 6:12) has been broken (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 6:6-7, and Romans 6:15:18).
The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace
Come to Jesus and the weary will find rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause
This is the cost of following Jesus (Luke 14:25-33).
[Pre-Chorus 1]
We are Your church
Repeats Verse 1, line 6.
We pray revive this earth
A legitimate prayer offered to God; However, let the reader understand that revival occurs when the church repents and obeys God (2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 3:19-20, and 2 Timothy 2:24-26). In other words, this is a prayer that the church will obey God, causing revival on the earth.
[Chorus]
Build Your kingdom here
The starting point of kingdom building is through repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, and John 3:3).
Let the darkness fear
That is, because God’s light drives out the darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
It is through repentance that causes our land to heal (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Set Your church on fire
Not literally of course! A prominent example of this is in Acts 2:4, where the disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. The result? Peter preached the Gospel and 3,000 people were added to God’s Kingdom, repenting of their sins and giving away their possessions to those who are in need (Acts 2:14-47).
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
See commentary in Pre-Chorus 1, line 2.
Build Your kingdom here
Repeats line 1.
We pray
Rend Collective makes it clear that they are praying to God.
[Verse 3]
Unleash Your kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far
See commentary on Chorus 2, lines 3 and 4.
No force of Hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church (Matthew 16:17-19).
You made us for much more than this
Presumably, more than the current state of affairs within the church of Christ.
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
See commentary in Verse 1, line 9.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
We are Your church
Repeats Pre-Chorus 1, line 1.
We are the hope on earth
Christ is the hope on earth, not us (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6). Yes, the church offers this hope on earth; However, we are not the hope. Jesus is.
Score: 7/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Non-Christ followers will likely come to the same conclusion as myself. It is not directed towards them per se; However, in terms of interpretation, all they would need to know is that Christians are praying to God for revival. It seems clear even for unbelievers.
The last line of Pre-Chorus 2 may give unbelievers the wrong impression, that Christians are earth’s hope, something that seems opposite their collective experiences. This puts a stumbling block upon their path to considering Jesus.
Score: 6/10
4. What does this song glorify?
In more ways than one, increasing God’s Kingdom is the thrust of this song, glorifying Him in the process. Yet, as previously mentioned, Rend Collective’s throwaway line adds a wrinkle of error into the song, dulling His glory.
Score: 7/10
Closing Comments
Rend Collective’s Build Your Kingdom Here is a great song with a highly problematic line, making it difficult to justify a high rating on any section. It would have received a near perfect score had Pre-Chorus 2 not contained “We are the hope on earth”.
That aside, this prayer given to God is highly Scriptural, with each line carefully crafted with meaty substance, somewhat understandable to unbelievers and glorifying God.
If you’re going to sing this at your churches, I recommend either using Pre-Chorus 1 again or change the second line to “You are the hope on earth”. Either alteration will avoid this erroneous lyric.
Final Score: 7/10
Artist Info
Track: Build Your Kingdom Here (listen to the song)
Artist: Rend Collective
Album: Homemade Worship by Handmade People
Genre: Celtic, Worship
Release Year: 2012
Duration: 4:18
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2012 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
Luke Plowman
That line in Build Your Kingdom strikes me every time we sing it, but it isn’t completely off. It might need some explanation when we sing it, I guess. I don’t know for sure what was in their mind when they wrote it, but I imagine it starts with Rom 8:19. The idea that the cosmos is eagerly awaiting the ‘revelation’ of the children of God is a pretty striking personification, attested by OT passages like Isa 55:12-13, and Ps 8:4-6. The idea hangs on the concept that Adam and Mrs Adam failed in their role as custodians of creation, and the redeemed church will take it up again. It’s absolutely dependent on Jesus making us children of God by his blood, and on his Second Coming … but Paul is the one who frames it in this other, interesting way. On a more evangelistic front (the human world, rather than the cosmos in which we exist) Jesus was pretty direct in delegating the Good News to the disciples and the church (Matt 28:19-20, Acts 1:8). The human world also needs us to be sharing the gospel as his witnesses.
(This was the response from someone whose opinion I value highly when I raised this – would be interested to know your thoughts)
Vince Wright
Luke,
Thank you for your comments!
Matthew 28:18-20 are our marching orders to disseminate the good news about Jesus to others. If this is what Rend Collective intended when they said “we are the hope on earth” then surely they could have been clearer? For example, “we SPREAD the hope on earth” more clearly shows that we are spreaders of the “hope on earth”, not the originator. As it stands, the statement “we are the hope on earth” states that, well, we ARE the hope on earth when we are not. Jesus is!
-Vince Wright
Luke Plowman
Thanks for the response!
I think I disagree… We are, as the collective Church, the body of Christ.
I don’t think that that’s a phrase to take at all lightly; because of this, we are “the hope” on Earth, which is incredible, but then so is much of the Gospel!
I think it’s a line that needs some explaining, but I think, like the rest of the song, it’s actually very theologically sound.
Mark Wagner
This is “kingdom now” or “Dominion theology” which borders on heresy. It is becoming very prevalent unfortunately. Which appears to be in collaboration with the New Apostolic Reformation, which is quite heretical.
James Frazier
I really enjoy the conversation going on here. After looking into this song I see people bringing up two issues: the line “we are the hope on earth” which it seems as though we have covered so far, but the other issue I’ve heard brought up is the line in the chorus “win this nation back”.
I’m not entirely sure I think that this line is an issue, but I was curious if you guys have heard of this potential problem and your thoughts on this line “win this nation back”?
Aaron Baker
“Win this nation back” was the first challenge I ever had from this song by a member of our congregation. This was right with MAGA was becoming part of the national topic, and this concerned member thought the song had a MAGA message. He felt a little better when I explained that it wasn’t an American who had written the song…
Allen Schwamb
I explained the same thing. Didn’t move the needle one bit. We ended up singing “win the nations back.”
Incidentally, none of the changes have appeased the person at my church. I think maybe they know their objections were to the original song, and they know the original song still exists, and they still only think of the original song, no matter what we sing at our church. So they simply will not sing the song.
In other matters, i’m starting to be convicted that changing the words isn’t *really* legal (or, more importantly, ethical). I mean, THEY wrote it a certain way to convey certain things. WE change it to say what we want, but it still has their name on it and… I’m not *super* comfortable with that. We really should be running all changes by THEM to see if it still expresses something they approve of. THEY should have control over the work that bears their names. At the moment we have two choices: 1) bear false witness and put their names on the final slide, saying that this is their work when it’s really not; or 2) stealing from them by not putting their names on the final slide and thus depriving them of their wage.
Andrew
To Allen Schwamb
Option 3: just don’t use their music, they pratice ecumenicalism with the Church of Rome, they played for the Pope, etc..
When it comes to Worship we must worship in Spirit and Truth. If we are worshipping singing song by people that arent biblically sound and are active in false doctrines, then how is are we worshiping God in Spirt and Truth….we aren’t, worship of God is not about what we get out of it, it is about praising God…so if the song lyrics are off or are not written from the stance of correct Biblical doctrine, then how is the song truly worshiping God.
Kent Hoover
“We spread Your hope on earth” is the alteration I’ve used.
stan cardwell
A simple modifier. We are “Your” hope on earth (which is what I swore the words were) – would change the meaning – that the Church is Christ’s body on earth and thus witnesses to His hope.
Vince Wright
Stan,
Thank you for your comment!
I still don’t think the statement is right as it still makes it sound like we’re the hope. Also, it could possibly be interpreted that we are God’s hope in the sense that God is helpless and requires rescue from us.
Perhaps “we bring Your hope on earth” would be better? It makes us sound more like messengers of the hope that God offers than the thing in which hope resides. It’s something that we carry or possess as opposed to something we are.
Does that make sense?
-Vince Wright
Allen Schwamb
Yeah, nice idea, Stan. I have considered that same solution, but have thrown it out for the same reasons that Vince detailed. But I really like your solution, Vince. I’m going to suggest this to the worship leaders and pastors at my church right now!
racefangurl
We bring the hope on Earth is the least changed way I can find to say it. Only the problem word are’s swapped in that rendition.
Allen Schwamb
I would love an idea for how to keep the last line a “We” line. In other words, the song is particularly trying to remind the church that THEY have a part in this. They’re not to sit idly by. They are to be part of the work of the kingdom. So, I get why the wrote “We are the church. We are the hope on earth.” In other words they’re saying “You have called US to be your people, and you have called us to be your hands and feet, your voice, to a hurting world that needs to SEE you.”
So, changing the last line to “You are the hope on earth,” takes the teeth out of it. The lyrics were making a case for OUR God-driven action, but that new line allows us to chill and “let God work.”
I agree the lyric is problematic (though, since I know what I *mean* when I sing it, I don’t have a problem singing it. But I worry that others don’t understand the point of the lyric). So, let’s get a new lyric that allows the thrust to remain “WE have work to do.” It’s a really purposefully provocative mic-drop as it is. It needs a replacement that is equally compelling. Know what I mean??
Vince Wright
Allen,
Thank you for your comment! I approve of this change!
-Vince Wright
Matthew
Just wondering what the implications of saying
“Holy Spirit come invade us now” are?
Don’t we already have the Holy Spirit?
That’s why I’ve been avoiding this song slightly but I’m happy if it’s a different interpretation.
Vince Wright
Matthew,
Great question! It is giving permission for the Holy Spirit to guide us, to invade every part of our lives, surrendering control. For me, this is an experiential daily struggle. Paul seemed to have it as well (Romans 7:14-25).
One could say that since we already have forgiveness, we need not ask for it. Yet, why does the Lord ask us to pray “forgive us our sins as we forgive those against us” if we already have forgiveness? I think it’s because we need the reminder, much like why we remember the Lord’s death when we break bread (Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:18-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). In much the same way, we need to constantly allow the Holy Spirit to invade us, molding us to Himself.
Perhaps that is the essence of praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
-Vince Wright
Matthew
Ah, ok thank you
That makes more sense!
Vince Wright
Matthew,
My pleasure!
-Vince Wright
Gazza
Seems to smack quite strongly of dominion theology
Andrew
song is big on dominion and kingdom now theology
Kevin
Perhaps as in “ thy kingdom come thy will be done , on earth as it is in heaven “ …. ?
Roger Metzger
I agree. We (Christians) are not the hope of this planet. That having been said, that is not the only problematic line in this song
Christian’s are a positive influence but Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world.
tastywallet
Roger,
Thank you for your challenge! You are correct in that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world. He said that to Pilate during His arrest, found in John 18:36. This particular kingdom is coming in the future.
Kingdom is a compound word, king meaning “ruler” and dom meaning “dominion”. The kingdom that Rend Collective speaks is rulership over our hearts, as indicated in the opening lines of the song. It is this kingdom to which God builds and constructs.
-TastyWallet
Andrew
Rend Collective aligns with Kingdom Now and dominionism. i dont know where you have pulled the verses for support for the lyrics because i reached out to them directly asking for the theology behind the song and they have never responded. I could take any song and do the same thing too, to justify their lyrics, the problem is the own statements and their associations
we are not the hope for the world only Christ is the hope for the World. they are wolf in sheeps clothing.
They speak about a worship experience when that is used it is about how worship makes you feel… the problem is that worship isnt about our feelings it is about giving only glory to God so that no man may boast of himself…because when people leave worship experiences they are talking about how great the band.
Vince Wright
Andrew,
Thank you for your comments!
My goal is to examine the lyrics to see what it communicates apart from an artist’s personal views, theology, and goals. I also aim to determine if it has Biblical support, standing or falling on its own two feet. There are plenty of other sites that discuss your issues regarding Rend Collective’s theology; However, this website is not one of them.
-Vince Wright
Andrew
Vince,
Sorry for my late response of years your notices got in my spam folder for some weird reason.
You say the goal is to analyze their lyrics, ok but their theology influences their lyrics, so you can’t pull apart /review their lyrics without reviewing their theology….because your impression of the lyrics will not match to the intention that they wrote it.
Vince Wright
Andrew,
Thank you for your comments!
I can analyze the lyrics without saying anything about the artist’s theology or beliefs. Songs should rise or fall based on their merits regardless of the artist’s intent, beliefs, or theology…if they are written well enough. Yes, you have a case where I could be indirectly touching on the artist’s theology by examining the theology within their song, where the song’s teaching matches the artist’s teaching. However, the separation comes in by shutting the door on direct discussion of the artist’s teachings, theology, or beliefs. I’ve found that such discussions are often riddled with anger, hostility, and strife; However, discussing lyrics has been extremely fruitful, even if the theology is exactly the same.
I shouldn’t need to learn the artist’s theology, beliefs, or intent in order to comprehend the song that they are singing. While it’s true that I make mistakes in my examinations. You’ve probably seen the litany of updates on song reviews! Admitedly, I’m not perfect at my craft, but I’d like to think that I’m getting better! However, it’s also true that sometimes, artists just miss the mark. In this case, I think they missed it royally bad.
-Vince Wright
Andrew
Vince,
A person’s theology is vitally important to a song they write. As for a Catholic writing a song Matt Maher, he means one thing because their theology is different than a Protestant’s theology. So thus the song has a different meaning. Same thing with Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation, there songs have a reflection of the false teaching that is going on in their church’s in their music as that is were they are being spiritual feed.
If conversations get anger, rude, hurtful, we always have to go back to what is honoring God, that in conversations we don’t get angry and if need to involve 2 or more people for witnesses and then even church leadership and we must always go back to our source of sole authority which is the Scipture and lean on Scripture for the answers.
I would advise you to watch “Spirit and Truth : How does God want to be worshiped?” This is very well done.
Sandy Milliken
I appreciate the analysis you provide: however I struggle with separating a composer’s theology from the lyrics. This song by Rend Collective is an example. The concept of the Kingdom of God biblically is the lordship and rule of Christ in our hearts and in His Church. But many have taken this concept a different direction that is not always apparent. The line “we are the hope on earth” reveals what Rend Collective thinks about the Kingdom, and that thinking aligns with the New Apostolic Reformation and its belief that the Kingdom is to be established by the church before Christ returns. Other lines in the song also carry that connotation- “let the darkness fear”, “win this nation back”, “unleash your kingdom’s power” in the context of NAR and kingdom now theology. It’s easy and sometimes dangerous to pour our own meaning into something that is said or sung when it is not what the author intends, much like taking scripture out of context.
Allen
I really like what this website provides. It’s The Berean Test, not The Internet Test. It’s “how do the lyrics themselves match what is in the bible” not “what else can I find out about what this artist believes”. I think it’s an important and unique calling, and I don’t want it to change one bit.
Vince Wright
Allen,
Thank you for your comments!
This is an important distinction that I wish more people would comprehend. Kudos to you for understanding the purpose of this site!
Full disclosure: I have a section where people can find out what the artist believes (if I could find it). The information is useful for those who want to learn, but not part of my review/scoring.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Amen, Allen, Amen!
I’ve been a regular contributor here for several years now and I wish that more people would understand this.
Even though Vince has made the purpose of his site abundantly clear in ‘Evaluation Criteria’ page (https://www.thebereantest.com/criteria-for-evaluating-christian-music), way to many come here to blast the “heresies” of not just the artists themselves but the churches that the artists attend.
The extremely frustrating thing for me is that 99% of the time, the false teachings of the church/group in question have absolutely nothing to do with the song being reviewed! I’m amazed at the lengths to which some will go to find one little thing wrong with a song so that they can dismiss the whole song.
I completely agree with you that “it’s an important and unique calling, and I don’t want it to change one bit.”
Thank you for taking the time to point this out.