The Belonging Co (Feat. Natalie Grant & Andrew Holt) – Just the Mention of His Name

The Belonging Co is an American Contemporary Christian worship band.  Much like Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation Worship and their respective organizations, this band originates from The Belonging Co church.  Created in 2017, they hail from Nashville, Tennessee.

They released five live albums, including:

• All the Earth (2017)
• Awe + Wonder (2019)
• See the Light (2021)
• Here (2022)
  
• Now (2022)

Also, check out my review of Every Victory.

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.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song is a prime example of the prosperity Gospel. It focuses intently on invoking the name of Jesus to change one’s situation. Yes, things can change under the power of the name of Jesus. However:

• There is no mention of anything Jesus has done for us.  Not one jot or tittle about Jesus becoming one of us, His sinless life in obedience to the Father, His dying on the cross for our lawbreaking, or His resurrection.
• This song does not call us to obey God or surrender to His ways.
• It does not say anything about lawbreaking or the consequences of sin. However, it does say He will “save your soul”, which I am assuming that The Belonging Co expects us to understand what that means.

I’m not expecting all of these elements to be present in a singular song. However, The Belonging Co should give us more than just speaking Jesus’ name, as though they are invoking a spell that will cast out darkness in people.

On a more positive note, this song is clear about who they are talking about!

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, after Verse 4, Chorus repeats itself three times, with three lines repeating followed by a fourth. Post-Chorus repeats the same line essentially five times. We see similar repetition after Verse 5, though less with Chorus and more with Post-Chorus.

Score: 3/10

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

On the one hand, things can indeed be different because of the power of Jesus’ name. However, it is also not true that merely invoking His name in faith without accompanied obedience is worthless and dead. Thus, I’ll score this section halfway.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

If you walked in sick, you’re gonna walk out healed
If you walked inbound, you’re gonna walk out free

As the Great Physician, Jesus is capable of healing those who ask (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31).

[Chorus]

‘Cause just the mention of His name
Just the mention of His name
Just the mention of His name
Everything can change, everything can change

According to John 14:13-14, the things we ask in faith for Jesus to do, according to the will of the Father, He will accomplish.  The problem with this is that the very next Verse, John 14:15 says that if we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments.  There is nothing about keeping His commandments anywhere in this song.  The power comes from our words.

[Verse 2]

If you walked in heavy, you’re gonna walk out light
If you walked in weary, you’re gonna be alright

See commentary on Verse 1.

[Verse 3]

If you walked in down, you’re gonna walk out up
If you walked in empty, He’s gonna fill your cup

See commentary on Verse 1.  The filled cup reference likely borrows from Psalms 23:5.

[Verse 4]

Oh, if you walked in broken, you’re gonna walk out whole

See commentary on Verse 1.

If you walked in lost, He’s gonna save your soul

Saved from what, bad health?  It certainly sounds that way given the lack of lawbreaking/sin/shame/guilt throughout this song.

[Post-Chorus]

His name is Jesus

Thanks for clarifying that for us, The Belonging Co!

His name is Jesus
His name is Jesus
Oh, His name is Jesus
His name is Jesus

Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.  The fourth line contains a Casper the friendly ghost reference.

[Spontaneous]

Oh, Jesus
That’s the name we praise
That’s the name we’re lifting high
Oh, the mighty name, the mighty name, Jesus
It’s the mighty name of Jesus
It’s the mighty name of Jesus, oh

Casper references aside, this is just telling us that we worship the name of Jesus (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 28:8-9, Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:50-53, John 12:13, and John 20:28), who is strong (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Psalm 119:28, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).

Come on, let with faith rise tonight, come on

Trust in Jesus (1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23, and 1 Peter 5:9).

[Verse 5]

Oh, if you walked in sick, you’re gonna walk out healed
If you walked in bound, I know you’re gonna walk out free

Repeats Verse 1.

If you walked in heavy, you’re gonna walk out light
If you walked in weary, you’re gonna be alright

Repeats Verse 2.

If you walked in down, you’re gonna walk out up
If you walked in empty, He’s gonna fill your cup

Repeats Verse 3.

Oh, if you walked in broken, you’re gonna walk out whole
If you walked in lost, He’s gonna save your soul

Repeats Verse 4.

[Outro]

Just the mention of His name, Jesus

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.

We’re never gonna be the same

Summarizes all the Verses.

Score: 5/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will think it’s Christian given that the name of Jesus is plastered all over the place. They will think that Jesus can heal them just by speaking His name. They do not need to change or to follow jesus to attain it. What’s worse: people who try it will likely be disappointed by their blind faith in merely invoking Jesus’ name.

Score: 0/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It’s true that there is power in the name of Jesus, and that those who have faith in Him can experience healing.  This truth glorifies Christ.  However, it also leads people into false conversion via the prosperity Gospel.

Score: 2/10

Closing Comments

The Belonging Co’s Just the Mention of His Name is a disaster.  While I agree that there is power in Jesus’ name to heal, this presentation of it does not lead to faith that is in keeping with repentance.  It is teaching people to love Christ the same way that a farmer might love a cow: not for what it is, but for the milk and cheese it provides.  This song has great potential to lead people into false conversion, wreaking havoc on their salvation.

I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 3/10

Artist Info

Track: Just the Mention of His Name (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: The Belonging Co (Feat. Natalie Grant & Andrew Holt)

Album: Now (Live)

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 5:11

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

*Copyright © 2022 TBCO Publishing (BMI) Andrew Holt Music Publishing (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.