Stephen Stanley – No Hopeless Soul

Stephen Stanley is an American newcomer.  He released one album and one EP, including:

• Stephen Stanley – EP (2021)
• Divided Frame Of Mind (2023)

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Stanley asks others (as though the answer would be “yes”) if their past keeps them from obeying God fully.  He then tells us that God does nothing wrong, erases the past, and continues to pursue us.  Nobody alive on earth is so far out that they cannot find forgiveness as His child.

Regarding “erases the past”, this applies to the heavenly realm but not the earthly.  We are forgiven, but we still pay a price for bad choices.

Score: 9/10

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

The majority of lyrics line up except for the middle of Pre-Chorus.  It is not true that God can remove everything about our past actions, particularly, natural results from bad actions.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Do you feel paralyzed
By the things you try to hide
That take place inside your mind
That won’t let you go
Do you feel under attack
Like a chain is on your back
Every breath hurts so bad
Steals your hope

Stanley asks his audience a question anticipating that some will say “yes” in response.  In summary, the question is about one’s past that keeps them from becoming effective witnesses for Christ.  In Scripture, the best reference I could find is the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:2-9, and Luke 8:4-8.  Particularly, the seed that fell into the thorns.

[Pre-Chorus]

But God don’t make no mistakes

Technically, this literally means “God fails to not make mistakes”; However, most people ignore the extra “no” when interpreting this sentence.  In other words, God is perfect in word, thought, and deed (Leviticus 11:44-45, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 25:8, Psalm 92:15, Isaiah 26:7, Matthew 5:48, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 Peter 1:16).

Nothing He can’t erase
Nothing He can’t undo

This is only partially true.  While it’s true that God can forgive our past, what He will not do (as our personal collective lives can attest to) is erase the earthly consequences of our choices.  If we steal from the grocery store, God can forgive us for breaking the 8th commandment, but we’re still going to jail.

Never gives up on you

God’s love does not fail or abandons us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 118:6 and Hebrews 13:5–6)

[Chorus]

Oh, there ain’t no lost cause
No one’s too far gone
Don’t you know
There ain’t no hopeless soul

A soul does not become hopeless until they die apart from knowing Jesus.  In that state, their sins will make them guilty and they will be eternally separated from God (Matthew 18:7-9, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:11).

You still belong to
The God who stays with you
He won’t let go

Those who are His belong to Him (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, and Ephesians 1:5).

There ain’t no hopeless soul

Repeats line 4.

[Post-Chorus]

There ain’t no hopeless
There ain’t no hopeless soul
There ain’t no hopeless

Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus, line 4.

[Verse 2]

Let your eyes see the light
Let your hands be sanitized
Let your soul be unified
By a perfect Love

That is, let us be transformed by the renewing of out minds (Romans 12:2) by a perfect God (see Scripture in Pre-Chorus, line 1).

[Bridge]

Mercy is calling
Mercy is calling
Calling your name
Calling your name

Mercy is calling
Mercy is calling
Calling your name

Repetitions aside, this sentence is “Mercy is calling your name”.  In other words, God makes available forgiveness for sins (Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12).

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will see words like “God” and especially “mercy” as pointers to Christianity.  Stanley’s language is essentially everyday and easy to understand.

“Erase our past” is somewhat misleading as it will make some believe that they will have a complete slate with society.  It doesn’t work that way.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the source of hope for our error, only slightly veiled with “full erasure” of bad choices that doesn’t consider the felt experience of Christians forgiven by God.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Stephen Stanley’s No Hopeless Soul is mostly good.  He touches on self-acceptance that our past does not define out future given God’s forgiveness.  This gives us hope and brings Him glory.  The overall message is easy for unbelievers to comprehend.  However, we should also remember that not all past actions, even under God’s mercy, does not absolve us from earthly punishment.

If Pre-Chorus is dropped, this song could potentially be used for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: No Hopeless Soul (listen to the song)

Artist: Stephen Stanley

EP: Stephen Stanley – EP

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 3:21

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*Copyright © 2020 Meaux Mercy (BMI) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission