Sandra McCracken – All Ye Refugees

Sandra McCracken is a singer and songwriter both for herself and for other acts, including All Sons & Daughters, Audrey Assad, and Caedmon’s Call.  Known for combining Scripture with storytelling, McCracken started her career in 1999 and released eleven studio albums, two EP’s and three live albums.  She also collaborates with other song writers with a target audience of children, under the name Rain For Roots, releasing three albums.  See full list below:

Studio Albums

• The Crucible (2000)
• Gypsy Flat Road (2001)
• Best Laid Plans (2004)
• The Builder and the Architect (2005)
• Gravity / Love (2006)
• Red Balloon (2008)
• In Feast or Fallow (2010)
• Desire Like Dynamite (2013)
• Psalms (2015)
• God’s Highway (2016)
• Songs from the Valley (2018)

EP’s

• Ampersand (2008)
• TN (2011)

Live Albums

• Live Under Lights and Wires (2009)
• Steadfast Live (2017)

Under the name “With Rain for Roots”

• Big Stories for Little Ones (2012)
• The Kingdom of Heaven is Like This (2014)
• Waiting Songs (2015)

Insofar as I am aware, she has not won any prestigious awards.

Lyrics can be found at https://www.newreleasetoday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=89289.

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?

One of the most dangerous things a Christian songwriter can do is write/sing in the place of God.  Old Testament prophets died for misspeaking God through their prophetic utterances (Deuteronomy 13:5 and Deuteronomy 18:20), so speaking for God is something we ought to take seriously.

Having said that, McCracken does a great job explaining God’s attributes of creator, one-ness, savior, and healer.  He will not cast out those who seek Him, drawing them to Himself.  We refugees must be patient with God, waiting upon Him to act in His own timing.  Our response is choral refrain, praising God for the great things He does.  Upon our death, He welcomes us home, enjoying our eternal relationship with Himself.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it is biblical, except for Stanza 1, line 5.

Since there is no Verse/Chorus/Bridge designation, I assigned numerical stanza’s to each paragraph.

[Stanza 1]

Line 1: That is, our God is the only God that is (Deuteronomy 4:35-39, Deuteronomy 6:4, Deuteronomy32:39, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:60, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 37:16,20, Isaiah 43:10-11, Isaiah 44:6-8, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:9, Hosea 13:4, Joel 2:27, Zechariah 14:9, Mark 12:29-34, John 17:3, Romans 3:30, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Galatians 3:20, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 2:5, and James 2:19).

Lines 2-4: God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 8:3-8, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 96:5, Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 66:1-2, John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 4:11).

Line 5: This is a slight error.  Creation doesn’t sing us home (to heaven with God), nor does it guide us there.  We are meant to be witnesses that lead people to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), but ultimately, it is Christ who brings people home (John 6:37-39).  It does not impact the overall message.

[Stanza 2]

Lines 1-4: Christ came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:16-21) in the sense that He came to unbind sin that prevents us from pursuing a personal relationship with God (Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1).

[Stanza 3]

Lines 1 and 2: As quoted from John 6:37 in the context of a refugee described in Stanza 2.

Lines 3 and 4: References Christ sacrifice 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 5: Jesus in Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31 describes Himself as a physician who heals those who know they are sinners.  Those who think they are righteous will not seek Him out.  He will heal spiritually those who cast their anxieties on Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

[Stanza 4]

Repeats Stanza 2.

[Stanza 5]

Lines 1-4: That is, wait upon the Lord (Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31).  He operates on His own timetable (2 Peter 3:9), requiring us to be patient with God.

[Stanza 6]

Lines 1-5: All creation praises God (Psalm 19:1-4, Psalm 66:4, Psalm 148:1-12, Psalm 150:6, Isaiah 55:12, Luke 19:40, and Revelation 5:13).

[Stanza 7]

Repeats Stanza 2.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It should be easy for anyone with simple knowledge of Christianity to understand God is speaking, littered with crucifix language to prevent another worldview as a probable alternative.  It compels them to consider God, enter into a relationship with Himself, and enjoy the warm welcome they will receive upon serving Him.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Aside from the small error mentioned in section 2, God glorifies Himself through the words of Sandra McCracken.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Sandra McCracken’s All Ye Refugees is a great example of speaking for God, showing careful reference for His Word and ensuring that almost everything is in order.  While I did find a minor lyrical error, it does not impact the overall message to everyone who listens, bringing God glory.

I cannot recommend this song for congregational worship as we would all collectively be speaking for God.  I believe this shows irreverence to the office of Prophet, something we should avoid.  For me personally, it is the type of song that I will listen to, but not sing along with the artist;  However, I understand if others disagree with my conviction.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: All Ye Refugees (listen to the song)

Artist: Sandra McCracken

Album: Psalms

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 4:56

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

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.

03/02/2021 – Section 4 was incomplete upon initial release.  I corrected it.